When Olivia Rodrigo takes to Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage tonight, she’ll be stepping into one of the most iconic headline slots in music, and after seeing her live at British Summer Time in Hyde Park, I can confidently say: she’s ready.
From her breakout single ‘Drivers Licence’ to the Grammy-winning success of SOUR and the punchier, punkier GUTS, Rodrigo has gone from Disney star to global pop force in under five years. But what stood out most at Hyde Park was how confidently she commanded the stage.
Before Friday’s performance, I had already watched her GUTS tour film on Netflix, so as a fan, I was expecting to have fun – just not that much fun. There were no gimmicks or over-the-top visuals, just a tight, high-energy performance. Opening the annual festival, the 21-year-old ran through 90 minutes of pure fan favourites.
Thousands turned out up at the park in every shade of purple imagneable and with glitter, heart stickers and Rodrigo-style outfits everywhere you looked. “Look at you all, you look great! And you’re all in purple… did you plan that?” she laughed, delighted by the crowd.
Now, just days later, she’s heading to Glastonbury – and here’s exactly why she’s a perfect fit.
It’s a family affair – and that’s what Glasto’s all about
Yes, Rodrigo’s lyrics are often rooted in teenage heartbreak and angst. But at BST, I was surrounded by fans of all ages. Parents and older couples were just as present as the friendship groups decked out in glitter and heart stickers.
It’s easy to brush her off as music “for teenage girls” until you hear thousands of people scream every word to Good 4 U like it’s their own therapy session. And as a 30-year-old, I can say without hesitation: this music hits.
She keeps it simple and lets the music shine
While her set budget was likely saved for Glastonbury, it meant her BST performance was stripped back to a few visuals backdrops and slipway down to the stage. Unlike some of her pop peers, she doesn’t rely on dance routines or massive stage production, allowing the spotlight to be firmly on the music.
Vocally, she was strong throughout proving she doesn’t need to rely on distractions to make her performances stand out.
She’s a polished performer and knows how to work a crowd
Rodrigo’s Disney roots may not define her anymore but her background on Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series shines through. She’s completely at ease on the stage and knows how to give the crowd exactly what they need.
She doesn’t waste time with lengthy speeches or unnecessary breaks. But when she does interact, it feels genuine. A simple “Are we still here?” was enough to give the crowd an extra boost ahead of the next song.
She’s already earned industry respect – and brings out the stars
Guest appearances have become a staple at gigs these days and at her BST performance Rodrigo brought out Ed Sheeran for a special duet of The A Team – a surprise moment that sent the crowd wild (although it may have been lost on some of the younger ones).
She’s previously shared stages with Lily Allen, Hayley Williams, and Chappell Roan, proving she’s got both the respect and the range to pull in the big names. So I wouldn’t be surprised if someone huge shows up on stage with her tonight.
It’s all just good fun – and that’s how it should be
Her set is all about good songs, good energy, and a crowd ready to scream along. From the moment she hit the stage, it was back-to-back bangers. Even slower numbers like Favourite Crime and Happier didn’t bring the pace down. Ballads like Drivers License and Traitor were packed with emotion but were a great sing along.
The encore was a full-force blast of cathartic pop-rock. All-American Bitch, Brutal, Good 4 U and Get Him Back! had the entire park screaming. Whether you were mourning a terrible ex or just enjoying the show, it was impossible not to get caught up in it.
Tonight at Glasto, she’s set to do it all over again, only bigger.