Charli XCX Steals the Show at Glastonbury 2025
No headliner? No problem. Charli XCX brought a tidal wave of Charli XCX energy to Glastonbury 2025’s Other Stage, right in the middle of her blazing BRAT tour. While Neil Young was playing the main stage to a surprisingly modest crowd, a sea of fans was drawn to Charli’s vivid world of hyper-pop, clever remixes, and wild visuals.
Taking the stage at 10:35 PM and holding the crowd in her grip for over an hour, Charli wasted no time. She kicked things off with the shygirl remix of "365," instantly setting the tone: bold, brash, and distinctly modern. But the buzz wasn’t just about the music—the visuals and surprises kept the crowd on their toes. During "Von Dutch," a BRAT flag went up in flames, creating a moment of pure, unscripted chaos that made phones shoot into the air to capture the spectacle.
Her setlist felt like a party playlist featuring deep cuts and unexpected twists. "I Might Say Something Stupid" got a fresh twist with The 1975 and Jon Hopkins remix, while "Girl, So Confusing" took on a dreamy edge thanks to a Billie Eilish rework. Fans lost it when Charli spun out a chaotic, tape-delivered cover of Icona Pop’s "I Love It"—a nod to her roots that turned into a full-on singalong.
Remixes, Surprises, and Star Power
The surprises didn't stop there. Gracie Abrams popped in as the mysterious 'Apple Girl' during the track "Apple," and hints of Lorde’s voice weaved into its remix, blurring the line between live set and fever dream. Extended intros and outros morphed classics like "Unlock It,” "Sympathy Is a Knife," and "Guess" into completely new experiences, pushing fans through waves of anticipation and release.
Even planned technical moments carried that sense of unpredictability. "Everything Is Romantic" and "Speed Drive" showcased Charli’s ability to shift between emotional, yearning ballads and pure dancefloor fire in an instant. And if you thought there was no room for her festival anthems, they landed with power—raising the energy even more in a crowd that was clearly there for the ride.
Despite the festival’s typical schedule clashes, it was clear who won this round. The Other Stage’s throng spilled beyond its usual limits, with even passersby drawn in by the relentless pulse and spectacle. Social feeds later swelled with glowing tributes to Charli’s genre-bending, crowd-commanding set, and the burning BRAT flag became the new viral symbol of the night.
This Glastonbury gig wasn’t just another date on the BRAT tour calendar. Coming fresh off triumphant sets at Coachella and Primavera Sound, Charli XCX has kicked into a new gear—upstaging legends, setting things alight (literally), and leading a flock of devoted fans who’ll follow her anywhere there’s a beat.
