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Olivia Dean pays tribute to grandmother and Windrush generation at Glastonbury

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Shropshire Star

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.

Olivia Dean acting on the Pyramid Stage (Ben Birchall/PA)

“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.

Emily Eavis shouts to the crowd
Emily Eavis opened the gates to start out the competition (Yui Mok/PA)

“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.”

Glenn Tilbrook dressed in a checked suit, playing a black guitar
Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze because the band opened the Pyramid Stage on Friday (Yui Mok/PA)

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.”

Dua Lipa dressed in leather jacket and shorts while singing on a stage with dancers
Dua Lipa was a star performer at this yr’s Brit Awards (James Manning/PA)

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.

Four men dressed as the Beatles, including colourful customs, facial hair and glasses
Glastonbury revellers dressed because the Beatles (Yui Mok/PA)

“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.

A woman dressed in a fluffy hat and coat, hot pants and vest, silver boots, carrying a blow-up flamingo
Festivalgoer Saira Biruta was wearing a flamingo costume (Yui Mok/PA)

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.

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