There may well come a time when every artist walks onstage at Glastonbury to the sound of Noel Gallagher dissing them.
It’s 11 years since Jay-Z mockingly mimed Wonderwall on the Pyramid Stage after the ex-Oasis man questioned his Glastonbury headline credentials. This time, it was Lewis Capaldi’s turn to respond to a dig in kind, turning up in a parka and T-shirt with the elder Gallagher’s face inside a heart.
Capaldi’s rise has been almost as meteoric as Oasis’ in the ’90s. Just over six months after breaking big with Someone You Loved, the 22-year-old has spent five weeks at No.1 in the UK albums chart, scored three Top 10 singles and sold out an arena tour. Indeed, it would be more of a surprise if he didn’t go on to emulate his sardonic tormentor in topping the bill at Worthy Farm one day.
This was his biggest platform to date, however - a late afternoon slot on the Other Stage. “This is mental, there are so many people here,” he marvels, surveying the enormous crowd.
“If you like rock’n’roll you have come to the wrong set. If you like questionably chubby men from Scotland singing sad songs you are in for a treat.”
While the good humoured-Scot’s set would benefit from a couple more upbeat songs in the vein of the jaunty singalong Hollywood, his stunning Nutini-esque voice shines brightest during the most sombre moments, elevating the soulful Don’t Get Me Wrong and the raspy Headspace far beyond their album versions. His command of the audience belies his years, while the mass singalong that greets set closer Someone You Loved appears to bring a tear to his eye.
“If you didn’t like it please keep it to yourself,” he jokes. If the music doesn’t work out, he could always headline the comedy tent next time.
