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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Evening Standard rating
Reader rating
Satisfied: Fans came out in force for Glastonbury despite it not being a sell out
Ground breaking: New York bling from Jay-Z
Bright and breezy: Leonard Cohen
Surprise guest: Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand
The jury was out on Glastonbury this year. For the first year in 15, the festival hadn't sold out, with many citing the choice of hip-hop headliner Jay-Z as the reason for slow-moving tickets.
Three years of mud and mayhem couldn't have helped either, and it looked as though this year was heading the same way when a Thursday night downpour rendered Worthy Farm a squelching mess. Traipsing from stage to stage, though, it certainly didn't seem anything less than full. Mudcoated fans endured sardine-like proximity for the three-day event.
The highlight of the first day was a surprise set by Franz Ferdinand on The Park stage. The Scottish rockers delighted the crowd with their infectious pop songs. Take Me Out had fists pumping, while This Fire provided a rousing finale to a set that wouldn't be bettered all weekend.
One man making the most of the sunny weather on Saturday was Seasick Steve. The bearded bluesman may be old enough to collect a pension, but as he chugged whisky, rolled about the stage and generally horsed around, it was a joyous set from a man determined not to act his age.
Few could describe Amy Winehouse's set as joyous - particularlynot the audience member she allegedly struck as she made her unedifying exit. She slurred, spat and ranted her way through a disastrous performance, in which she seemed more interested in chronicling the tribulations of imprisoned husband Blake Fielder-Civil than addressing the ticket-buying public.
By contrast, Jay-Z's performance was a stylish delight. Appearing on stage to Wonderwall, the anthem of Noel Gallagher who had labelled the appointment of a hip hop star at Glastonbury as "wrong", Jay-Z was in defiant mood. "For those of you who don' t know me, I'm Jay-Z and I'm awesome," he stated to a crowd already familiar with the talents of one of the world's biggest stars. Backed by a full band, he delivered an earth-shaking performance worthy of his headline slot. 99 Problems was a thunderous opener, while Big Pimpin' created the bling of New York in Somerset.
Leonard Cohen brought some bling of his own to a charming Sunday performance. Breezy reinterpretations of sombre folk songs, such as Bird On A Wire, worked well in the larger setting.
This just left The Verve to sing Glastonbury out. Frontman Richard Ashcroft believes he's a rockstar in the messianic sense and revelled in the spotlight that had eluded him since the band split in 1999. The Drugs Don't Work prompted a mass singalong, while Bitter Sweet Symphony gave Glastonbury the triumphant ending it was after.
It remains the biggest and the best festival.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
