Some of the Greatest Festival Performances on YouTube
Published on 03 July 2020
Oh to be in a field, covered in mud and someone else’s pint, surrounded by strangers all singing their hearts out to their favourite band. We'd really love that right now. Don’t know about you, but we are feeling a little blue at the thought of not going to a festival this year. For us, the summer is all about festival season.
The excitement of attending a festival is truly electrifying. Buying all your supplies before hand, roughing it in a very small tent and instantly regretting not buying the larger option. Watching bands all day long, discovering new music and making friends with other friendly festival-goers. And then the moment you’ve been waiting for all day, the headliner comes on in all their glory. There’s really nothing like the moment before the band comes on, and the lights are all dimmed and everyone in the crowd is raring to go!
Alas. Even though we won’t get to experience that this year, we can sure do our best and relive the best festival performances in history in the comfort of our own home. With so many great festival sets on YouTube these days, you are really spoilt for choice.
Today, we’re looking at some of our favourite festival performances throughout the years, from the Legendary Glastonbury, to the Iconic Reading and Leeds.
So, get your wellies on and pour yourself a pint, sit back and enjoy our round-up of iconic festival performances.
David Bowie at Glastonbury 2000
David Bowie's magical set at Glastonbury 20 years ago still has us hyped. Everything about his performance on the Pyramid Stage was just spectacular; his voice, the setlist, the atmosphere - just amazing. The whole set has never been aired before on telly, until last weekend - so if you haven’t make sure you catch up on it on BBC iPlayer! You don’t want to miss it.
Nirvana at Reading 1992
When it comes to festival performances, it doesn’t get any more iconic than Nirvana at Reading in 1992. And, we’ll be bold enough to say it, this is one of the most electrifying sets ever. Not just by Nirvana, but by any band, EVER. The band even made an iconic entrance onto the stage, with Kurt Cobain coming on in a wheelchair and hospital gown as a way of hitting back after rumours that he was in bad health after a drug overdose. Now, that's how you do it!
Slipknot at Download Festival 2019
It’s no denying that Slipknot smashes it out the park every time they play live - and Download Festival 2019 was no exception. It had been a good few years since the band performed at the festival, and they returned with an all-singing, all-dancing performance. Well, maybe not so much the dancing, but you know what we mean. Check out the full, roaring set below!
Prince at Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
Prince really did steal the show at the 1999 Montreux Jazz Festival. Walking on stage he announces to the crowd “My name is Prince” - as if he needed any introduction at all. Let us gush over him for a second - this performance is just pure and utter class, from start to finish. Packed with outstanding songs, phenomenal solos and soaring vocals - what more could you want?! We are really feeling the jealousy for who every managed to catch this set live.
The Who at Isle of Wight Festival 1970
You really can’t get any better than vintage Who. Roger Daltrey's voice is nothing but flawless here. But let’s be honest, Keith Moon really stole the show here. Those rolls and drum fills are sure nothing to be sniffed at. Check out the whole set below!
Arctic Monkeys at Glastonbury 2013
If you’ve ever seen the Arctic Monkeys live, then you have been truly blessed. They know exactly how to woo the crowd. Packed with classic crowd-pleasers such as Brianstorm, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor and R U Mine. their 2013 appearance at Glastonbury was a truly unbelievable performance!
Red Hot Chili Peppers at Reading Festival 2016
On their fifth return, the Red Hot Chilli Pepper boys are sure to be classed as veterans of Reading festival. The funky four-piece from Los Angeles played an electrifying set with some new songs along with classics like Give It Away and Californication. The ultimate must-see band live, trust us!
The Strokes at Lollapalooza Argentina 2017
One word: INSANE. Seriously. Pulling in a crowd of over 90,000 people, this was the biggest how of The Strokes’s career. NINETY THOUSAND. That’s not too shabby for the five-piece from New York City. This set literally gives us the chills, watching the crowd from front to back going nuts and truly giving it their all.
Rage Against The Machine at Finsbury Park 2010
Okay, not technically a festival... but it was a summer outdoor show so we're counting it! After the successful campaign to make Rage Against the Machine Xmas number one in 2009 and beating X Factor winner Joe McElderry to the Number One spot, the band celebrated in style hosting a free concert in Finsbury Park, London. The Concert was aptly named “The Rage Factor”. The band rocked a crowed of 40,000 people. Watch the exuberant performance by the band with the audience cheering them all the way to the inevitable climax of “Killing In The Name”. Truly awesome stuff!
The Killers secret set at Glastonbury 2017
The Killers sure know how to kill it. Every year at Glastonbury, there is always a secret slot for a mysterious artist... who was it going to be in 2017? Many rumors were flying around, but in the end - the surprise did not disappoint! Brandon Flowers and his fellow band members waltzed on to the John Peel stage and rocked the overflowing tent, no bother at all! Legends!
So there you have it rockers, some of the finest festival footage on the internet to see you through the festival blues! Don't worry, hopefully we'll all be back at it again soon, and we will all be in a field again, covered in mud listening to our favourite bands.
