The Glastonbury Festival took an unexpected turn on Friday evening as performance artist Marina Abramović led a seven-minute silence from the main stage just before PJ Harvey’s set on the Pyramid Stage. The interlude between musical acts was conceived as a “public intervention” to reflect on conflict and peace.
Abramović, known for her thought-provoking performances, encouraged thousands of festival-goers to close their eyes, put a hand on a neighbor’s shoulder, and be still for 420 seconds. Despite the surrounding music bleeding into the silence and some audience members failing to fully disconnect, the overall effect was strangely moving.
Speaking to The Guardian beforehand, Abramović explained the importance of turning inward in a dark moment in human history. She acknowledged the risk of asking Glastonbury’s rowdy fans to be quiet but expressed hope for the potential impact of the moment.
The artist’s appearance was followed by a crowd-pleasing set from Paul Heaton, who brought out surprise guest Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim. Meanwhile, the reunited Sugababes drew a massive crowd at West Holts, and dance star Fred Again made an unannounced appearance at the Stonebridge Bar.
PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem, and Dua Lipa were set to perform later on Friday, with Lipa’s headline set expected to be a highlight of the weekend. Despite rumors of potential guest appearances during her show, Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis hinted at no big surprises but expressed excitement for Lipa’s performance, noting her love for the festival and dedication to putting on a memorable show.
