Fans have reacted to Blossoms and Rick Astley‘s suprise set at Glastonbury consisting solely of covers from The Smiths‘ discography. The musicians’ supergroup covers band played an hour-long set at the Woodsies Stage today (June 24th). Blossoms, dressed up in all-black outfits consisting of frilly shirts, black bellbottoms and impeccable hair were joined by Astley who sported a sharp pale blue suit.
The gang opened the set with ‘This Charming Man’, ‘What Difference Does It Make’ and ‘Big Mouth Strikes Again’. Both fans who were in attendance as well as those tuned in via the festival’s livestream took to social media to share their reactions to the set.
“I can’t tell you how much I love doing this,” Astley told NME of the covers band. “I know it’s sacrilege and they should hang the lot of us on the line for doing it, but I also just don’t care. I’m 57. I’ve talked it over with the guys from Blossoms many times and said, ‘If at any moment any of you decide that you don’t want to do this, just holler’. They’re in the middle of their career, four albums in. I’ve got nothing to lose. You can hang me, you can do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter.”
He continued: “I’ve had an unbelievable time in music and I’m ever so grateful for it. I’m aware of how fickle it is, how you can be totally out in the desert and no one will pick up the phone or let you in the building. It’s a delicate thing playing those songs because they mean so much to people.
Another fan shared: “Rick Astley & Blossoms are delivering a masterful set of Smiths songs. Phenomenal performance and the #Glastonbury crowd at Woodsies Stage are loving it.”
Setlist: Rick Astley with Blossoms, Glastonbury, UK — 6/24/23
1. “This Charming Man”
2. “What Difference Does It Make?”
3. “Bigmouth Strikes Again”
4. “Cemetry Gates”
5. “Ask”
6. “Hand in Glove”
7. “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others”
8. “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side”
9. “Girlfriend in a Coma”
10. “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”
11. “Panic”
12. “William, It Was Really Nothing”
13. “Barbarism Begins at Home”
14. “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want”
15. “How Soon Is Now?”
16. “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”
The Fat Angel Sings 