Lewis Capaldi has revealed that he feared he would never perform live again following his mental breakdown at Glastonbury in 2023. Speaking to the crowd at this year's Isle of Wight Festival, the Scottish singer expressed his relief at being back on stage and feeling comfortable.
Return to the Stage
Three years after his public struggles with anxiety and Tourette's syndrome, Capaldi headlined the Isle of Wight Festival's first day. He told the sold-out crowd of 50,000: "I had what the kids are calling a complete and utter mental breakdown. But my mental is no longer broken; I'm feeling good."
The audience responded with both support and relief, as many had feared his career might be over after he cancelled all live commitments following his Glastonbury set in 2023. Capaldi admitted: "There was a time I didn't think this would be possible. Not dreading being onstage and feeling comfortable and enjoying it means a lot."
Setlist and Performance
Capaldi performed a mix of acoustic and piano-led love songs, including hits like Bruises, Pointless, and Someone You Loved. He lightened the mood with between-song comedy, joking about breaking wind during emotional moments and sharing his discomfort with underwear. He also gave a running commentary on the Scotland versus Morocco World Cup match.
During the encore, he sang Survive under a rain shower from the lighting rig and closed with Someone You Loved, the song that had stalled him at Glastonbury. He promised fans: "I'm gonna go away and make a new album and I'm gonna try to come back as quick as I can."
