In one of the most talked-about moments of Glastonbury 2025, Skepta stepped in at the last minute to deliver a powerhouse performance that fans are already calling legendary. On Saturday afternoon, festival organizers announced that rock band Deftones would be unable to perform due to an illness affecting one of their members. With just hours to go, grime icon Skepta was tapped as their replacement—and despite the short notice, he delivered a set that more than lived up to the occasion.
Taking the stage with only a DJ and an LED screen, Skepta proved once again why he’s one of the UK’s most respected artists. There were no elaborate setups, no full band, and no backup dancers—just pure energy, charisma, and bangers. His minimalist setup allowed the music to shine, and the crowd responded with full-throttle enthusiasm.
Twitter lit up with praise almost immediately. Riv (@riverdwww) posed the question on many minds: “Skepta for Deftones top 1 substitution ever?” Meanwhile, D (@dxnnymfc) declared, “skepta absolutely killing glasto. unreal.” These sentiments were echoed across social media, as fans marveled at the fact that Skepta pulled this off with reportedly just four hours of preparation.
The setlist was a high-octane celebration of Skepta’s greatest hits, including tracks like “That’s Not Me,” “Greaze Mode,” “Shutdown,” “It Ain’t Safe,” and his recent collaboration with Fred Again.., “Victory Lap.” Each song hit with precision, with the crowd shouting every word and moving as one. As Connor (@connoronthisapp) put it, “skepta absolutely fucking smashing his set on 4 hours notice what a bloke #Glastonbury.”
Longtime fans appreciated the nod to Skepta’s grime roots. Pat Keys (@Gianakopoulos04) noted, “Skepta getting a call up a few hours before his set time and packing out the stage. GRIME.” Lloyd (@zeddyzed_) also commented on the simplicity and power of Skepta’s performance: “Skepta so many anthems. Just deck and a mic, he’s kills it.”
Beyond the performance itself, Skepta’s ability to rally and deliver under pressure was a reminder of his professionalism and passion. Charlie Brock (@Charli3brock) said it best: “Boy better know. Fuckinell Skepta is killing.” And as soph (@soph_atkk) succinctly summed up, “skepta is just class isn’t he.”
The rest of Glastonbury 2025 has kept the energy high. Friday night saw The 1975 headline the Pyramid Stage, earning a strong four-star review from NME. Saturday’s remaining highlights included performances from Charli XCX and rock legend Neil Young, whose set will be streamed live by the BBC. That comes after the surprise decision to remove Kneecap’s set from the streaming schedule at the last minute. Sunday promises even more variety, with Olivia Rodrigo, The Prodigy, and Rod Stewart all scheduled to perform.
Skepta’s impromptu takeover may have been born out of necessity, but it’s quickly become one of the defining moments of the weekend. If this is what he can do on four hours’ notice, fans can only imagine what’s next.
For continuing coverage, updates, and reviews from Glastonbury 2025, stay tuned.
