Saturday 23/06/07 Day Two @ Glastonbury Festival, Worthy Farm, Somerset

After yesterday’s heavy rain, on day two Glastonbury once again wakes up to overcast skies, light showers and... mud. But it would take a lot more than wet weather to dampen the collective spirit and come rain or mud, the show would go on; of course, a bit of live music always helps. Rising to the challenge were The Pipettes. Dressed in black and white polka dot dresses and wearing big smiles the trio played a harmonious and chirpy set to a large crowd including ‘Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me’, ‘One Night Stand’ and ‘Pull Shapes’ before rounding off a successful feel good and synchronised performance with ‘We Are The Pipettes’.

Guillemots’ front man Fyfe Dangerfield, dressed in a red suit with matching shirt and tie, brought a harder edge to the day with an intense and at times otherworldly performance that showcased the best of their back catalogue. Flanked by masqueraded dancers, the band stormed through ‘Go Away’ before perfectly executing the sumptuous ‘Made Up Love Song #43’. After dedicating ‘Trains To Brazil’ to the late John Peel the band concluded an awe inspiring set with ‘Sao Paulo’.

Over on the Other Stage playing just hours before they were due to support Muse in Paris were Biffy Clyro. A jam packed but relatively short and somewhat disappointing show boasted both new and old material including ‘Who’s Got A Match’, ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everybody Dies’ and the hit single ‘Saturday Superhouse’. Not a performance to set Glastonbury alight but one that no less succeeded in warming up a sleepy crowd.

Carl Barat’s Dirty Pretty Things made their Glastonbury debut amid rumours of a Libertines reunion but Pete Doherty was nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless, the crowd were treated to a rousing set starting with ‘Tired Of England’ and featuring new material, including ‘Suits Punk Military’ as well as old favourites ‘The Enemy’, ‘Last Of The Small Town Playboys’, ‘Deadwood’ and ‘Gin And Milk’. Concluding an energetic and incessant show Anthony Rossomando took to the trumpet, kick starting ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’ proving that you don’t need Doherty to pull an appreciative crowd.

Swaggering onstage like she was entering a boxing ring alongside a full brass compliment, Lily Allen, wearing a pink dress and Barbour hoodie combo, launched into ‘LDN’ and ‘Everything’s Just Wonderful’ giving Glastonbury a much needed lift. It also gave her a platform on which to resurrect her spat with Cheryl Tweedy. Swigging from a can of Strongbow and dedicating ‘Cheryl Tweedy’ to a “someone very unspecial”, Allen changed the lyrics to “I’m glad I don’t look like ****ing Cheryl Tweedy” much to the crowds delight. But the highlight of her set would be former Specials star Lynval Golding joining for her version of ‘Blank Expression’. And there would be more of The Special’s to come in the form of Terry Hall and a stunning rendition of the 1979 hit ‘Gangsters’. As well as ‘Not Big’, ‘Knock ‘Em Out’ and ‘Smile’ a humbled and nervous Allen also treated the crowd to Blondie’s ‘Heart Of Glass’ before introducing her very unfamous middle finger wielding brother and finishing with ‘Alfie’.

Day One, full review here
Day Three, full review here