In a night bursting with megastars and cross-genre clashes at Glastonbury Festival 2025, one act carved out a space so unapologetically vibrant, theatrical, and emotionally resonant that it transcended nostalgia. The Scissor Sisters’ surprise-packed set in the Woodsies tent was more than a reunion—it was a rebirth. While others chased viral moments or headline clout, Scissor Sisters turned the stage into a time-warping queer utopia.
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And yes, they brought Gandalf with them.
✨ A Camp Revival with Substance: More Than Just Nostalgia
According to BBC’s Mark Savage, Saturday was “a night of four headliners” — with Charli XCX, Neil Young, and Doechii delivering genre-defining shows. But it was the Scissor Sisters who sparked goosebumps by infusing disco drama with deep emotional memory.
Backed by laser bursts, sequins, and wild vocals, the group treated fans to a hit-filled setlist featuring “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’,” “Laura,” and the glitter-soaked anthem “Filthy/Gorgeous.” Each track reminded the crowd just how much the band had once reshaped early 2000s pop, bringing queer identity into dancefloors and living rooms alike.
But what elevated the performance beyond bangers was its emotional core—highlighted when Sir Ian McKellen joined to reprise his spoken-word monologue from 2010’s “Invisible Light.” The crowd’s spontaneous chant of “Oh, Ian McKellen” to the beat of Seven Nation Army was one of those rare, organic Glastonbury moments that become legend.
π Theater Meets Protest: A Legacy of Liberation
Where other artists presented polished performances, the Scissor Sisters used their stage time to make a statement. The show was a masterclass in queer cultural reclamation—from stage design and costume to the unapologetic presence of LGBTQ+ collaborators like Beth Ditto and Jessie Ware, who joined in a celebratory strut during “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’.”
Their performance wasn’t just musical nostalgia—it was political joy, a reminder that pride and protest aren’t mutually exclusive. The Guardian noted that while Young delivered “a protest song wrapped in rock,” the Sisters offered protest through pleasure, play, and presence.
According to NME columnist Jude Rogers, “It was a theater of the absurd with a soul. The Scissor Sisters redefined the boundaries of what a Glastonbury act can be.”
π Shared Stardom: Outshining the Pyramid Without Needing It
While Charli XCX dominated The Other Stage with a laser-filled solo set and Neil Young brought vintage grit to the Pyramid Stage, it was in the Woodsies tent where real electricity sparked. In a space less grand in scale but richer in intimacy, Scissor Sisters delivered a show alive with communal joy, where each beat pulsed with shared experience.
Jake Shears, spinning and belting in a gold-sequined bodysuit, reminded the audience why he was once dubbed pop’s greatest showman. His voice—urgent, euphoric, tender—cut through the chaos and connected like lightning.
As Pitchfork remarked in a live blog, “While the world watched Charli burn Brat, the Sisters ignited something deeper—a feeling.”
π« A Set That Belongs in the Festival’s Hall of Fame
It’s easy to forget how rare it is for acts like Scissor Sisters to own stages like Glastonbury’s. Their comeback didn’t just entertain; it affirmed, healed, and thrilled. They reminded us that disco isn't dead, queer identity isn’t a side note, and joy is revolutionary.
In an era of streaming noise and algorithmic playlists, their live show offered something radically human. It felt like a message in glitter: We're still here. We're still fabulous. And we’ve still got something to say.