Glastonbury 2023 was brimming with rock legends like Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, and Blondie, but it was folk-rock icon Cat Stevens—now performing as Yusuf Islam—who delivered one of the festival’s most unforgettable moments. With his acoustic guitar in hand, Stevens brought the Pyramid Stage to life, leading the crowd in a moving rendition of Wild World.
Even 53 years after its release, the song resonated with remarkable power. Thousands of fans, spanning generations, sang along in perfect harmony, echoing every lyric back to the legendary singer. Stevens’ voice, as warm and distinct as it was in the original 1970 recording, left the audience awestruck.
Reflecting on the performance, Stevens called it “something of a dream,” describing the crowd’s love and energy as “beyond anything I’d experienced in Britain before.”
His 21-song set was a journey through his timeless catalog, including classics like The First Cut Is the Deepest, Moonshadow, and Morning Has Broken. He also offered a touching tribute to George Harrison with Here Comes the Sun.
Though he stepped away from the music industry for a time, Stevens’ Glastonbury performance proved that his music continues to connect across generations, reaffirming his status as one of folk-rock’s most enduring voices.