A GLASTONBURY singer-songwriter set to perform at Worthy Farm this weekend says it will be an “honour” to take to three of the festival’s stages.

Former Millfield School student Rosie Smith will play at The Rabbit Hole, the Avalon’s Stage Café and The Open Arms bar, the festival’s newest live music venue.

Her shows will feature stripped-back acoustic versions of her original music and some cover versions of well-known songs, including Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, which reached number one on the UK singles charts last week 37 years after its release following its appearance in Netflix show Stranger Things.

Speaking about the opportunity to perform at Glastonbury, a festival she has attended twice on Sundays, Smith, 22, told the County Gazette: “It feels absolutely unbelievable, really.

“It’s such a humbling experience that I live so close by, and I see it happen whenever it’s on. I’ve never experienced the full festival before, so that will be very enjoyable.

“It’s amazing, and to play on any stage – even if it was just in the middle of a field somewhere – would be an honour. I think it’s going to be exciting to see other artists as well.

“I can’t quite believe it’s real, it’s like a ‘pinch me’ moment.”

Smith was offered her stage slots after putting three of her songs (‘Breakfast for Dinner Tonight’, ‘Dirty Harry’ and ‘Mum’) on a CD and “posting them through doors to see if people like what they heard”.

Audiences will hear Smith’s original material from her upcoming debut album Face and some other crowd-pleasers such as ‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish – using a violin in place of the usual electropop beat – and ‘Ho Hey’ by The Lumineers.  

“It’s stripped back from what the actual tracks sound like,” she explained.

“It will be me playing the guitar and my friend Lucinda playing the violin. It’s commercial pop with a folky narrative, is how I would describe it.”

Eilish, who will become the youngest-ever Glastonbury headliner when she performs on the Pyramid Stage tomorrow night, is one of Rosie’s inspirations.

Somerset County Gazette: She will perform songs from her upcoming album Face and a selection of cover tracks. Picture: Lastman Music, X&Y RecordsShe will perform songs from her upcoming album Face and a selection of cover tracks. Picture: Lastman Music, X&Y Records

“When she started out, nobody really knew who she was,” she said.

“Now, you can barely get a ticket to go and see her. It’s amazing that having the talent and doing the right thing means that could one day be you, as she’s now headlining the Pyramid Stage.”

Describing Face, Smith said: “It’s sort of like a self-help guide to growing up. It’s about moving house, difficult friendships, grieving and loss, dealing with difficult people, and identity.”

Festivalgoers can watch Rosie perform at The Rabbit Hole (Saturday, 2pm), the Avalons Stage Café (Sunday, 10:45am) and The Open Arms (Sunday, 1:45pm).

You can follow Rosie Smith on social media (@rosiesmithofficial) and find her on YouTube.