Saturday 27/06/09 Glastonbury Festival 2009, Day Two @ Worthy Farm, Pilton

A fat ginger bald bloke once wailed about this day in a song - yes, Mrs David Furnish himself. Geordie scamps Ant n Dec appear to love a take away or something like that on it and Sean Bean once went from drunken pub footballer to play for Sheffield United when this particular day came. Yes folks, it’s Saturday!

After wiping the dripping beads of sweat from your body - caused by the beaming glorious sunshine stretching over the cloudless Somerset skies – is there any better way to start the day then making your way to the Jazz World Stage to watch Rolf Harris? The Aussie favourite was packed out. Personally, I’d never seen the place so busy and Rolf certainly didn’t disappoint. There was a rap about pavlova, references to Animal Hospital and enough didgeridoo to make Hugh Jackman cry. It makes it sad that Rolf isn’t still regularly on our TV screens and has been resulted to cameo roles in Churchill the nodding dog adverts. Still, better then butter eh Mr Rotten.

From Harris to hell next. The men who put Stonehenge on the map, made amps go to eleven and confused Liam Gallagher so much he thought the American actors were really British rock stars. Spinal Tap delivered searing satanic afternoon delight. Jamie Cullum being booed when he came on stage was also a surprise highlight. Jarvis Cocker, however, got the reception he deserved after joining the band for bass duties on ‘Big Bottom’. Another huge ovation came for the introduction of the bands drummer “in case he blows up during the set”. Nigel Tufnel put it perfectly and poetically explaining, “They live such short lives.”

With the thick mud fast turning into a solid playground in the fields, the stage was set for Dizzee Rascal. Whether you were dressed as a Smurf, burnt to the proverbial crisp or running aimlessly naked around, everyone stopped and popped their dancing wellies on for the Grime/Pop star. A three song homage to Michael Jackson was only outshone by the ultimate chart smash 'Bonkers'.

Popping quickly into the backstage area for a rest from all that ‘dancing’, its amazing *cough* who you see in ten minutes. No surprise to see Jody Latham from this year’s Hells Kitchen series walking on his own, Newsround’s Lizo strutting around like the Robbie Williams of the peacock world and Peaches Geldof looking as glamorous as the hairs in the bath of Rory McGrath’s flat. Enough of the backstage, Gigwise needs a musical injection! A Crosby, Stills and Nash with a dash of a middling Kasabian later, it’s time for the big one.

The prestigious Saturday headline slot was this year entrusted to one man and his band. The Boss, the man who arguably made denim look cool, the man who put Courtney Cox on the map, the man who soundtracked the story of a wrestler and the man we all call Bruce Springsteen. Bruce and his E Street Band were everything everyone expected. Electrifying, energising and experts of the rock ‘n‘ roll show. Having earlier made a surprise appearance on the John Peel Stage with Gaslight Anthem, Bruce returned the favour and brought lead singer Brian Fallon onstage. Fallon looked more excited then a kid at Christmas who, not only got the big widescreen TV, but a shiny new XBOX to play on it as well. Brian and Bruce shared the mic for a thunderous version of ‘No Surrender’ before The Boss continued with his huge catalogue of anthems. Finishing with an encore that included a roaring version of ‘Thunder Road’, the poignant ‘Hard Times’, and a blistering rendition of ‘Dancing In The Dark’. This was a headline performance like no other. The controversy of last year was firmly behind us and those Glory Days are surely ahead for the Eavis clan. 

Day Two in photos: