Irish bands bring the noise to Glastonbury 2025
- Richard Blowes
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Sprints, Gurriers, CMAT and Kneecap among the Irish bands who provided some of the main talking points at Glastonbury with brilliant sets and political points
Gurriers, Karla from Sprints, DJ Próvai from Kneecap and CMAT
Unlike pathetic cowards The 1975 who explicitly stated they didn't want to be defined as a political band (just genocide apologists instead then? They need that US visa), the Irish contingent at Glastonbury not only brought the noise but also a welcome wave of support for Palestine.
Sprints, despite a 2pm start, tore through a defining performance on Woodsies stage with a set that was equal parts fury and focus. Their blistering energy had the tent shaking and earned them more than a few new followers. It's proof that their rapid rise from Dublin’s underground is no fluke. New single Descartes was a highlight.
Gurriers also played Woodsies with frontman Dan Hoff pointedly stating during their set: "Free Palestine, unlike other bands we know where we stand politically." They also played a blistering set ending with Dissolve, Approachable and Come and See.
Meanwhile, CMAT, ever the theatrical powerhouse, transformed the Park Stage into her own country-pop cabaret and earned a glowing 5* review in the Guardian. With costumes, charisma, and full singalong moments, she reminded everyone why she's one of Ireland’s most magnetic exports. And also not afraid to speak her mind as Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, chanted "free Palestine" during her set, which included Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, from her forthcoming third studio album Euro-Country.
And then there was Kneecap defying the British establishment with Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), facing a trumped up terror charge and defiantly declaring at the outset of their set: "I'm a free man." The group delivered an electric set including Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite, Get Your Brits Out, Fine Art and the prodigy adjacent latest single The Recap. They left no one in any doubt as to where they stand on Palestine with DJ Próvaí sporting a Palestine Action T-shirt, underneath the red boiler suit associated with the group. Their newly announced Electric Picnic slot will be a cracker.
Over 30 Irish acts played Glastonbury 2025 including Inhaler, Annie Mac, The Script, Ash, Lorraine Nash, Oisin Leech, Liam O'Maonlai, The Coronas, Dea Matrona, The Henry Girls, The Riptide Movement, For Those I Love and Orla Gartland.
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