US R&B singer SZA’s Sunday night headline act failed to attract a large audience at Glastonbury, despite her impressive performance. The festival-goers were disappointed when Madonna, who was rumoured to perform as the headliner, did not appear. SZA is known for her complex analyses of modern relationships which appeal to millennial fans. Unfortunately, this appeal did not ignite the audience’s energy on the Pyramid Stage. Due to the distorted and muffled microphone during the first half of the set, SZA’s lyrics and jazzy vocal runs appeared out of sync with the performance. She also did not address the crowd, making very minimal interaction in the show’s first act.
However, towards the middle of her set, SZA played “Nobody Gets Me,” a heartfelt ballad about her struggle to let go after breaking up with her fiancé, which created an emotional and overwhelming feeling among the younger fans in the audience. SZA had spectacular vocal command, and her performance had a compelling stage presence which projected intimacy to the back of the field. SZA’s set was divided into three parts which mapped out the process of getting over a broken heart. The last part was titled “Coming Home,” in which SZA sprouted wings, climbed a tree, and sang some of her more liberated, feel-good songs.
It was a shame that SZA’s performance went down in history for the wrong reasons despite her magnificent show. Other performers faced a similar challenge, including Sugababes, Fred Again, and Avril Lavigne, who played to small areas unable to handle the massive audience turnout. Shania Twain played the coveted Legends slot, while Avril Lavigne had as much energy as the crowd, causing traffic jams as fans scrambled to hear her era-defining pop-punk hits. Other headliners included Janelle Monae, Nigerian star Burna Boy, French dance maestros Justice, indie-pop group London Grammar, and US indie band The National. Glastonbury will return in 2025 and take a fallow year in 2026.
As SZA said in a tweet after her set ended, “The bravery required to be alive in public is remarkable.
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