Entertainment

Stormzy marks Grenfell tragedy in Glastonbury set

The grime star talked about the tragedy in his home city.
The grime star talked about the tragedy in his home city. The grime star talked about the tragedy in his home city.

Stormzy joined the list of performers paying tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire as he took over The Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

The London grime star took a quiet moment during his adrenaline-charged set to remember those who were killed in the disaster in his home city, and performed the rap he wrote for Simon Cowell’s charity version of Bridge Over Troubled Water.

He unzipped his tracksuit top to reveal a T-shirt emblazoned with a heart-shaped logo reading “Grenfell”.

Stormzy
Stormzy (Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images)
Stormzy during his Glastonbury set (Ben Birchall/PA)

His verse, which opens the chart-topping fundraiser, includes the lyrics: “I refuse to neglect you/That’s for every last soul up in Grenfell/Even though I’ve never met you.”

Performing before him on Saturday, Liam Gallagher also dedicated Oasis hit Don’t Look Back In Anger to the London victims, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn mentioned the incident during his Pyramid Stage speech.

Stormzy delighted his fans with tracks from his number one debut album Gang Signs And Prayer.

Stormzy
Stormzy (Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images)
Stormzy performed part of his charity single rap (Ben Birchall/PA)

He performed hit singles Big For Your Boots and Where Do You Know Me From, as well as the rap from his surprise take on Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You at this year’s Brit awards.

Dedicating it to Sunday night’s Pyramid headliner, he said: “Let’s sing this for Ed.”

As well as the heartfelt moments – which included a tribute to his mother and handing his jacket to a young boy in the front row – Stormzy did not hold back from making a political statement.

Stormzy
Stormzy (Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images)
Stormzy called the set one of his best ever (Ben Birchall/PA)

He was met with cheers as he shouted: “We are urging the authorities to tell the truth, first and foremost, to do something, first and foremost, and we are urging the Government to be held accountable.”

He then led the crowd in a chant of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn” to the tune of the White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army, which has become a Glastonbury anthem this year.

As he wrapped up his set he thanked the packed audience for “one of the greatest shows of my life” and stepped down from the stage to greet fans.