Haim: 'Summer Girls' In the Park

Another not so secret set. Fans had been speculating that Haim would be on site at Glastonbury in some form following the start of their UK tour in Margate. 

Their set on the Park stage marks their fifth time at the festival with the first being on the Park in 2013, and the most recent being a Pyramid slot in 2022. 

Haim opened the show with 'The Wire', a perfect slice of indie pop from their debut album 'Days Are Gone'. They followed it up with 'Now I'm In It', one of the standout tracks from their brilliant third record 'Women in Music Pt III'. Complete with a thunderous, tribal drumming finale, it picked up the energy exactly where 'The Wire' left off.

“Glastonbury,” Alana began, before being interrupted by a roar of sustained cheers that made all three sisters hold their hands to their heads in disbelief. “My fucking god, this is crazy!” she laughed, visibly overwhelmed. “When our first album came out, we played the Park Stage at Glastonbury and it was the best show I had ever played but this tops everything. Look at all of you! Every time we get to play Glastonbury, it’s a complete honour. We love you so much.”

The set provided a vibrant snapshot of Haim’s evolving artistry, spanning all four of their albums but with a particular focus on their latest. From 'I Quit', 'Relationships' stood out, its sleek, slow-burning groove blending ’90s R&B with modern pop—both reflective and punchy in equal measure. 'Everybody’s Trying to Figure Me Out' followed, offering a moment of understated charm, its simple guitar plucking carrying beautifully in the open air. 'Blood on the Street' brought a twangy, country-tinged edge, its raw honesty about betrayal cutting through with emotional weight.

Down to Be Wrong' brought a mid-tempo shift with direct, bold choruses about self-empowerment had an extra element live and was used to close proceedings. This song is one of the best from their latest record, with all three sisters sharing vocal duties 

But as always, it was the classics that really ignited the crowd. 'Want You Back' was a definitive peak of the set, sparking one of the loudest sing-along moments of the evening, while the laid-back groove and flawless saxophone of 'Summer Girl' felt like it was written specifically for golden festival sunsets. With the three sisters encouraging the 'Summer Girl's' in the audience to get on their friends shoulders, a real moment of community between band and audience.

What makes Haim such an exceptional festival act is their sheer range and the ability to switch effortlessly between intimate, guitar-driven moments and big, euphoric anthems. Once again, Glastonbury pulled off another spectacular secret set, and Haim despite some technical issues with microphones proved exactly why they continue to be such a perfect fit for stages like this, and how they attract mammoth crowds.

Thank you for reading

Jack