When Olivia Rodrigo ended the world tour of her second studio album, GUTS, she solidified her place in the entertainment world as one to watch. She showed the maturity from her 2022 debut tour in her performances with gut-tearing belts and raunchy movements. The energy from the crowd fed her every night, and she made sure to give that energy right back.
It was no different with her performance at Glastonbury. In early March, it was announced that the next headliner for UK’s biggest music festival would be 22-year-old Rodrigo. This decision put her in the short list of some of the youngest women to headline, second to Billie Eilish. Her set included a combination of soft ballads and guitar-led numbers, making an interesting crowd of mixed emotions.
Even through a screen, her stage presence and her band’s compelling energy was visibly captivating. The chemistry between Rodrigo and her band, both sexy and inviting, sustains her set.
Subjectively, the best part of the night comes from her performance of “All-American B—h.” When the guitar kicks in for the intro, the anticipation of what comes next continues to build. With her arms raised, she’s flinging at the crowd to get louder, however loud a crowd of 200,000 could get. She jumps on stage excitedly and angrily during the chorus, before returning to the soft tone of the second verse. With the support of her band’s bass and drum pedal, she only has one request for her audience and that is to “get really angry.” The music fades in and out until it completely stops, allowing the audience to scream their inner frustration into the open-air stage.
And just when you thought she couldn’t possibly impress you anymore, Rodrigo announces her performing guest. She declares into the mic, “He is the best songwriter to come out of England..a personal hero of mine. Robert Smith!”
Smith, front man of 80s band, “The Cure,” joins Rodrigo on stage seconds later clutching his guitar. Together they perform the band’s hit songs, “Friday I’m In Love,” and “Just Like Heaven.” The punk rock star has never been shy about sharing a stage with artists she admires and giving them their earned flowers.
The former Disney star kicked down doors of the music industry with a stunning ballad titled, “Drivers License.” She followed it with two more chart topping singles and a studio album featuring a string of pop singles about teenage heartbreak and self-doubt. The relatability of her lyrics transcended through generations, uniting teenage girls and adults in agreement of her artistry.
Following her 2021 debut, Rodrigo has won three Grammy awards and performed at a number of big festivals. She was also nominated for an Oscar for her self-written score featured in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
So the question is, where is the ceiling for the 22-year-old if she’s already selling out stadiums and headlining festivals? Is there a next level, or will she continue knowing that she’s accomplished so much in only four years? We do know one thing: Rodrigo is a rock star ready to clear any doubts.
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