Glastonbury's secret sets with Fatboy Slim and Rick Astley

25 June 2023 , 16:05

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Glastonbury's secret sets with Fatboy Slim and Rick Astley

Glastonbury releases its headline months ahead but holds back some spots for secret sets and mystery guests and this year was no different with Fatboy Slim and Fred Again just some of the names who popped up for a second time unexpectedly‌

Glastonbury revellers have to keep a close eye on the line-up once the festival begins as Worthy Farm adds secret sets moments before the acts take to the stage and in some cases the sets remain off the billing and rely on word-of-mouth alone to spread the news.

A close friend of Fatboy Slim real name, Norman Cook, told the Mirror’s insider the DJ would be playing a secret set on Friday night before his annual iconic set on the Saturday.

Secret sets often get released over the weekend and the Glastonbury app is updated with the surprise performances.

Fatboy Slim performed at Glastonbury (Redferns)

But, Fatboy Slim was nowhere to be seen on the line-up and his subsequent secret set at The Levels at midnight is still missing from the billing.

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Moments before Norman took to the stage, a source close to the DJ informed our insider and it wasn’t long before festival-goers rushed to The Levels.

One reveller said at the time: “I can’t believe he’s here I had no idea, we were just walking past and by chance saw his set begin. He put on such a great set and it’s made me even more excited for tomorrow night’s performance.”

Another secret set that popped up was Rick Astley who took to the stage for the second time on Saturday after kicking off the day in style at the Pyramid stage.

The Never Gonna Give You Up singer appeared on the bill performing iconic band The Smiths hits with the Blossoms at Woodsies, previously known as the John Peel stage.

They were scheduled to begin at 6pm but as the crowds began to spill out of the tent, neither Rick or the Blossoms were anywhere to be seen.

One member of the crowd said: “We were beginning to worry we’d got the wrong stage and there had been a mix-up.”

Crowds gather in front of the main Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury (Getty Images)

Rick and the Blossoms began their set 20 minutes late but once The Smiths hits began to fill the tent, revellers forgave them for their tardiness.

Rick repeatedly told the crowd Glastonbury was his dream and the artists took a momentarily break to “grab a pint” as Rick explained he needed an alcoholic beverage to “give him some energy”.

Another DJ to surprise revellers with a secret set was Fred Again and despite his second set not making it to the line-up, word of his secret appearance quickly spread through Worthy Farm and security guards were forced to operate a one-in-one-out policy.

The artist performed at the Other Stage on Friday evening to a huge crowd before later heading to The Temple in Shangri-La on Saturday at midnight.

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Charlotte McIntyre