Glastonbury 2024: Watch Fred Again perform secret set at Strummerville
Acclaimed producer Fred Again performed a secret set on the Strummerville stage at Glastonbury Festival, on the afternoon of Friday, June 28th.
Performing on the small stage to a packed-out crowd basking in the sun and blue skies, the English producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist regaled a receptive audience with a collection of ambient pieces. Most of them were unreleased numbers from 2023’s Secret Life, the collaborative album with genre pioneer Brian Eno, who was at one point his family’s neighbour.
In the true spirit of Glastonbury, the set was kept well under wraps, and despite the audience loudly cheering when the hit producer took to the stage, things returned to a more zen state than his shows are usually used to, as typified by the exuberant moment he closed Coachella 2023 alongside Four Tet and Skrillex. Regardless, it was a genuine moment to remember in a jam-packed afternoon at Worthy Farm.
Famed for his 2023 collaboration with Skrillex and legendary London MC Flowdan ‘Rumble’, while Fred Again’s set was a departure from such a sound, and undoubtedly a surprise to most, before it happened, there were rumblings that he might be making some form of appearance at Glastonbury 2024. When he was spotted at Bristol Airport – which isn’t far from the site – on Thursday, June 27th, rumours circulated that the Londoner could enter the sprawling festival to bring his music to revellers.
While Fred Again played a transcendental, ambient set, he has asserted that there are no further plans to play elsewhere at the festival. “I’m not playin anywhere else btw!” he told fans on his Instagram story. “I’m gonna go and find some rum and ukg”.
Glastonbury has form for secret sets. Last year, Foo Fighters played a not-so-secret performance under the moniker, The Churnups, on the Pyramid Stage. Dave Grohl and the rest of the American rock band took the crowd by storm with a wide-reaching collection of anthems.
Today, Leicester rock outfit, Kasabian, now fronted by guitarist Serge Pizzorno, confirmed that they are playing the secret set marked ‘TBA’ on Woodsies at 6PM. Following intense speculation about Kings of Leon performing ahead of their headline show at London’s BST Hyde Park on June 30th, it was eventually verified on social media that the ‘Club Foot’ outfit would be taking the stage. It makes sense, as the group release their latest album, Happenings, on July 5th and will bolster this exciting new chapter with a large outdoor show in their hometown’s Victoria Park the following day.
As for Fred Again, he will be performing at Reading and Leeds 2024 as part of a lineup that features Blink-182, Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher, and many other prominent acts.
Saturday’s headliners at Glastonbury 2024 are British indie institution Coldplay, with influential rapper Little Simz warming the audience up before them, in a much anticipated set. Elsewhere today, The Streets, Bloc Party, and The Last Dinner Party are scheduled to perform.
Watch Fred Again perform his secret set at Strummverville below.
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