22 May 2021

Glastonbury event livestream made free after technical issues

22 May 2021

The livestream for Glastonbury’s five-hour global event was made free after technical issues saw many ticketholders unable to access it.

The event, Live At Worthy Farm, was due to start at 7pm but many reported on social media they were unable to access the stream due to an “invalid codes” error message.

Following a nearly-two hour delay for some, the show’s co-promoters and producers, Driift Live, tweeted a viewing link saying: “We apologise to those who have not yet been able to access the stream. Here is a new link with no code to access the stream. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience.”

Glastonbury festival organiser Emily Eavis shared the new link on Twitter as she apologised for the stream issues.

She tweeted: “I am so sorry about the problems with the stream tonight. If you weren’t able to get on, I’m told that the new link (http://Ink.to/ liveatworthyfarm) is working.

“We will obviously make sure we show the whole film again from tomorrow too and give you the chance to catch up on any bits you missed. I really hope you can enjoy the rest of it tonight. And, again, I’m just so sorry to anyone who’s had issues.”

Mercury Prize-winning band Wolf Alice were the first to perform at the event, which had seen people pay £20 for a ticket prior to the free stream.

Speaking during songs performed from the Stone Circle on Worthy Farm, singer Ellie Rowsell said: “Hello, I would say something but I’m so nervous and this is so nice”.

Glastonbury presents Live at Worthy Farm (PA Media)

Festival founder Michael Eavis delivered a spoken-word narration before Wolf Alice’s performance, which was followed by a spoken word performance from poet Kae Tempest.

Last year’s Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka performed songs Hero and Cold Little Heart during his set, while George Ezra opened his set with his popular song Blame It On Me.

Glastonbury presents Live at Worthy Farm (PA Media)

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin referenced the cows on Worthy Farm as the band delivered an energetic performance from in front of the Pyramid Stage.

The band opened with their new song Higher Power, which they recently opened the Brit Awards with performing from a pontoon on the River Thames, surrounded by hologram dancers and against a backdrop of purple and orange fireworks.

As Martin launched into their hit song The Scientist, he said: “Wherever you’re watching from, we send you our love and we wish you were here.”

The singer also referenced the weather, which in true Glastonbury fashion saw rain come down as they performed, with Martin saying: “This is very weird but very fun, and we brought our own special rain effects, (it) looks completely genuine and I just want to make you all feel better if you’re watching that.

“If there’s a day you didn’t want to stand in a field it’s probably today but… we’re happy to be here, so happy. We want to thank the Eavises and everyone that has got this together because it’s been a big deal and it’s the first time we’ve played to thousands and thousands of cows so I hope we’re doing OK.”

They also played hits like Viva La Vida, Clocks and Fix You, which he said was “for all the doctors and nurses, everyone who worked so hard”.

Damon Albarn paid tribute to drummer Tony Allen, who who died last year aged 79.

Before performing The Good, The Bad and The Queen’s The Poison Tree, Albarn said the song was “somehow fitting for him as a memory and really for everybody’s Tony because everybody’s felt some kind of loss during this period, so this is for everybody’s Tony”.

The event also includes performances from other well-known sites around the farm after the full festival was cancelled for a second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Musicians Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner – known as The Smile – are on the bill, alongside acts like Haim and Jorja Smith.

Saturday night’s show will support Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid, the festival’s three main charity partners.

The event is also being screened at select cinemas across the UK.

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