CHVRCHES’ performance on the Other Stage brought blood and sweat to Worthy Farm today (June 23), with singer Lauren Mayberry adopting an unusual twist on the mid-set outfit change.
As the Glaswegian trio neared the end of their set on the festival’s second stage, Mayberry darted off stage as bandmates Martin Doherty and Iain Cook wrapped up ‘Never Say Die’.
When the frontwoman reappeared, her pastel green, fringe-trimmed dress was doused in red paint that covered her arms. The band then launched into a version of ‘Asking For A Friend’, which featured on 2021’s ‘Screen Violence’, with Mayberry holding her bloody arms aloft. CHVRCHES then wrapped up their set with ‘The Mother We Share’ and ‘Clearest Blue’.
The performance was the band’s last festival set in support of ‘Screen Violence’ and, after sharing that news with the crowd, Mayberry spoke to the magic of Glastonbury. “Whenever my partner is really sad or really happy, he watches Blur playing ‘The Universal’ at Glastonbury in 2009,” she said. “This song is much, much less positive than ‘The Universal’ – really it’s saying nothing could happen.”
The band then played ‘How Not To Drown’, their collaboration with The Cure’s Robert Smith. “Wherever you are this one goes out to Robert Smith, the world’s greatest goth,” Doherty said afterwards, with Cook replying: “Siouxsie might have something to say about that.” “Don’t be starting feuds now,” Mayberry joked after.
Later in the set, Mayberry suffered a wardrobe malfunction at the start of ‘Final Girl’ that caused the group to restart the track. “This is the most embarrassing thing ever,” she said, clutching her dress. “I’ve sweated off my tit stickers!
“This is how little I want men on the internet to see my nipples,” she continued, holding up the adhesive patches to the audience. “In the name of feminism! This isn’t what I wanted for the livestream… Free the nipple, ladies and gentlemen. Free them all.”
For more of the action from Worthy Farm – follow our Glastonbury 2023 live blog
