We are now a mere 15 days away from the gates to Worthy Farm opening to those with general admission tickets, thus marking the start of Glastonbury Festival. Aside from the packing, the only thing left to get in a frenzy over (now you’ve secured your ticket) is who the secret sets will be and what the weather will be like. Let’s look at the early signals…
Which acts are playing the secret sets at Glastonbury?
On the main stages of Glastonbury, there are few ‘TBA‘ slots to keep an eye on. We have the opening act on the Woodsies tent at 11:30am on Friday (June 27), as well as a short 35-minute slot on the Pyramid stage at 4:55pm on the same day. On the Saturday (June 28) of Glastonbury, there is the small matter of a secret set on The Park stage at 7:30pm and the mystery of who Patchwork could be on the Pyramid Stage at 6:15pm (but more on that to come).
Heavily rumoured stars that have been linked to the festival include Lewis Capaldi being earmarked for the shorter Pyramid slot on Friday, which would allow him to ‘finish’ his set from 2023 when the singer sadly had to cut his set short. Other artists tipped to perform secret sets at the festival have included Mumford & Sons, who are heading out on something of a comeback tour this year; Robbie Williams, who just played two triumphant nights at the Emirates Stadium; Lorde, who is also back with her upcoming record – which handily drops on the same weekend as the festival.
As for the other secret sets across the 100+ stages? That would be too much guesswork going on – but if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s not to rule anything out when it comes to Glastonbury.
And then that leaves us with the small matter of Patchwork…
WHO are Patchwork?
When the stage splits first released, the many eagle-eyed Glastonbury devotees spotted an act on the Pyramid Stage that seemed to not, well, exist? We’re only two years on from when Foo Fighters entered into Worthy Farm’s Trojan Horse by way of ‘The ChurnUps’ disguise, and the same spidey senses have been tingling in 2025. This time, it seems there are two names in the running that have some tangible links to the word…
HAIM. This was the first name that came up in the rumour mill to fit the Patchwork moniker. Fans doing the lords work dug up the fact that a 2011 German novel by Sylvia Haim (with no relation to the band) goes by the name Patchwork, as well as a 2015 film about three young women. It’s not conclusive by any means, but it’s a link… The band also have space in their schedule, having just played at Primavera in Barcelona, and still having a gig in Margate on Friday, June 27.
PULP. Detectives that run @secretglasto on Twitter/X have posted a video linking Pulp to the hobby of patchwork, with a video of their keyboardist Candida Doyle speaking of it being something she enjoys on tour in a BBC Radio 2 interview this week. However, the band’s spokesman has said it isn’t them, so it’s all up in the air. They’re also no stranger to a cheeky incognito Glasto slot, having performed on The Park stage in 2011 as part of their reunion tour, and this year would be fitting given the fact Jarvis & co. are back with their first album, More, in 24 years.
OASIS. Just kidding.
Don’t discount either act making an appearance in another TBA slot (just not HAIM on the Friday – they’ll be performing in Margate), either…
Huge names like Radiohead and Lady Gaga have also been tipped, but there is nothing linking them to Patchwork…yet. Gaga has space in her schedule and hasn’t performed at Worthy Farm since 2009.
Of course: there’s only one real way to confirm who the secret sets are this year – by turning up in the crowd or tuning into the television coverage. Seeing the bands live; taking a chance on it being an act you love, or seeing a stadium-sized act on a relatively small scale. If you’re heading in person, you can always have a backup plan of running to another stage if you believe the wrong rumours… (remember: don’t shoot the messenger).
Which acts have played secret sets at Glastonbury before?
We’ve spoken about the secret sets from Pulp and Foo Fighters already, but Worthy Farm puts on several performances on the downlow every year. Last year saw Kasabian perform in the Woodsies tent, along with Kevin Parker of Tame Impala playing a DJ set and Fred Again… showing up. To name a few more, the festival has also welcomed The Killers to the Woodsies tent in 2017, Jack White at The Park in 2022, and Rick Astley & Blossoms joining forces for covers of The Smiths. Lady Gaga, fresh from her Glastonbury debut on the Other Stage in 2009, also performed to 400 people in the Shangri-La (Glastonbury’s night-time area) venue Club Dada. If you were there…
Who else is playing Glastonbury 2025 and how do I see the full lineup?
This year’s festival will be headlined by The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo, with Rod Stewart also pencilled in for the famed Sunday afternoon legend’s slot. Other acts appearing across the weekend include Nile Rodgers & Chic, Charli XCX, Biffy Clyro, RAYE, Loyle Carner, Doechii, Ezra Collective, Deftones, The Prodigy, Wolf Alice, Lola Young, Kneecap, JADE, Jorja Smith, Gary Numan, Lucy Dacus, and many more.
If you wish to view the lineup in full, you can visit the Glastonbury website. Alternatively, you can download the Glastonbury app.
Who will be clashing?
With a lineup this stacked, there will always be dreaded clashes. Get this for one on Saturday evening: Neil Young, Charli XCX, Doechii, Scissor Sisters, Caribou, Leftfield. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO THERE? Here’s another on Saturday afternoon: The Script, Weezer, Kneecap, Lucy Dacus, JADE, Jungle (DJ set), and a celebration of Bob Dylan tracks. PAIN.
We’ve taken this one well.
You can use the app to plan out your own festival timetable, and we hope that the clashes treat you kindly this year.
What’s the weather forecast for Glastonbury 2025?
Emily Eavis said in a recent podcast that the rain can cost the festival an extra million quid. If you could, would you pay this yourself to make sure it doesn’t rain?
It’s looking like the early signs are good news for festivalgoers on the farm, with long-range conditions on AccuWeather looking to predict highs of 21°C across the weekend with largely dry spells. As of now, it won’t be blazing sunshine the entire time, and we might get a shower here and there, but it currently isn’t looking like a washout and that £1 million might not have to be deployed just yet, though this is, as always with the weather in Blighty, subject to (rapid) change.