What with the sun blazing dangerously down on Worthy Farm, everyone seems to be in a blissful mood at Glastonbury this afternoon. Extraneous, and in some cases, all clothing layers have been shed, and the Southwest’s supply of UV facepaints has been decimated.

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In the midst of such good vibes then, Elvis Costello & The Imposters could probably come out in front of the Pyramid Stage crowd and play a selection of B-sides without dampening anyone’s mood. Thankfully, there’s plenty of room for “Oliver’s Army” and company in his set.

A mid-show acoustic section is perhaps a little indulgent, especially on the stately swing-time ballad, “Jimmie Standing In The Rain”, but the set picks up with a rendition of Costello’s peerless anti-Thatcher song, “Tramp The Dirt Down”.

“I would never wish anyone dead…” he says. “This isn’t about burying a person, it’s about burying an idea.” It’s a moving performance, though a little out of place performed to people eating ice creams and falafel wraps.

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Costello closes the set with a marathon run of classic songs, including “(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea”, “Pump It Up” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding”. A solid ending – and a little more suitable for serving with warm pear cider.

Tom Pinnock

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