Who will perform secret sets at Glastonbury 2024?
Fans predict a rock band will make a surprise appearance
Glastonbury’s headliners are all confirmed and revellers are flocking to Somerset to put up their tents, but one question remains about the 2024 festival - who will play the secret sets?
There is a long tradition of big stars performing surprise sets at the festival at Worthy Farm. The Foo Fighters popped up on stage last year after teasing their performance with cryptic messages on social media, and past mystery performers include acts such as Lady Gaga, The Killers and Pulp.
This year’s Glastonbury line-up boasts big names like Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, but plenty of fans have spotted a few gaps in the bill where unannounced acts could slip in. The space generating the most buzz is the 6pm to 7pm slot on the Woodsies stage on Saturday, which is currently reading as “TBA”.
So who could it be? We take a look at some of the possible contenders.
Kasabian
The smart money appears to be on Kasabian, with many fans convinced they will be on stage at the event. There has been a lot of talk about the main surprise act being a rock band, probably big in the noughties, so the Empire singers certainly fit the bill.
Fuelling the rumours is the fact that earlier this month, bookmakers William Hill apparently suspended betting on the band appearing at the festival.
Has anyone got a club foot from queueing all night?
— Secretglasto (@secretglasto) June 26, 2024
Plus the SecretGlasto account on X - which is known for dropping titbits about the music extravaganza - seemed to suggest it could be Kasabian when it posted a mysterious message apparently referring to their song Club Foot. Shared on Wednesday as Glasto opened, it said: “Has anyone got a club foot from queueing all night?”
The band previously played Glastonbury in 2007 and then again in 2014.
The Killers
The Killers are big favourites at the festival, having been on the bill in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2019. They also have experience of being the surprise act, wowing festival-goers when they made an appearance on the John Peel Stage in 2017.
The timings also work out if Brandon Flowers and co are a 2024 mystery act – they are currently on tour in the UK but there is a gap between shows which would allow them to head down to Somerset for a quick set.
Kings of Leon
US rockers Kings of Leon are also on tour, and they will be starting their UK leg on June 30. They will be playing in Austria on June 27, but then head to the UK for a show in Hyde Park on June 30.
That suggests the stars will be free – and in the country – for Glasto’s big weekend, and fans are convinced that means they will be heading to the festival.
“We all know it's Kings of Leon, right?” one posted on X. Another said: “Still think it’s gonna be Kings of Leon. Massive Glasto sized gap in their tour and they played for the first time 20 years ago.”
Pulp
Pulp, a big name in Britpop, are thought to be possible contenders for a secret spot this year. The Common People singers – fronted by Jarvis Cocker – played Glastonbury in 1995. They replaced the Stone Roses after they had to pull out, and their set is considered by many music fans to be one of the greatest at the event.
They also did a secret set in 2011.
The XX
Music fans have spotted that two members of The XX will be performing separately already, raising the possibility of them playing a surprise set as a group.
They have been part of the line-up twice, in 2010 and 2017, so fans have been curious to see them on the bill separately but not together this year. Jamie XX is on the Woodies stage on Friday night, while Romy Madley Croft is DJ-ing at the Levels arena on the same day.
Other acts in the mix
Plenty of other huge acts are also rumoured to be putting in appearances, include the likes of Blue, Glass Animals, Liam Gallagher, Placebo and Troye Sivan.
Some fans reckon Harry Styles could turn up, and others are crossing their fingers that US superstar Taylor Swift – currently wowing the UK with her Eras Tour – could stop by.
Who is confirmed for Glastonbury this year?
This year’s main stage headliners include Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, with Shania Twain in the coveted Legends slot. Other acts performing include Little Simz, Squeeze, Keane, Cyndi Lauper, Paloma Faith, Camila Cabello and Jessie Ware.
The festival takes place at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset from June 26 to June 30.
