Olivia Dean pays tribute to grandmother and Windrush generation at Glastonbury

Singer Olivia Dean devoted her music Carmen to her grandmother and different members of the Windrush technology as she neared the top of her set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

The neo soul singer, 25, who was named the winner of the BBC Introducing artist of the yr award final yr and whose album Messy earned her a Mercury Prize nomination, adopted rock band Squeeze, who opened Friday’s Pyramid Stage performances.

Sporting a T-shirt along with her grandmother’s face on it, Dean stated: “She got here to this nation when she was 18, by no means been on a aircraft… she had my mum fairly younger, my mum had me and I’m a product of her bravery.

“So this music is for my granny, to the Windrush technology, for any immigrant, anybody’s who’s courageous sufficient to maneuver.”

Dean wiped away tears and commented on “what a lovely day” it was earlier than she performed her final music of the set, Dive.

Later, 28-year-old British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa will headline the competition and is anticipated to play hit songs together with Houdini and Coaching Season from her third studio album, Radical Optimism.

Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis informed BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Present there will likely be “no huge surprises” at this yr’s occasion, however she did say Coldplay’s Saturday headline slot will likely be a “big second”.

American R&B singer SZA will headline on Sunday, whereas nation star Shania Twain will play the coveted Legends slot.

Earlier, Eavis defended the competition line-up amid criticism that there’s a lack of rock bands, telling the PA information company: “I feel the line-up displays what’s taking place within the music world for the time being – there aren’t plenty of new rock acts to select from, if I’m trustworthy.

“Hopefully that can emerge once more, my heyday was 1995 with Pulp and Oasis and Radiohead… and that was nice, however music adjustments on a regular basis and proper now that is the place we’re at.

“Yearly, we’ve been criticised for being too rock, too grime, too hip hop, too pop… it’s simply a part of our yr.

“Typically it’s not from the general public… all people’s actually glad and excited to be right here.”

This yr’s competition is going down within the week earlier than the Common Election, and Eavis stated: “I really feel a bit like we’ve stepped out of the election, although it’s subsequent week.

“We have been engaged on having voter registration cubicles, however then the day moved.

“It’s a giant one for us, we’ve by no means had a pre-election competition.”

Glastonbury organisers have additionally determined the Euro 2024 soccer match won’t be broadcast on the competition – with England set to face Slovakia within the final 16 at 5pm on Sunday.

Eavis stated the competition arrange a display screen to look at fixtures through the World Cup in 1998, however occasions have modified.

“We used to have a display screen right here as no-one had any technique of discovering out what even the consequence was as a result of we have been so reduce off from the surface,” she stated.

“Now everybody’s linked, and I feel, you recognize, it’s a music competition.

“I’m positive if folks wish to see it sufficient they will examine for outcomes or no matter on their telephones.

“However hopefully I’m encouraging folks to place their telephones away and neglect in regards to the exterior world.”

Music followers at Glastonbury having fun with Friday’s line-up might be met with the “occasional gentle bathe” however the day will primarily be “dry and vivid”, based on the Met Workplace.

Temperatures are anticipated to succeed in excessive teenagers to low 20Cs over the weekend.

Thursday’s festivities included a tribute to the late DJ Annie Nightingale, the primary feminine presenter on BBC Radio 1 who died in January on the age of 83.

Competition founder Sir Michael Eavis was amongst Thursday’s performers and was met with rapturous cheers by a crowd of hundreds as he appeared in a wheelchair on the Park stage.

Elsewhere, simply days after the beginning of his fourth little one, Joe Wicks led a health session and set his sights on taking his exercises to the Pyramid Stage.