Glastonbury 2024: Coldplay’s record-breaking setlist
Coldplay topped off June 29th at Glastonbury Festival with a star-studded set on the Pyramid Stage. It was the band’ record-breaking fifth time headlining the main stage at Worthy Farm.
They began the set with the classic hit ‘Yellow’ as fireworks erupted over an audience that may well be the biggest the festival has ever seen, giving Elton John’s famed retirement set last year a run for its money. They then proceeded to roll off hits old and new.
The first special guest of the evening was the vocalist and pianist Victoria Canal. Together, they performed the 2011 classic, ‘Paradise’. Victoria Canal is a Spanish-American singer-songwriter born in 1998. She’s been songwriting since the age of 11, and has continued to develop her craft since those formative years, with an eclectic mix of influences, including fellow singer-songwriters John Mayer and Gavin DeGraw.
Later in the set, they brought out Little Simz as part of glittering ensemble. Together, they performed the future classic, ‘We Pray’. Burna Boy also featured on a video backdrop for the track. Little Simz was fresh from the Pyramid Stage herself having provided one of the finest sets of the festival so far earlier in the day.
‘We Pray’ is an unreleased track from the band’s forthcoming new record, Moon Music. They were also joined by Palestinian-Chilean vocalist Elyanna for the song. As a collective the assortment of collaborators brought a distinct gospel feel to the track.
However, the biggest moment of the technicolour set – which involved the audience being given their own glowing wristband – was when Coldplay were joined by a very special guest, Michael J. Fox. With a Red Stratocaster in arms, the wheelchair-bound actor joined the band on stage as they performed the ‘Humankind’ and ‘Fix You’.
“Well, here’s another legendary Michael, one who just totally rocks, with his Chuck Berry riff and the way he punched Biff, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Michael J. Fox,” Martin sang, referencing the Back to the Future series, before Coldplay jumped into the euphoric ‘Humankind’. It was an emotional moment for everybody. Fox looked overjoyed at what unfolded.
Aside from the stars, they also brought the hits, and even switched to a small stage amid the crowd for a deep-cut from their debut and an entirely improvised track that involved Chris Martin singing about crowd members that the camera panned towards, one of which just so happened to be Sir Michael Eavis, who appeared to be sat backstage. And all while Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg watched on.
Alas, songs make sets, and you can see what Coldplay rolled out during their record-breaking set below.
What did Coldplay play at Glastonbury 2024?
- ‘Yellow’
- ‘Higher Power’
- ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’
- ‘Paradise’ (ft. Victoria Canal)
- ‘The Scientist’
- ‘Clocks’
- ‘Hymn For The Weekend’
- ‘Charlie Brown’
- ‘Viva La Vida’
- ‘We Pray’ (ft. Little Simz, Burna Boy and Elyanna)
- ‘Arabesque’ (ft. Femi Kuti)
- ‘Violet Hill’
- ‘Infinity Sign’
- ‘Something Like This’
- ‘My Universe’
- ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’
- ‘Sparks’
- ‘Humankind’ (ft. Michael J. Fox and ensemble)
- ‘Fix You’ (ft. Michael J. Fox)
- ‘feelslikeimfallinginlove’
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