In a classic Glastonbury surprise, Coldplay brought electronic music to the festival’s famous Pyramid stage during their headline set on Saturday, performing a live rendition of Martin Garrix and Mesto’s “Breakaway.”
The chart-topping rock band mashed up their hit 2017 collaboration with The Chainsmokers, “Something Just Like This,” with the STMPD RCRDS stalwarts’ big room hit—complete with live drums, guitar, funky robot helmets, and an onslaught of lasers and pyro, while frontman Chris Martin hyped up an estimated crowd of 100,000 festivalgoers.
Garrix, himself a longtime Coldplay fan and friend of the band’s bassist Guy Berryman, expressed his surprise at the landmark moment on social media Sunday, writing, “holy s***!!! @coldplay playing ‘Breakaway” at Glastonbury was not on my 2024 bingo card.”
“Can’t explain in words how crazy this feels… @coldplay playing ‘Breakaway live at Glastonbury is something I never expected to happen,” Mesto added in his own post. “Such a big honour!!!”
Check out clips from the performance in Garrix and Mesto’s posts below. Fans in the UK can watch the full set online here.
Embracing electronic music and festival-style production have been pillars of Coldplay’s performance package through the years, and Chris Martin is a known fan of the genre. In 2014, Martin invited Avicii to help produce the band’s 2014 hit “A Sky Full of Stars.” The singer also features in a new documentary film about the legendary late producer, which premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival last month.
The track’s appearance wasn’t the only surprise in Coldplay’s first performance at Glastonbury since 2016. After honoring festival founder Michael Eavis on stage, the band brought out “another legendary Michael,” inviting actor Michael J. Fox to play guitar during “Fix You.”
Elsewhere around Glastonbury’s Worthy Farm home, Fred again.. played a surprise ambient set on the festival’s Strummerville stage and Arcadia debuted its new dragonfly stage with sets from Fatboy Slim, Eric Prydz and more, among other highlights.
Earlier today, Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis confirmed in an interview with The Sun that the festival will take a “fallow year” in 2026.
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