glastonbury, scottish singer-songwriter lewis capaldi made an emotional and unannounced return to the glastonbury festival on friday, two years after he was forced to cut short his 2022 performance due to mental health challenges.
now 28, capaldi was not officially scheduled to appear, but a massive crowd gathered once rumors of his return began circulating. stepping onto the pyramid stage, he immediately addressed the emotional weight of the moment.
“i’m not going to say much up here today, because if i do i think i’ll probably start crying,” capaldi said. “i just wanted to come and kind of finish what i couldn’t finish the first time around.”
his set included his newly released single survive, a song that openly details his struggles with mental health and the personal journey he has undergone since taking a break from music.
closing the performance, capaldi revisited someone you loved, the song he was unable to finish during his 2022 performance. with the crowd singing along in support, he managed to complete the song — though not without emotion. “i might struggle to finish it for a different reason today,” he admitted.
many fans expressed admiration for capaldi’s courage. beth simpson, who was also in the audience two years ago, said, “it’s so special that he came back on his own terms. last time we helped carry him through; this time, he gave us everything.”
earlier in the day, new zealand pop star lorde took over the woodsies stage, performing songs from her freshly released album virgin, drawing a large and lively crowd.
capaldi’s return to glastonbury wasn’t just a musical moment — it was a deeply human one, marking his resilience and connection with fans who stood by him through personal trials and cheered him on through a powerful comeback.
