It wasn’t the gig that everyone thought would happen, but thoughts of  The Libertines aside, Pete Doherty still manages to created one of those special Glastonbury moments that those who were there will never forget, and those that weren’t can only dream about.

 

Back in the days of The Libertines, gigs like this were ten-a-penny, but not so anymore. To catch Pete Doherty playing acoustically performing songs from his old band has become something of a rarity of late. Opener Can’t Stand Me Now sets the pace for what is to be the biggest sing-a-long of the weekend. He is in buoyant mood, immediately launching into What A Waster at the crowd’s request, followed by a host of stripped-down Babyshambles songs that remind you just how great a talent this man really has. Nevermind the dodgy Babyshambles recording sessions that resulted in a woefully underproduced album, with just an acoustic and a voice it is hard to fault Doherty.

 

For the second time in the weekend Albion is sung word for word by the crowd in awe, followed by cries of ‘Oh oh oohh wooah wooah’ prompting Doherty to call band-mate Witnull back on to assist him with a sublime I Wish. By this time we have learnt that Carl is in Amsterdam, and there is definitely no reunion on the cards, but it really doesn’t matter. As Kate Moss watches on from the side of the stage her fiance launches into Libertines classic Music When The Lights Go Out, again sung word for word by everyone around. It is truly awesome. Off he strolls only to be brought back on for one more song. You get the feeling he would’ve stayed all night if he could’ve. Responding one last time to the crowd’s requests he delivers a simply incredible Up The Bracket and then strolls calmly off stage still playing his guitar until the very last second that it finally pops out of its socket. And with that it’s over, but it was worth every minute.