Glastonbury 2025: Skepta earns big praise for last-minute set

Skepta has earned big praise following his last-minute set at Glastonbury 2025.

• READ MORE: Glastonbury 2025: Lorde secret set, Lewis Capaldi’s return and the biggest headlines from Friday

On Saturday afternoon, Glastonbury announced that Deftones were being forced to withdraw from their Other Stage slot due to an illness in the band. Just hours ahead of the scheduled performance, the festival announced a blockbuster replacement act in Skepta, who wasn’t billed to perform at Worthy Form at all.

Given the time crunch, Skepta played a short set, running just over a half hour and saw him perform with the bare essentials as he didn’t have time to piece together special production for the festival.

With nothing but an LED screen and a DJ backing him, Skepta impressed those in attendance and watching at home. Some fans have called the grime rapper a “top 1 substitution ever”, while others noted that he was “absolutely killing glasto”.

Skepta for Deftones top 1 substitution ever?

— Riv (@riverdwww) June 28, 2025

skepta absolutely killing glasto. unreal

— D (@dxnnymfc) June 28, 2025

Among the songs Skepta performed were ‘That’s Not Me’, ‘Greaze Mode’, ‘Shutdown’, ‘It Ain’t Safe’ and his recently released collaboration with Fred Again.. ‘Victory Lap’. See more reactions below.

skepta absolutely fucking smashing his set on 4 hours notice what a bloke #Glastonbury

— Connor (@connoronthisapp) June 28, 2025

Boy better know. Fuckinell Skepta is killing

— Charlie Brock (@Charli3brock) June 28, 2025

skepta is just class isn’t he

— soph (@soph_atkk) June 28, 2025

Skepta getting a call up a few hours before his set time and packing out the stage. GRIME

— Pat Keys (@Gianakopoulos04) June 28, 2025

Skepta so many anthems.

Just deck and a mic, he’s kills it.

— Lloyd (@zeddyzed_) June 28, 2025

Friday at Glastonbury saw The 1975 headline the Pyramid Stage, earning a four-star review from NME, which read: “With their one show of the year, “The 1975 from the Internet” clear the decks on their career so far to deliver a reminder of their chops for tunes and showmanship away from the headlines.”

Saturday at Glastonbury is due to close out headlining performances from Charli XCX and Neil Young. Sunday will see sets from Olivia Rodrigo, The Prodigy, Rod Stewart and many more. Check out the full line-up and schedule here.

In other news, the BBC have also confirmed that they will be streaming Neil Young‘s headline set, after Kneecap’s incendiary set was removed from the live-stream schedule at the last minute and will instead be made available as an on-demand clip later on.

Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more from Glastonbury 2025.

The post Glastonbury 2025: Skepta earns big praise for last-minute set appeared first on NME.