In 2004, Keane released a hit that would swell with such nostalgia that it’s now chanted like a national anthem at every festival they grace. Like Oasis’ “Live Forever,” Keane’s legendary single, “Somewhere Only We Know” has built up every sign of being a modern classic; every melody an instant flashback for anyone who survived the ‘00s indie-pop scene, with lyrics depicting an ever-relatable story of aging and escapism.
Taking their hit to the Pyramid Stage of Glastonbury 2024, Keane’s stunning performance before a vast, chanting crowd proves it’s still possible for pop songs to age like fine wine, especially if plucked from what some would call the last golden age of Britpop.
Crowds sang back Keane’s lyrics like they were gospel. “I’m getting old and I need something to rely on” lost its bittersweet tinge when chanted by thousands upon thousands of spectators united by their deathless love for music, and the first chorus was so spectacular, Keane handed the mic to the Glastonbury choir to take on the second chorus alone.
Singer, Tom Chaplin (aged 45), boasts a voice which hasn’t aged a day but has only gotten better with time. Alongside drummer Richard Hughes (48), keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley (48), and bassist Jesse Quin (42), Keane’s original 2004 lineup remains intact, stronger and more passionate than ever.
Keane’s history stretches back to their schooldays, meeting at Tonbridge School in Kent and later forming in Battle, East Sussex, UK. Following the departure of original guitarist and co-founder, Dominic Scott, in 2001, Keane’s debut record “Hopes And Fears” became the second-best selling album of 2004, with the second single, “Everybody’s Changing,” reaching the same legendary status as its first, “Somewhere Only We Know.”
20 years later, Keane’s gig on Glastonbury’s main stage harbors every trait of an anniversary celebration. Despite taking an early slot on Saturday evening, keyboardist Tim’s vision for an all-inclusive nostalgia fest was manifested seamlessly, previously telling The Independent: “We’re playing at four in the afternoon so you often find people are like… emerging from the hangover. They’re sort of wandering around and thinking about what they’re gonna see, waiting for the headliners. So you kind of hope you can get people’s attention from all over the place and get people singing along. That’s our mission.”
Keane’s 20th anniversary tour, “Keane20,” will be stopping off in Spain, Belgium, and France before the band makes a swift return to Somerset, UK in time to headline the Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza on August 3rd. After a few more European shows, the US & South American leg of the tour is due to begin this autumn.
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