Glastonbury Festival will keep on rockin’ in the free world as Worthy Farm welcomes back Neil Young for a headline set this summer. After a somewhat drama-filled couple of days, the iconic singer will take to the stage as he’s named as the first act to top the Pyramid Stage at the event.
The announcement comes after the singer wrote that he and his band The Chrome Hearts had pulled out of the lineup due to the “corporate control” of the BBC; something Young said was not the case when he last played.
Speaking in an open letter on the Neil Young archives on December 31, 2024, he wrote: “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite outdoor gigs. We were told the BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot for things we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being.”
Today (January 3), however, it has been confirmed that the show will go on. He wrote on the site: “Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved. Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! See you there! LOVE, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts.”
Neil Young has previously performed at Worthy Farm, taking to the headline spot in 2009 alongside Bruce Springsteen and Blur.
Speaking on Instagram this morning, festival organiser Emily Eavis said: “What a start to the year! Neil Young is an artist who’s very close to our hearts at Glastonbury. He does things his own way and that’s why we love him. We can’t wait to welcome him back here to headline the Pyramid in June.”
Who else is playing Glastonbury 2025?
Neil Young and his band The Chrome Hearts are the first headliners to be confirmed and join Rod Stewart on the bill, who is playing the famed Sunday afternoon Legend’s slot. The full lineup is still to come.
How do I get tickets to Glastonbury?
Sadly, if you’ve not already got one, your chances are slim – but not lost! While the main sale has been gone, a resale of returned Glastonbury tickets will take place later this year (traditionally in April). Keep an eye out for the exact date to be announced.
Neil Young will perform live at Glastonbury Festival this summer, which takes place on June 25-29. He will headline the Pyramid Stage.