At 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, under the cloudy haze of Worthy Farm, Jade Thirlwall didn’t just take the Woodsies Stage — she claimed it! In a 45-minute blitz of pop bravado, emotional catharsis, and high-camp production, the Little Mix alum introduced herself to the world as JADE: no longer one-third of a girl group, but a solo force with a vision and a vengeance.
Welcomed to stage by none other than Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa (who declared her “pop’s new crown princess”), the ‘Fantasy’ singer emerged like a Broadway villainess reborn in glitter and sweat — a reminder that British pop stars can still do theatre without apology. This was not just a debut; it was a coronation dressed in sequins and synths.
From Girl Group Graduate to Pop Auteur
Opening with the glam-rock punch of ‘IT Girl’ and the brooding allure of ‘Midnight Cowboy’, JADE immediately drew a line in the sand. The message was clear: she’s not here to warm hearts — she’s here to blow minds. Supported by an ensemble of androgynous dancers and stylised visuals somewhere between Burlesque and Euphoria, the set felt like a cabaret dream cooked in a pop lab.
Midway through, she delivered her latest single ‘Plastic Box’ — a razor-edged synth-pop banger that channels Robyn, Goldfrapp, and a hint of early Gaga. The crowd, screamed it back like they’d waited years for it. When she leaned into a haunting, electro-ballad mashup of Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ and N-Trance’s ‘Set You Free’, it was less cover and more cultural reset.
Fuck You (For Now): The Anti-Love Anthem of the Summer
One of the sets standout moments came in the form of the irreverently titled ‘FUFN (Fuck You for Now)’ – a breakup anthem disguised as a seductive kiss-off. “I’m about to hit you with the worst of me” the South Shields native told the crowd, before dropping the chorus like a guillotine. Somewhere, a thousand exes felt a chill.
JADE – FUFN (Official Video)
Pure Electro-pop CHAOS!
Halfway through the theatrical, genre-bending show, the tent exploded when Aussie dance provocateurs Confidence Man strutted out onstage to perform a blistering new collab titled ‘GOSSIP’ — part electro-clash, part synth-pop riot, all sass. The beat hit like a disco punch to the gut.
As JADE and Confidence Man’s Janet Planet traded verses like duelling divas at a Berlin basement rave, and Sugar Bones threw shapes that defied physics, the crowd lost their minds — the kind of unhinged, euphoric chaos that only Glasto can conjure.
Nostalgia, Reclaimed
JADE didn’t ignore her past — she weaponised it. A medley ofLittle Mix classics (‘Sweet Melody’, ‘Shout Out to My Ex’, ‘Woman Like Me’ and ‘Touch’) arrived like power punches, reworked with moody synths and gospel-tinged backing vocals.
By the time she closed with the emotionally bruising ‘Angel of My Dreams’, the entire Woodsies tent felt like it had just sat through a pop masterclass.
A Star Emerges — On Her Own Terms
It wasn’t just the high notes or the dance breaks that stole the show — it was JADE’s command of her own narrative. At one point, she looked out into the sea of faces and said, “Thank you so for backing me as an artist.” Cue tears, screams, and possibly the birth of a new music icon.
She even managed to drop the “c word” live on BBC, setting the internet ablaze — a move that felt more punk than pop.
JADE’s Glastonbury debut was more than a performance — it was an announcement. She’s not here to play safe, and she’s not looking back. The theatrics were big, the vocals were live, and the ambition was sky-high. If this was the beginning, then pop had better buckle up.
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