Glastonbury 2023: Arctic Monkeys will play in any case – however who’re The Churnups?

Jun 24, 2023 at 3:22 AM
Glastonbury 2023: Arctic Monkeys will play in any case – however who’re The Churnups?

The Arctic Monkeys will play their headline set at Glastonbury Festival tonight, regardless of fears that sickness would drive them to drag out, co-organiser Emily Eavis has confirmed.

The Sheffield rock band high Friday’s invoice on the celebrated Pyramid Stage, however after cancelling a gig in Dublin earlier this week, followers had been left questioning whether or not their Glastonbury set would go forward.

However, Eavis has now allayed fears, chatting with BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball from the Worthy Farm website on day considered one of performances, she replied to a query on whether or not they could be taking part in by saying: “They’re on,” which was welcomed with loud applause.

Arctic Monkeys. Pic: AP
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Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner was affected by laryngitis

She went on: “It was a little bit close there for a minute and we were thinking about whether we should have a serious back-up plan in place, but no, thankfully they’re on, so that’s great.”

Arctic Monkeys, who’re at the moment halfway by a world tour, had been attributable to play Marlay Park in Dublin on Tuesday however have been pressured to cancel the present as frontman Alex Turner was affected by laryngitis, following three consecutive exhibits on the Emirates Stadium in north London.

Apologising to followers on social media, a press release stated: “Alex is suffering from acute laryngitis, and following medical advice, has been ordered to rest.”

Laryngitis – which is when your vocal cords develop into swollen or irritated – comes on immediately and will get worse through the first few days. It often lasts for one to 2 weeks, in keeping with the NHS web site.

When requested if the band have been nonetheless set to play earlier within the week, Eavis told reporters on Wednesday: “I think we are going to be alright.

“They’ve cancelled that [Dublin show], he is recovering. I’m certain we’ll be alright.”

She added: “We’ve got a couple of backup plans if not. We’ve always got backup plans for everything.”

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Gates open at Glastonbury

Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Nick O’Malley are anticipated to take to the Pyramid Stage at 10.15pm tonight and play for one hour.

It would be the third time the Brit, Mercury and Ivor Novello award-winning band have headlined on the pageant, following exhibits in 2007 and 2013.

Who are The Churnups?

Meanwhile, one other query hanging over Friday’s set listing is who are the mystery band The Churnups?

Glastonbury has a historical past of shock units and unconfirmed slots, and this strangely-named group in a main headline slot are inflicting a specific stir.

They are billed on the Glastonbury poster to play the Pyramid Stage earlier than rock duo Royal Blood, whose set leads into the Arctic Monkeys.

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, Dave Grohl of the band Foo Fighters performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Foo Fighters will perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)
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Foo Fighters beforehand pulled out when Dave Grohl injured himself earlier than the 2015 occasion

Speculation it could possibly be Foo Fighters was fuelled earlier this month after the American rockers posted a thanks letter to followers on social media, which included the road: “It feels so good to see you, churning up these emotions together.”

The band are at the moment on a world tour, however at the moment are on a scheduled hole between gigs following their final efficiency within the US on 18 June, and they don’t seem to be attributable to choose up once more till 6 July in Canada.

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The band beforehand headlined the pageant in 2017, after pulling out of Glastonbury 2015 when frontman Dave Grohl fell off the stage at a gig in Sweden and broke his leg.

Foo Fighters introduced their new drummer, Josh Freese final month, following the demise of Taylor Hawkins who died in a resort room within the Colombian capital, Bogota, through the band’s South America tour in March 2022.

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Who else might it’s?

Other theories for the thriller act’s identification embody Britpop band Pulp led by Jarvis Cocker, who’re at the moment on tour, and whose title could possibly be seen as a definition of ‘to churn up’.

Others have speculated it could possibly be fellow Britpopers Blur, fronted by Damon Albarn, with the band additionally at the moment on a reunion tour.

Other headline acts at Glastonbury this 12 months embody Guns N’ Roses, Elton John and Lana Del Rey.

Glastonbury Festival is happening at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset, till Sunday.