Glastonbury 2024: Bloc Party bring old-school indie bangers to the Other Stage

29 June, 2024

Bloc Party. Credit: Emily Marcovecchio

Bloc Party played a huge, fun-packed early evening set on the Other Stage at Glastonbury 2024 today (June 29), as well as airing new material. Check out what went down and the setlist below.

The band, who are currently celebrating 20 years together on the road to a huge show playing classic debut album ‘Silent Alarm’ in London in full next month, delivered a career-spanning set – including fan-favourite ‘00s indie bangers ‘Banquet’, ‘Mercury’, ‘Flux’, ‘Helicopter’ and ‘So Here We Are’. They also introduced brand new single ‘Flirting Again’, which singer Kele Okereke jokingly described as the latest release “from the hit factory”.

The London four-piece were the fourth band to perform on the stage, following Jamie Webster, The Staves, Tems and The Last Dinner Party.

After opening the with classic ‘So Here We Are’, the band launched into 2007 track ‘Hunting For Witches’, which was one of a number of songs played today that appeared on their second album ‘A Weekend in the City’.

Wearing a Bad Brains T-shirt, Okereke opened the track ‘Mercury’ with an a capella vocal, which he started again after an initial attempt because “the people of Glastonbury deserve a song that’s played properly”.

The frontman challenged the vast audience to “come on, you sunburnt fuckers – jump!”  before playing ‘Banquet’. He was an upbeat figure throughout the performance, which signalled the late arrival of summer in all its glory. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen you, Glastonbury,” he said, “and you look really beautiful today.”

He then introduced the band, alluding their well-documented rotating line-up when he joked “we’ve changed quite a bit – no shade,” before shouting out original guitarist Russell Lissack, drummer Louise Bartle and bassist Harry Deacon.

The show was extremely well-received, though it was also noted that their clash with Kasabian’s secret set on the Woodsies stage was “criminal”. Check out responses below:

During the set, Okereke announced that “the next song is for anyone who’s been following us from back in the day,” before the four-piece played 2005’s ‘This Modern Love’.

The crowd gave a panto “aww!” when Okereke noted that the group had almost reached the end of their performance, but then he teased: “We have one more rocket in our pocket… Do you like bangers?” The band then performed ‘Ratchet’, which appeared on the 2013 album ‘FOUR’.

Bloc Party play London’s Gunnersbury Park on Sunday July 7 with Friendly Fires, The Hives, The Mysterines and Connie Constance. Visit here for tickets and more information.

Bloc Party’s Glastonbury 2024 setlist was:

‘So Here We Are’
‘Hunting for Witches’
‘Mercury’
‘Flirting Again’
‘Song for Clay (Disappear Here)’
‘Banquet’
‘Traps’
‘One More Chance’
‘Blue’
‘I Still Remember’
‘Helicopter’
‘Flux’
‘This Modern Love’
‘Ratchet’

Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos, rumours and more from Glastonbury 2024. Check out the NME liveblog here for all the latest Glastonbury action as it happens.

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