We joined Wolf Alice, Michael Kiwanuka, Haim, Jorja Smith, the Mutoid Waste Company and others as they made the film that replaces the Glastonbury festival this year
When I drove into the Glastonbury site last Sunday afternoon, the woman on accreditation asked if I knew my way around the site. In theory, yes, but not without its traditional landmarks – over five normal days at the festival, you navigate by stages, food stalls and flags. (“I’m four metres in front and five metres to the left of the Bob Marley flag. You can’t miss me!”) With none of that present during the filming of Live at Worthy Farm this week – a five-hour film of special, one-off performances streaming tonight – I wondered how I would tell one field from the next. Strangely, magically, it all still made sense – the millions of steps I have taken there over the years had clearly left a permanent imprint on my brain.
A smoke machine billows smoke behind a stone at the Stone Circle..
Memorial trees planted in the Stone Circle field.
Flags that have been sent in by members of the public are laid out to be filmed.
Michael Kiwanuka’s performance inside a tent in the Icon field.
A heavy downpour of rain during Michael Kiwanuka’s set.
The empty Pyramid field in the afternoon sunlight. Only one performance will take place here (Coldplay, on Friday).
Wild garlic in the Block 9 field; Cow Parsley on Muddy Lane on Worthy Farm.
Early morning on the old railway track that spans the Glastonbury festival site from east to west.
A hare runs among the trees where the Glade stage would usually sit.
A view over Wolf Alice playing at the Stone Circle, shot from a tall monopod.
Wolf Alice chatting to the crew.
Set riggers take a break during Wolf Alice’s set.
Drone pilot Ibrahim Serra-Mohammed (right) and drone camera operator Tom Elliott from Ascension Films wear full camouflage outfits during the filming of Wolf Alice’s set.
A drone’s eye view of Haim at the Stone Circle.
Emily Eavis helps to dry the stage after rainfall at the Stone Circle, before Haim start their performance.
Festival bins stacked up near to Carhenge on the outer reaches of the Worthy Farm.
Jorja Smith being prepared for her performance in the Icon field.
Jorja Smith gets her makeup touched up.
Jorja Smith’s monitor engineer Karima.
Honey Dijon plays a set from a bus inside Block9.
Professional ravers warm up before Honey Dijon.
Róisín Murphy makes a special appearance during Honey Dijon’s set.
The sun sets over Glastonbury.