UNITED KINGDOM – After their debut performance at Glastonbury Festival, Ukrainian Eurovision singers Go A said that ‘love saves the world’ and appealed for unity in the face of Russia’s invasion.
According to lead vocalist Kateryna Pavlenko, the concert at Worthy Farm is a “venue for free people,” adding, “people need to recognise that freedom is a really rare gift, therefore we need to safeguard it.”
The greatest concentration of freedom! @glastonbury, it was amazing! Lots of love from Ukraine ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/dzDRt7hg69
— Go_A (@_Go_A_) June 25, 2022
Dozens of yellow and blue Ukrainian flags hung above the hundreds of people who had assembled, and the audience erupted in exuberant ovation when Pavlenko began his act by announcing, ‘We are Go A, and we are from Ukraine.’
After coming fifth in Eurovision for their native country in 2021, this was Go A’s first Glastonbury appearance, which the band described as a “dream come true.”
‘I’ve dreamed of Glastonbury for many, many years, and I don’t think I’ll ever perform on this stage…’ It’s almost like magic,’ Pavlenko informed PA.
‘The major message of our song is that people must band together.’ The world is saved by love.’
‘I could just shout, it’s one of the high moments of our band, a dream come true,’ said Tars Shevchenko, who plays keyboard and percussion for the band.
When asked about the circumstances in his homeland, Shevchenko said, ‘We phone our pals every day simply to see whether they’re still alive.’
‘Our message to them is to be safe, and to our military people, happy hunting.’
The musical quartet, which also includes multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk, a member of this year’s Eurovision-winning act Kalush Orchestra, and guitarist Ivan Hryhoriak, was met with roars of encouragement from the audience as they discussed resistance to Russian forces and the plight of their people.
Pavlenko described one song as “about the strong and valiant Ukrainian people,” and introduced another by saying, “You know that our nation is at war, and this song is about our agony.”
When asked about the message behind their music, Shevchenko stated, ‘To create is always harder and more difficult than to destroy…’ You should not destroy when you have the ability to build.’
The band’s appearance comes after Ukrainian Eurovision 2022 winner Kalush Orchestra performed at the Truth Stage in the early hours of Saturday morning, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Glastonbury on Friday.
Mr Zelensky urged the world to “share the truth” about Russia’s invasion, and Go A expressed gratitude to the festival organisers for organising the statement.
‘Right now, we have the finest president in Ukraine, and we are thankful for all he is doing to assist our nation,’ Pavlenko added.
an oikotimes original text
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