**Charli XCX Electrifies Glastonbury with Jubilant ‘Brat’ Return**
Glastonbury Festival witnessed an electrifying moment on Saturday night as Charli XCX graced the renowned Other Stage, delivering a dazzling set filled with throbbing rhythms, showmanship and fan-favourite anthems. Dawning an all-black outfit, complete with statement sunglasses and towering knee-high boots, the pop icon channelled the infectious energy that has come to define her most recent musical era.
This performance stands as a fitting tribute to ‘Brat’, her sixth studio album, released little over a year ago. The project quickly permeated pop culture, birthing the so-called ‘Brat summer’ and inspiring fans to embrace a more playful, boundary-pushing attitude. Addressing the animated festival crowd, Charli XCX reminisced, “It’s summertime and I was thinking about last summer – did anyone have a Brat summer?” The crowd’s roaring response left no doubt.
Kicking things off with the pulsing beats of ‘360’ and the fan-favourite ‘Von Dutch’, Charli wasted no time in setting the tone for the night. The singer, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, built upon last year’s Glastonbury appearance—then a more intimate affair on the Partygirl set. Fast forward to 2025, and she’s been catapulted to larger platforms, fuelled by a string of industry accolades and a surging tide of new fans.
With ‘Club Classics’ and more from her latest release, she kept festival-goers dancing deep into the night. “These are all of my people who are going to Block9 tonight,” she joked, referencing Glastonbury’s legendary after-hours dance venue, a spot synonymous with outlandish parties and musical experimentation.
Charli XCX made it a point to honour every facet of her career throughout the evening. Alongside tracks from ‘Brat’, she revisited earlier hits and cult classics. Songs such as ‘Unlock It (Lock It)’, ‘Party 4 U’, and the racing ‘Vroom Vroom’ elicited cheers, while the addition of ‘Speed Drive’—featured on the widely celebrated Barbie soundtrack—showcased her versatility and relevance in contemporary pop.
Festivalgoers were also treated to a collaborative spirit during her set. Notably, US sensation Gracie Abrams, who had performed at Glastonbury the preceding day, joined onstage to perform Charli’s now-viral ‘Apple’ dance, which originally gained traction on TikTok. This playful social moment reinforced Charli’s reputation not only as a boundary-pushing musician, but also as a cultural touchstone in the digital age.
Bridging time zones and genres, Charli performed her renditions of ‘Guess’—originally with Billie Eilish—and ‘Girl, So Confusing’ featuring Lorde. While neither collaborator was present at the festival, the renditions provided a glimpse into her ability to inhabit songs with or without her famed duet partners.
As the show neared its climax, torrents of water cascaded from the stage ceiling during a dramatic performance of ‘Blame It On Your Love’. The crowd’s energy reached fever pitch with a set-closing version of the chart-topping hit ‘I Love It’, a collaborative anthem originally made famous with Icona Pop.
Charli XCX’s world tour schedule in the last year has been relentless. From the iconic Coachella in California to Barcelona’s Primavera Sound and a major headline appearance at London’s Lido Festival, her presence has been a constant on the global festival circuit. In that time, critics and industry insiders have celebrated her with a sweep of leading honours.
Since the release of ‘Brat’, her distinctive blend of eclectic electronic pop has not only climbed the charts but also anchored her in the centre of the zeitgeist. The wave of recognition has been hard to ignore: sweeping five titles at March’s Brit Awards—including artist of the year, album of the year and songwriter of the year—followed shortly by three Grammy wins and The Ivors’ prestigious ‘songwriter of the year’ designation in May.
Ultimately, Charli XCX’s Glastonbury set was more than simply a homecoming for a British pop star—it was a resounding statement of creative dominance. Her ability to unite nostalgia, innovation, and pure festival energy continues to endear her to fans, ensuring that the spirit of ‘Brat’ lingers far beyond the fleeting summer months.