Michael Kiwanuka Is Home Again At Glastonbury 2024

Michael Kiwanuka struck a chord with the Saturday night Glastonbury Festival audience. At the halfway point of the festival weekend, the Brit Award nominee powered through some gremlins and out of tune instruments to deliver a near hour of soul perfection. It’s been over a decade since the London born, son of Ugandan immigrants released his debut album Home Again but he is no less hungry to win over this Pyramid Stage crowd than he was when he first played the festival 8 years ago on West Holts.

Michael Kiwanuka @ Glastonbury Festival 2024

Michael Kiwanuka @ Glastonbury Festival 2024 (Kalpesh Patel)
Michael Kiwanuka @ Glastonbury Festival 2024 (Kalpesh Patel)

A set filled with songs from albums two and three; Love And Hate and Kiwanuka, he begins with Hard To Say Goodbye and then marches straight into You Ain’t The Problem with the urgency the song requires.

His band are focused and his backing singers amplify the soul exuding from the 37-year-old’s voice. He brings out special guest, and Prince protege, Lianne La Havas for a breathtaking performance of 2016’s Rule The World. La Havas returned to Worthy Farm for the first time since appearing on The Other Stage in 2022 and was greeted with warmth from the Saturday evening crowd. Both were nominated for the BBC Sound Of 2012, with Kiwanuka winning it so it’s great to see more than a decade on, how both have evolved and are still revered with critical and commercial successes.

Whilst at first glance, the London songwriters’ songs may appear to be upbeat, with catchy hooks and drawing off of soul, funk, rock and psychedelia, there is texture to his music and there is weight behind his words. The crowd were transfixed by the musical prowess of Kiwanuka, paired with his sincere yet soulful voice. Tinged with the pain of his ancestors, he has talked of his struggles with his identity over the years being black and growing up in Muswell Hill. This is something that has long been the focus and expression in Kiwanuka’s music and lyrics, no more than Black Man In A White World – a song that unfortunately still carries weight and resonates with many in 2024.

“What was supposed to happen was, you heard that little synth thing and it would seemingly go into this song and it was going to be amazing so we’ll start as we’ve done that once this is tuned and we’ll go again.” A near seamless transition from Final Days into Solid Ground is halted after the Sequential Prophet-5 keyboard he’s sat at is out of tune. “You just can’t get the equipment these days, they don’t make them like they used tohe quips whilst an attempt is made to re-tune it. The crowd cheers, showing him love and patience trying to put him at ease. He tried again but couldn’t make it through the first verse as there was something still off with the instrument so aborted the song.

“I hope you know this one”he says, almost apologetically after the stumble of before, launching into Cold Little Heart. The song was used as the theme of the HBO series Big Little Lies as well the opening track of his second album Love And Hate before closing off his set with the title track from the same record and a barnstorming guitar solo.

The warmth that exuded from the Mercury Prize winner into his music is contagious, many commenting online that this was one of the sets of the weekend. With the teasing of new music, it could be an exciting start to another momentous year in Kiwanuka’s career.

Review of Michael Kiwanuka at Glastonbury Festival 2024 by Chris Lambert. Photography by Kalpesh Patel.

Dua Lipa Pulls Off A Feat Of Pop Houdini At Glastonbury 2024

Sam Fender @ Glastonbury Festival 2022 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sam Fender Announces Third LP People Watching

Sam Fender has announced details of his highly anticipated third album, People Watching. which is set to drop on 21st...
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day @ The O2 Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Download Festival Announces 2025 Line-Up As Early Bird Tickets Sell Out

The 22nd edition of the legendary Download Festival brings us their first announcement, with three bands having their first opportunity to headline the iconic festival.

Cherrytree Event

Cherrytree Music Announces ‘Cherrytree London’ Live Show In Collaboration With EQ Music

The Cherrytree Music Company, the label, artist management firm and music publishing house behind global artists such as Sting, Shaggy and Incubus man Michael Einziger, have announced their Cherrytree London live show in collaboration with EQ Music. The special event will take place at London’s Camden Club on Friday 22nd November, featuring live performances from an amazing line-up of Cherrytree Music Company and EQ Music artists: Sophie Grey, Nico Tortorella, MYYLO and Nic Billington.

Imogen Clark (Michelle Grace Hunder)

Imogen Clark Announces Expanded Edition Of Sophomore LP ‘The Art Of Getting Through’

Five months after releasing The Art of Getting Through to unanimous acclaim around the globe, Nashville-based...
Jack Valero (Liza Marie Williams)

Jack Valero Shares New Single ‘Heaven Help Me’

It’s been a hectic summer for Jack Valero as he prepares to release his new EP Not In Kansas Anymore on 29th January 2025 – a set produced by the acclaimed Top 5 solo artist Jamie Webster, and Jack’s first for Modern Sky UK (Lottery Winners, Red Rum Club).

Annie Lennox (Robert Sebree)

Annie Lennox To Headline Royal Albert Hall Supporting The Circle For Women’s Rights Worldwide

Annie Lennox and The Circle, a global feminist organisation, have announced the inaugural SISTERS: Annie Lennox and...
Roger Daltrey with The Who - Teenage Cancer Trust @ Royal Albert Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

The Who Frontman Roger Daltrey Announces 2025 Tour

Legendary rock singer Roger Daltrey will be hitting the road in 2025 on a special solo tour packed with classic The Who songs, solo hits and his now-famous Q&A sessions, in which he opens up to the fans who have been with him throughout the decades.

The Defects @ O2 Academy Islington (Chris Griffiths)

It’s End Of Days For Defects At O2 Academy Islington

Music can so often support us through our most vulnerable times. It’s there to comfort us when we’re alone and it can...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing