The Glastonbury Festival kicked off on a sour note as the opening act was hit with a major sound failure, leaving performers without any audible backing and the crowd left to fill the void with shouts and improvised humming. Social media and Reddit’s r/glastonbury_festival exploded with reactions describing the moment as awkward, disappointing, and surreal—one attendee called it "like a fever dream."
Many festival-goers expressed frustration that the silence overshadowed what seemed like a promising rehearsal show, causing a mass exodus from the Pyramid Stage early into the set. Rumors circulated about licensing issues potentially blocking sound use, while others speculated whether this was an experimental attempt to test audience endurance without traditional audio.
Despite the collective disappointment, some fans found novelty in the unorthodox spectacle. Suggestions to add more live drummers to maintain energy and hopes for the concept’s future refinement surfaced in conversations. However, the dominant sentiment called for the festival organizers to formally apologize to the performing artists and urgently fix licensing or technical sound problems—especially since the lineup boasted high-quality acts deserving full audience engagement.
This latest incident compounds a pattern of sound troubles at Glastonbury. In 2024, Cyndi Lauper faced bass-heavy feedback issues that obscured her vocals during early songs, and her in-ear monitor problems persisted intermittently. Similarly, Shania Twain struggled with faulty in-ear monitors and mic adjustments that disrupted her band’s timing. These recurring technical glitches signal a pressing need for Glastonbury’s sound teams to overhaul their setup processes to protect artist performance integrity and audience experience alike.
As it stands, the festival’s opening stumble on sound delivery is a stark reminder that even legendary stages need rock-solid technical reliability to match their legendary status.
Source: r/glastonbury_festival