Glastonbury 2014 Highlights (AKA Trust James)

Now that I’ve somewhat recovered from the rain-and-beer-based antics of last week, I thought it wise to follow James’ lead and document some of my personal highlights from another outstanding year at Worthy Farm. That said, I only had one or two acts that I was really keen to see leading up to the festival, so when I found myself at a loose end on Friday, James pointed me onto a few bands I wasn’t aware of at the John Peel stage. This act pretty much made my weekend music-wise, so for that I am grateful.

5. Chvrches (John Peel Stage)

This three-piece from Scotland brought a soggy afternoon crowd to edges of their proverbial seats with a mesmerising set of pure vocals atop crunching beats. On paper another classic ‘producers-with-female-vocalist’, Chvrches seem to have a particular emotional songwriting edge that made every song resonate with me and the crowd surrounding me, a perfect compliment to the torrent endured travelling to the stage.

4. Arcade Fire (Pyramid Stage)

With my knowledge of Arcade Fire only really covering their first few singles, I didn’t know what to expect of them as a headline act: would I know any of their songs? Would the atmosphere be wasted on a luddite such as myself? Luckily I had no reason to worry, as the trippy visuals and pervading sound made for an incredible Friday night, complete with a mysterious mirror man and Frank-Sidebottom-esque fake band that invaded the stage in the encore. An all-conquering live show that confirmed what friends had been telling me for years – this is a band to see before you die.

3. Bombay Bicycle Club (Other Stage)

The only act that I truthfully wanted to see leading up to the festival, I ended up venturing off alone to see them perform a cracking set of classics and a few renditions from their new album. Unlike the other acts in this list, this felt a much more sombre affair, Come To and Luna from their latest release completely enthralling the crowd. BBC came across like a phenomenally talented band playing a setlist that any other band would love to have in their catalogue, yet all the time remaining humble and focused on the purity of the music rather than trappings of success. Or maybe that’s just the envious musician in me talking.

2. Jungle (John Peel Stage)

Playing the 1pm slot on a Friday on the John Peel stage is no easy feat, but getting a packed tent dancing and nodding in unison in the 1pm slot is a sign of a game changing act. This up-and-coming band, which essentially has enough members and instruments to form two separate bands, let rip with huge grooves and undulating hooks which kept us transfixed for the duration of the set. For the uninitiated, which I was prior to the festival, Busy Earning and Time are great places to start.

1. Drenge (John Peel Stage)

Firstly let me say thanks to James, who has been telling me about this band for the better part of a year. You can keep your Royal Blood and your Black Keys, this was my skull-crushing, riff-weaving rock two piece of the weekend. I would suggest listening to their tracks online (do it), but if you want the full experience then I’ll crack out my time machine and take us back to this afternoon slot where my ears were broken and my bones were shaken. The pair just exude rock songwriting talent, tracks such as Bloodsports and Nothing having riffs that bring about the same sort of excitement that I remember hearing Nirvana for the first time, a potent formula when combined with Eoin Loveless’ Morissey-like lyrics and vocals. Watch this space, and then stop whatever else you were doing and watch harder.

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NB: For good measure, here’s a complete breakdown of bands seen in chronological order:

• Kaiser Chiefs (TBA on Other Stage)
• Jungle
• Drenge
• Band of Skulls
• Rudimental
• Wild Beasts
• Chvrches
• Arcade Fire
• Royal Blood
• Lana Del Reay
• Robert Plant
• Jack White
• Fatboy Slim
• The Kooks (TBA on John Peel)
• Bombay Bicycle Club
• Black Keys
• Kasabian