Charli XCX: Bored of Brat

Charli XCX took to the Other Stage at Glastonbury on the 28th of June 2025, and for many played the true headline set. Neil Young was listed as the Pyramid headliner. However, reports state he played to a far smaller crowd, Charli packed out the Other Stage, estimates say that 70,000 people turned up to watch arguably the crowning moment of her 'Brat' era. 

Returning to Worthy Farm, a year after she hosted her PARTYGIRL DJ night, 'Brat' wasn't quite the cultural phenomenon that it would go on to become, but still there was a huge demand to see Charli, Silver Hayes was shut down, and thousands of people turned away. Charli simply had to return. Glastonbury understood just how big this could be and significantly increased the capacity of the Other Stage, but even still crowds turned up in their droves, and there was barely space to move, joining Charli into what is 70 minutes of chaos, in the best possible way. 

Rumours of special guests had been rife all weekend 'Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat' featured a whole host of special guests performing on remixes of the songs, some of which played Glastonbury (Lorde, The 1975) could they have featured? Maybe. 

This show was powerful enough with just Charli though, this was her moment, after a decade of bubbling under and then after her biggest year to date, Glastonbury was the crowning moment. Her fiancé George Daniel, had his the night before. When The 1975 topped the Pyramid stage 

Production was minimal, as was the on-stage chat from Charli but the energy that transcended from her and the crowd more than made up for that. When she did speak, its a very sincere moment between the artist and her fans “I’m known to have a heart of stone, but this s is very fucking emotional.”

The songs from 'Brat' have become cultural behemoths. She made an album that saw her step away from the pop world and become one of the biggest stars in the world. 

Many thought that this would be the show to end the 'Brat' era after a one-two of the ‘365’ remix and ‘360’, the stage backdrop goes up in flames.

This banner has been with Charli for the whole tour. Throughout her live performances, it has become ever more tattered, with the album title gradually being scrawled out. Charli played most of the songs from the album, and they all were received well, 'Girl So Confusing’ received some pantomime boos when fans realised they weren't getting a guest performance. 

The whole set was expertly conducted, by a now bona fide superstar. Visually a masterpiece, the stage show perfectly complimented her set. Charli didn't really need to say or do anything, fuelled by her music and charisma she commanded the crowd with an enormous glass of wine. A true Brat.She opened with the 100mph remix of “365”, but the original would make a reappearance later; even as she played album hits like '360', 'Sympathy is a Knife' and 'Club Classics', it felt less like a set list and more like an all-encompassing experience. 'Apple' received all of the hype it has received on the rest of the tour, with Gracie Abrams as the 'Apple Girl'.

'Von Dutch' was probably the definitive moment of the whole set, with Charli commanding not only the audience but the BBC cameras to do as she asks. The crowd lapped it up and for those watching at home. It made for a compelling watch, you were watching a genius superstar at work.It wasn't just the songs from 'Brat' that pleased the crowd, her older material in particular 'Vroom Vroom', 'Unlock It' and her brilliant collaboration with Icona Pop, 'I Love It' caused huge sing-alongs, flares to be lit, and 70,000 people to collectively lose it.

Despite burning the Brat banner, Charli made her true declaration at the end of the set. As the final strains of 'I Love It' rang out across Worthy Farm, a departing message was displayed on the big screen. 

“Thank you so much Glastonbury. So we burnt it down – does that mean Brat is finally over?? Maybe it is. But probably NOT. But we had to do it. And it looked cool. I think you all have proven to me that Brat is forever <3. I don’t know who I am if it’s over. It wasn’t just a summer thing…it’s a forever thing xx”

Charli had her superstar moment, on her terms. A bold stark Glastonbury set, that acted as a victory lap for one of music's most innovative pioneers who has always been one step ahead. Who no longer has a point to prove. 

It should have been on the Pyramid, is a statement I've heard echoed around, and I'm inclined to agree. If Charli at this moment in time isn’t worthy of a Pyramid slot at Britain’s biggest music festival, then who is?

Thank you for reading 

Jack x