The rumour mill has gone into overdrive regarding a potential surprise appearance by American singer, pianist, and songwriter Billy Joel at Glastonbury 2023. Posters which could be teasing his appearance were first spotted yesterday after festivalgoers arrived.
The poster has been spotted all around the festival’s Worthy Farm site, including at William’s Green and at the Other Stage, pictured above. It’s printed in the characteristic Glastonbury Free Press black font on a white background. The text itself reads, “After three years… Are you ready for the Piano Man?” – a message that has set tongues wagging both around Glasto and on social media.
Many interpret ‘Piano Man’ as a reference to Billy Joel’s acclaimed song of the same name. This autobiographical piece tells a story of Joel’s experience as a piano-lounge singer at the now-defunct Executive Room bar in Los Angeles in the early ’70s.
Adding fuel to the fire is the confirmation this morning that Elton John’s set, which will close this year’s Glastonbury on Sunday night, will feature four surprise guests. The two artists have a long history of performing together, dating back to their “Face To Face” tours, which commenced in 1994. They’ve continued to appear together right through to recent years.
Billy Joel is due to visit the UK soon for a gig at London’s BST Hyde Park in early July, leaving open the possibility he’s in the country early and available for Elton’s headline set. The Hyde Park gig was advertised as Billy Joel’s only European appearance in 2023, but we doubt that would include surprise guest appearances at someone else’s show.
It will be Elton’s last ever appearance in the UK so the expectation of some very special guests is probably quite reasonable.
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Elsewhere at the festival, it now looks pretty much confirmed that Blossoms and Rick Astley will play a secret set – and they’re expected to play covers of The Smiths as on their 2021 tour. They’ll be on the former John Peel Stage now known as Woodsies from 7:35pm to 8:35pm on Friday.
The Twitter account SecretGlasto, widely respected as the authority on surprise appearances, said this afternoon: “The Friday TBC slot on Woodsies is those charming men, Blossoms and Rick Astley.”
It also looks like Taylor Swift is set to headline Glastonbury next summer. The UK dates for her Eras Tour have now been announced and line up perfectly with a potential Sunday night Pyramid Stage headline slot. Fans have been expecting her to be announced for Glasto ever since the 2020 festival was cancelled weeks after she was confirmed as a headliner.
Organiser Emily Eavis said last year: “I think we’ve got Taylor on board next time she’s doing some touring. We would love to have her back, obviously.”
Tickets for Glastonbury 2024 will, as ever, be like gold dust. You’ll need to be both well prepared and lucky to secure them. This year, tickets sold out in minutes when they went on sale in the autumn and the resales this spring sold even faster.
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Image credits:
Ben Abrahams
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