In the 10 years since their debut album ‘My Love Is Cool’, Wolf Alice have grown into one of Britain’s best and most accomplished bands. Each of their albums has seen them level up, push forward with bold new ideas, and become an even greater live force to be reckoned with. That pattern looks set to continue with their fourth album ‘The Clearing’ on the horizon and an even more confident new era beginning.
The band’s fifth Glastonbury appearance is their finest yet, presenting a group at the peak of their powers. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell is more electrifying than ever from her power stance that opens the whole show to the way she prowls around the stage throughout. She has the attitude and energy of a bona fide rock god on ‘Yuk Foo’ – which she belts into a megaphone after the song is introduced by a blaring siren – and ‘Play The Greatest Hits’. On ‘Delicious Things’, a gorgeous cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ and ‘How Can I Make It OK?’, she’s a classic singer with a voice that’s rich in emotion. On all, she’s a master of her craft and the most powerful version of herself yet.
Wolf Alice have always been a band to follow their own instincts and dabble in the sounds they want to, and the setlist tonight reflects those eclectic tendencies. Rowsell, guitarist Joff Oddie and bassist Theo Ellis gather around Joel Amey’s drum riser to sing a delicate version of ‘Safe From Heartbreak (If You Never Fall In Love)’, while the bright indie-pop of friendship anthem ‘Bros’ bounces across The Other Stage field ‘The Last Man On Earth’’s poignant piano is timeless – and incredibly emotional – pop.
Wolf Alice’s Theo Ellis live at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
The new music included in their performance today also continues that streak. ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’ rolls on a revolving, bluesy riff as Rowsell delivers a phenomenal vocal performance and Oddie gees the already enthusiastic crowd up with his hands. Their next single ‘The Sofa’, meanwhile, is destined to be some of the band’s best work.
Despite Wolf Alice’s status in British music now, they’re a band that’s far from jaded. You can tell how much this moment, second from top on Glastonbury’s second stage, means to them, whether that’s in Rowsell tearing up during ‘How Can I Make It OK?’ Or Ellis’ excitement at someone letting off flares in the crowd. “Whoever got the memo about the flare, I fucking love you for the rest of my life,” he tells the person responsible as blue smoke billows across the crowd.
There’s also the sense that Wolf Alice are now really ready to go for it and try to be as big as they deserve to be. Later this year, they’ll play their first headline arena tour and the energy they pour into today’s set feels like that of a band who should be topping the Pyramid Stage next time they play Worthy Farm. As the set ends with ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ – a strong contender for one of the best, most dizzyingly accurate love songs ever written – that feeling only intensifies. That song finds Rowsell writing herself a romantic Hollywood ending; Wolf Alice’s world-beating set does the same for Glastonbury 2025.
Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell live at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
Wolf Alice’s Glastonbury 2025 setlist was:
‘Formidable Cool’
‘Delicious Things’
‘How Can I Make It OK?’
‘Dreams’
‘Bloom Baby Bloom’
‘Safe From Heartbreak (If You Never Fall In Love)’
‘The Sofa’
‘Bros’
‘Yuk Foo’
‘Play The Greatest Hits’
‘Silk’
‘The Last Man On Earth’
‘Giant Peach’
‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’
Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more from Glastonbury 2025.
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