Glastonbury 2023: Elton John fans reserve front row spaces at crack of dawn

Eager Elton John fans person already staked their assertion to beforehand enactment spots for the star's Glastonbury header acceptable connected Sunday night.

Festival-goers gathered astatine the barriers from 04:00 BST, with sandwiches and snacks to support them going earlier the Rocketman walks connected signifier astatine 21:00.

"I conscionable had to beryllium here. It's truly important," said Greg Rathbone, who came from Coventry dressed arsenic Elton.

The amusement volition beryllium the past UK day of the star's long-running farewell tour.

Earlier this week, helium told Radio 1's Clara Amfo it "couldn't beryllium a much cleanable ending" to his touring career.

"I'm starting with a opus I haven't played for astir 10 years, truthful we'll spot however it goes," helium said.

"I've got the acceptable database down, I've got rehearsal dates booked for the impermanent artists, truthful we conscionable person to anticipation the upwind volition inactive beryllium nice."

Wearing a replica of Elton's iconic metallic sequinned shot jumpsuit, Rathbone said helium thought Sunday's amusement would "get truly emotional."

"It's the extremity of a agelong communicative for him."

Alejandro Torres travelled 9,000 kilometres from Bogota, Colombia, conscionable to spot the prima successful action.

"I knew I had to beryllium here," helium told BBC News. "I privation to perceive Benny and the Jets, Candle In The Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Songs I've been proceeding since I was a small kid but, like, successful my face!"

"I conscionable privation a spot of Glastonbury magic, " said Ben Monk, who "ran retired of the tent" astatine the ace of dawn to reserve his spot.

"I've heard he's going to bring retired immoderate peculiar guests. We've heard it'll beryllium Britney [Spears], we've heard it'll beryllium Eminem.

"But it's not astir them, it's astir him. It's going to beryllium good."

Elle Clements besides grabbed a abstraction successful the beforehand enactment but confessed she'd managed to person a lie-in, sending her fellow arsenic a place-saver.

"I got to bash my make-up. My lone occupation was to bring the breakfast, bring the coffee," she laughed.

With the somesthesia successful Pilton owed to scope 26 degrees, galore of the fans disquieted astir their quality to past the course.

"I've had 5 hours slumber successful 3 days, and I wondered if I was going to beryllium capable to bash this," confessed Rathbone.

"But present that it's getting nearer, I'm feeling amended and better. I'm truly excited, Adrenalin's decidedly going to get maine through."

Before Elton's historical set, the fans volition beryllium treated to performances from Sophie Ellis Bextor, Cat Stevens, Blondie and Lil Nas X.

The Pyramid Stage opened astatine 11:00 BST with the Bristol Reggae Orchestra and Windrush Choir, marking the 75th day of Windrush and the Black British publication to the UK.

Windrush Choir pb Gena Rose told BBC West it was an "amazing opportunity" for the assemblage group.

"Music is specified a wonderful, almighty mode to honour the Windrush communicative and the Windrush generation," she said.

"Last twelvemonth I was astatine the festival and seeing Diana Ross and different astonishing artists, I said to myself it would beryllium truthful astonishing to beryllium determination and wondered what it would beryllium similar to beryllium connected signifier and look retired astatine the audience. Now I volition know."