Rick Astley Isn’t Gonna Give You Up At Glastonbury 2023

by | Jul 1, 2023

Picture the scene, you are a 15-year-old learning to play drums in your dad’s garage and dreaming of one day playing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival. Fast forward (unless that is you, now) to June 2023 enter Rick Astley, who at 57, finally realised the dream of that kid from Lancashire, when he opened the stage with full band. The singer-songwriter came away from his debut Glastonbury performance having occupied the space between 80’s pop idol and mature soul artist magically, throwing in some rock and new stuff for good measure. That was the brief and Astley understood the assignment.

Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023

Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)
Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

When people are starting to fray around the edges, having partied hard for at least 2 days in the oasis that is Worthy Farm in Somerset, midday on a Sunday is a challenging slot to fill. Opening with classic Together Forever (1987), Astley swiftly acknowledged that most people were only there to hear that song and promised it would close out the set. No more guessing. He worked hard to get the audience warmed up, cracking jokes and playing games with the cameras and those who made sure to be on site early were treated well for their eventual participation. The singer was depreciating and witty throughout, generously showing appreciation for his band and singers along the way, allowing them to shine individually as they all got to live out their own childhood dreams of the festival, taking their moment at the front while Rick hung off to the back or side.

Moving effortlessly through Keep Singing (from his anniversary album, 50 in 2016) which admittedly not many knew, to cover a track pretty much everybody knew, As It Was by Harry Styles. Astley threw a guitar round his neck and gave it an 80’s synth makeover playing A-Ha’s Take On Me underneath. Genius. Cry For Help (1991) was atmospheric and sounded like it was being sung in a church, rather than in a field in the middle of the Somerset acountryside.

The very modern salmon pink suit worked fabulously against the 80’s outfits of Dawn and Lauren (the choir of two) donned in sparkling denim jumpsuits featuring fluted cuffs. Back to that 15-year-old in a garage, when the vocalist moved to the drum kit he took on, and nailed, AC/DC’s Highway To Hell sharing it was a dream come true for him. We were treated to a new track Dippin’ My Feet (2023) telling the audience he would be a fool not to take advantage of the biggest audience of his life and the TV being there, he was right and it was well received. The beauty of this musicians’ time at the Pyramid was making new things old and old things new.

Closing, as promised, with Never Gonna Give You Up (1987), that song, the whole field was singing along before a note was even played. It was the call and response track of the day, completely worth the wait. When the music kicked in, the band accompanied by the stage staff displaying a choreographed routine along the safety barrier, a unique touch where no one cared IF anyone pointed the wrong way. I did miss the famous finger click and hip sway from the music video, but it was the perfect end to a tricky slot.

I came away thinking what a talented gentleman, he knows how to work a crowd and appreciates his musical history. Very obviously delighted to be on the stage showcasing his ability on a range on instruments. Rick Astley’s Glastonbury debut was everything I wanted to see. Overall 10/10? No notes (apart from these).

  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023
  • Rick Astley @ Glastonbury Festival 2023

Review by Sharmayne Robinson and photos by Kalpesh Patel at Glastonbury Festival 2023.

Carly Rae Jepsen Really, Really, Really Likes You At Glastonbury 2023

Jeff Lynne Cancels Final ELO Show At BST Hyde Park 2025 Following Illness

In a heartbreaking development for fans, Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) have cancelled what was set to be their final ever UK performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 13 July 2025. The decision follows Lynne’s continued ill health and comes just days after the group’s second show at Manchester’s Co-op Live on 10th July was pulled moments before showtime, after the venue had already filled with fans. Lynne, 77, has been battling a systemic infection and is now under close medical supervision.

Olivia Dean @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Olivia Dean Warms A Damp Hyde Park With Soulful Resilience At BST Hyde Park 2025

Though clouds still loomed and the ground remained squelchy underfoot, Olivia Dean brought a welcome calm and undeniable warmth to BST Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage on Sunday afternoon. Following a weather-disrupted opening set by Amber Mark — whose performance was cut short by a torrential downpour — Dean arrived as the skies cleared, bringing poise, polish, and powerful vocals to a crowd that refused to let a bit of British summer rain dampen their spirits.

Clairo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Clairo Brings Soft Focus And Dreamy Intimacy To The Great Oak Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In the golden lull between a dramatic afternoon downpour and Sabrina Carpenter’s headline pop spectacle, Clairo turned London’s Great Oak Stage into a sanctuary of softness and reflection. Her early evening performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 6th July offered a tender contrast to the festival’s typically high-energy crescendo, inviting the crowd into a quieter, more introspective space.

Jessie Murph (Press)

Jessie Murph Announces Bold New Album ‘Sex Hysteria’, Shares Vulnerable New Single ‘Bad As The Rest’

Boundary-breaking rising star Jessie Murph has unveiled her latest single Bad As The Rest, offering a raw and emotionally charged glimpse into her upcoming sophomore album Sex Hysteria, due out on 18th July via Columbia Records.

The Jacques (Nick Sayers)

The Jacques Announce Riotous New Single ‘All The Other Sinners’ Ahead of Second Album ‘Make Repetition!’

London/Bristol alt-rock trio The Jacques are ramping up momentum ahead of their second album Make Repetition! with the release of their blistering new single All The Other Sinners — a searing, melody-drenched slice of chaos and catharsis out now.

Cam @ The Tabernacle (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Cam Captivates London With A Night Of Raw Vocals And Real Stories At The Tabernacle

In a sweltering Tabernacle, a somehow both vast and intimate venue, a sweat-soaked audience filled every seat for...
J.Fla (Press)

J.Fla Redefines Herself With Empowering New Single ‘Stellar Paradox’

South Korean singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation J.Fla has taken a giant leap into the cosmos with her newest release, Stellar Paradox, marking the start of a bold new chapter in her musical journey. Known to millions for her viral YouTube covers, J.Fla now turns the spotlight firmly onto her own voice with a genre-blending, emotionally charged original that paves the way for her highly anticipated upcoming EP, due in late summer 2025.

Chloe Qisha @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Chloe Qisha Closes The Rainbow Stage In Style At BST Hyde Park 2025

After a tempestuous afternoon that saw Hyde Park lashed by torrential rain and set times thrown into flux, it was Chloe Qisha who restored the calm — and then brought the fire — as she closed the Rainbow Stage on Sunday evening with a confident, emotionally astute set that proved worth the wait.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing