Skepta to take over Other Stage at Glastonbury 2025 after Deftones pullout

Following the news of Deftones' sudden withdrawal from Glastonbury 2025, Skepta has been confirmed to take over the Other Stage on the penultimate day of the music festival. The organizers were forced to find a last-minute replacement for Deftones after the band reportedly came down with a bout of illness, which put their scheduled performance at the event in jeopardy.

Skepta is now set to perform at 9 PM local time, slightly later than Deftones’ original 8:30 PM slot. The band took to social media to share their disappointment at the unfortunate turn of events, even as it expressed its intention to return to the festival in the future. In the statement, they were quoted as saying:

"In an unfortunate development, an illness in the band is going to prevent us from playing Glastonbury tonight. We’re devastated to be missing out on something we’ve been looking forward to for months, but sometimes circumstances out of our control interfere with things we want to do the most. We really hope to return to Glastonbury soon, and as it currently stands, we plan on seeing you tomorrow at Crystal Palace.”

Skepta’s Statement and the Festival’s Response

Skepta is no stranger to the hip-hop community, and he brings some serious credentials to this emergency slot. He was awarded the Mercury Prize for his album “Konnichiwa” and also has an extensive collaboration history with international artists like A$AP Rocky and Drake.

This is not the first time Skepta has appeared at Glastonbury, as the artist has already played at this festival in 2016. The artist has been afforded the same luxury this time around as well, as he'll be performing in front of a sold-out crowd. Other artists like Charli XCX, Neil Young, Doechii, and Busta Rhymes, etc., are also set to take the stage today.

The rapper's decision to step in at the eleventh hour drew admiration from many on social platforms, and the organizers' efforts also have to be commended. Skepta seemed enthused by the prospect of joining the Glastonbury festival, which was evident in the statement he released on social media.

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Deftones' withdrawal from the Glastonbury lineup is just the latest in a series of them lately for the music festival. Robbie Williams has confirmed his non-participation at the event already, and Neil Young had also pulled out from the festival earlier this year, sending organizers into a panic. Young has, however, made a U-turn on his earlier stance and will be seen headlining the event on Saturday.

While fans had been looking forward to Deftones' performance at the music festival, such changes are hardly unusual at events of such magnitude. While there's a discussion to be had on the genre shift, Skepta's inclusion in the lineup has the potential to turn out to be a coup for the organizers. Glastonbury 2025 is about to draw to a close this weekend, with several prominent artists lined up for the closing of the ceremony.

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