Follow along with the action at Worthy Farm with reviews, photos and more as artists including Femi Kuti, Jamie Webster and 47Soul open the day’s stages
11.30, West Holts
Alongside the usual novelty headwear and banners at Glastonbury, there’s a not-insubstantial amount of Palestinian flags on site this year. And here at the West Holts stage for 47Soul, they are vast in numbers, accompanied by plenty of keffiyehs and football shirts bearing Palestinian colours.
The cause is deeply rooted in 47Soul: formed just over a decade ago in Jordan, all four members have ancestral ties to Palestine. Accordingly, flags and scarves are draped around the instrument stands as they step on stage. The group are architects of a style they refer to as shamstep – a heady mix of electronic music, hip-hop and traditional sounds from the Levantine region weaved around politically-conscious commentary. Between their deeply rhythmic, winding songs about displacement, borders and hope (sung in a mix of Arabic and English), they call for a moment’s silence for the “martyrs of Palestine in this ongoing genocide” and thank local Somerset action groups for their support. When the sound returns after it frustratingly cuts out mid-set, the devoted listeners and dancers in the audience cheer and chant “free free Palestine!” Later on, several dabke dances break out.
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