Royal Blood Blow Eardrums For Glastonbury 2023 Pyramid Stage Set

Brightonian rock duo Royal Blood have been in the press for all the wrong reasons recently, their scathing treatment of a lacklustre audience response to their brand of bass-driven rock at the recent BBC Big Weekend last month had them defending their scolding of crowd for not showing enough enthusiasm. And so fast forward a few weeks, following a few opening slots on Devon-hailing rockers Muse’s UK tour, they followed The ChurnUps and preceded headliners Arctic Monkeys on Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage. And boy, did they bring it!

Royal Blood @ Glastonbury Festival 2023

Mike Kerr of Royal Blood @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

Limited to just 60 minutes, the duo had a lot to get through as well as putting on a show to beat the naysayers. A tough call immediately after a surprise set from Dave Grohl-led Foo Fighters. But they brought it, and then some. Touching on all four of their LPs, including a taste of their forthcoming LP Back To The Water Below by way of latest single Mountains At Midnight, frontman and bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher prove that it doesn’t take an army or gimmicks to put on a mesmerising show on Glastonbury’s largest stage.

The set leant heavily on the duo’s debut LP but they threw in anthems from sophomore LP Typhoons by way of singles Trouble’s Coming and the driving turbulence of Typhoons.

Both Kerr and Thatcher exuded the bravado they’re quickly becoming known for. Gone are the humble boys from Sussex that can’t believe they’re here, rather brothers who expect to be topping the bill. That said, Thatcher came out wearing an Arctic Monkeys tank top, getting those in the crowd hanging out for the night’s headliner on-side from the outset.

Both men made sure to use the vast stage, popping down to the front walkway infront of the TV cameras to get as close as possible to the audience – not so easy when you’re either meant to be beating a rhythm or singing!

Take then for what they are and you won’t be disappointed. Royal Blood do rock tunes. Heavy, heavy (sometimes funky) rock tunes. So heavy in fact that it was the only set of the four I watched in sequence (Texas, The ChurnUps, Royal Blood & Arctic Monkeys) that I was forced to pop earplugs in for. I could still feel every bone in my body vibrate with the pounding bass lines Kerr put out. Magic.

Words and photos by Kalpesh Patel at Glastonbury Festival 2023.

Arctic Monkeys’ Glastonbury 2023 Headline Show Proves Divisive

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...

Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.