Avril Lavigne Sparks Pop Punk Mayhem Debuting at Glastonbury Festival 2024
Avril Lavigne injected a dose of pop-punk energy into 2024's predominantly pop-oriented Glastonbury Festival, captivating the audience with her 2002 anthem, "Sk8er Boi" before an overflowing crowd of 70,000 at The Other Stage. During her first-ever Glastonbury appearance, Avril delivered 12 fan favorites, starting with her 2007 chart-topper "Girlfriend," then moving through emotional tracks "Complicated" and "My Happy Ending" before concluding with her signature hit: "Sk8ter Boi" sparked wild enthusiasm as the massive audience bellowed every word back to her, joining in on its famous guitar sequence.
Avril Lavigne (subject of an internet conspiracy suggesting she was replaced by a lookalike in 2003) wore a nostalgic early-2000s ensemble on her pink-decorated stage: a tattered, plaid miniskirt with buckles, straps, and chains, a worn Union Flag spread across her short black jacket, paired with fishnet stockings, torn over-the-knee socks, and flat, knee-high platform boots. Her backdrop featured a retro design, decorated with skulls and hearts offering pre-millennium punk vibes.
Avril's fanbase grew so large that festival staff prevented additional attendees from joining after the crowd at The Other Stage extended into the camping area. Event organizers faced criticism for giving newer acts main stage slots while underestimating the strong appeal of nostalgia-driven shows. Sugababes faced similar overcrowding issues, with entry to the West Holts stage closed after reports of people passing out.
The enthusiasm for Avril's performance makes sense — just seven days before her Glastonbury sensation, the Canadian artist released her Greatest Hits collection, containing nearly every song from her festival setlist plus eight additional tracks. Following Glastonbury, Avril will travel across England and Wales for her sold-out Greatest Hits Tour, then continue to European, Canadian, and North American venues.
The 39-year-old singer shared her thoughts about finally playing Glastonbury with the BBC: "I can't believe it's taken me 22 years to finally play Glastonbury, but it was amazing. The audience was incredible, everyone was up on shoulders, holding signs and there were colorful smoke bombs going off, it was just so cool." She explained why her popularity remains strong after two decades in music: "Everyone is still really excited by [the music] – I think that's what connects me and my audience, it's the songwriting and the songs. It's always been important for me to write and be real. I'm writing about stuff that I went through in high school, like having a crush on a guy for the first time, experiencing love and what that feels like." Though her lyrics reflect teenage experiences, her songs continue to resonate across generations.
