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Neil Young
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Neil Young, Alanis Morissette and BadBadNotGood Graced the Glastonbury Stage in 2025
Here were the highlights from the Canadian artists' sets at the popular U.K. music festival from June 27-29.
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This year’s Glastonbury festival showcased some of Canada’s most regarded talent.
The major U.K. festival is one of the most notable celebrations of music, often boasting one-of-a-kind shows and performances from emerging and legacy artists. Last year, Canadian artists were at the forefront of some of the festival’s memorable moments, including Avril Lavigne's overwhelmingly popular set and Michael J. Fox performing “Fix You” with Coldplay.
For 2025, it was no different. From Neil Young’s polarizing headlining slot to Alanis Morissette’s debut performance at the festival and BadBadNotGood’s hypnotic jazz set, Canada was a notable force during the three-day festival.
Neil Young Draws a Mixed Reaction
Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young brought his generations-spanning catalogue to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday, June 28 — but it wasn’t smooth sailing.
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In January, the Canadian legend announced that he was dropping out of the festival after learning the festival was partnered with BBC, which he described as a “corporate turn-off.” He later changed his mind, though still unsure about whether his set would be livestreamed. Ultimately, it was, but the reception was mixed.
During the livestream, festival-goers had issues hearing the 79-year-old on stage, citing sound and technical difficulties. “Neil Young has 60+ years in show business but hasn’t mastered singing into a microphone,” one user wrote on X. Some attendees noted Young was checking lyric sheets during performances of “Old Man” and “Name of Love.”
While Young drew a large crowd as a headliner, Brat singer Charli xcx brought in a major audience on the Other Stage — despite “boomer comments” about her use of autotune.
Yet, it was still a memorable set for the two-time Glastonbury performer. His subtle demeanour and brooding energy were captivating from the minute he stepped on stage to perform a stripped-back “Sugar Mountain” before bringing out his band, The Chrome Hearts, to perform a flurry of guitar anthems including “Cinnamon Girl” and “Hey Hey, My My.”
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Alanis Morissette’s “Bucket List” Debut
While Alanis Morissette is a Canadian Icon, her impact expands all over the world. The Ottawa native took to the Pyramid stage on Friday, June 27, for her first-ever performance at Glastonbury — playing a career-spanning setlist to mark the long-awaited occasion.
After playing a video montage of her three-decade career, Morissette opened her set with “Hand In My Pocket,” a hit from her influential 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, which was met with immense joy from the crowd. The high-octane performance saw her break out her harmonica on the opener, as well as fan-favourite tracks “Head Over Feet” and “All I Really Want.”
During her performance of “Ironic,” her rendition featured a lyric change that elicited a notable response during Pride month: “It’s meeting the man of my dreams/And then meeting his beautiful wife,” to “meeting his beautiful husband” — this time, quipping to the crowd: “too many times.” During that same song, when Alanis sang “It’s like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife,” fans surprised her by holding up hundreds of spoons. The singer was noticeably touched.
The amount of mutual love and respect at her set was a ripple effect, as seen during her last song, “Thank U.” Before wrapping up the performance, she addressed and thanked the crowd, saying it was a “bucket list joy” for the singer and her band.
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BadBadNotGood's Hypnotic Set
Fronted by bassist Chester Hansen, keyboardist Matthew Tavares and drummer Alexander Sowinski, Toronto’s experimental jazz and hip-hop trio BadBadNotGood took to the Glastonbury stage for the first time on the West Holts Stage on Friday, June 27.
Their hour-long set was a lesson in genuine groove and vibe. With hits like “Eyes on Me” and “Take Me With You,” the trio put forth a rock-solid yet adventurous show that commanded the smaller festival stage. During their set, they covered jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers’ “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” an apt choice to end off a day of performances in the sweltering English heat.
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From their 2024 release, Mid Spiral, the trio performed “Sétima Regra,” a bass-heavy track that puts Hansen at the forefront, but allows each member their time to shine on the five and a half minute track. Spanning hip-hop, jazz, rock, R&B and more, BadBadNotGood boast a relaxed but distinct discography that makes for a perfect festival set.
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