Glastonbury: Billie Eilish and Ukraine Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra rock festival

Eilish is the youngest ever solo performer to headline the Pyramid Stage

US singer Billie Eilish performs in the headline slot on the Pyramid Stage during Glastonbury Festival. Getty Images

Multi-Grammy winner Eilish is the youngest solo act in history to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Getty Images

Eilish performed a crowd-pleasing set, which kicked off with hit 'Bury a Friend' and ended with 'Bad Guy' and 'Happier Than Ever'. Getty Images

Without directly referencing the US Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, a 1973 ruling giving women the constitutional right to abortion, Eilish said: 'Today is a really dark day for women in the US.' Getty Images

Eilish then dedicated 'Your Power', a song about abusing power, to the US Supreme Court ruling. Getty Images

The Glastonbury Festival is being held in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England. AP

The festival returned for its 50th anniversary this year, two years later than planned after Covid-19 scuppered the 2020 and 2021 events. AP

Crowds watch Billie Eilish perform on stage. AP

Other top headliners to come at the festival include Paul McCartney, Diana Ross and Kendrick Lamar.

Billie Eilish on the Pyramid main stage. AP

The UK music weekender, which is among the biggest in the world, is set to welcome more than 200,000 guests over the coming five days. Getty Images

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses festivalgoers via a video link. AFP

'Glastonbury is the greatest concentration of freedom these days and I ask you to share this feeling with everyone whose freedom is under attack,' Zelenskyy told festivalgoers. AFP

Kalush Orchestra, Eurovision winners from Ukraine, performing their first UK gig at Shangri-La's Truth Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. EPA

The band, whose song 'Stefania' earned them the winner's title at the singing contest in Turin last month, spoke about their hopes of their country hosting next year's Eurovision competition. EPA

The European Broadcasting Union had said it cannot host the Eurovision in Ukraine, due to security issues. Winners of the contest traditionally host the competition the following year. EPA

Ukraine has condemned the European Broadcasting Union's decision to strip it of the right to host next year's Eurovision song contest on security grounds after Russia's invasion. EPA

The BBC said it was in talks with the EBU about hosting the event in the UK, with the country's Sam Ryder finishing runner-up to Kalush in Italy. EPA

If the UK does host the contest in 2023, it would be the ninth time it has done so — more than any other country. EPA

The crowd watching Kalush Orchestra. EPA

Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra on the Truth Stage. EPA

Glastonbury has not taken place since 2019 as the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to live events across the world. EPA

MC Kilimmen from Kalush Orchestra on stage. EPA

Oleg Psyuk, the frontman of Kalush Orchestra, performs. EPA

Crowds wave the Ukrainian flag as they watching Kalush Orchestra perform. EPA

Bobby Gillespie, vocalist for Primal Scream, performs on the John Peel stage at Glastonbury Festival. EPA

Billie Eilish said it was a "dark day" for American women during her headline slot at Glastonbury Festival — just hours after US judges overturned a ruling giving women the constitutional right to an abortion.

The multi-Grammy winner, who became the youngest solo act in history to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage on Friday, made the comment midway through a crowd-pleasing set, which kicked off with hit Bury a Friend and ended with Bad Guy and Happier Than Ever.

Without directly referencing Friday's US Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, Eilish said: "Today is a really dark day for women in the US.

"I'm just going to say that because I can't bear to think about it anymore in this moment."

She then dedicated Your Power, a song about abusing power, to the subject.

Near the end of the set, she told the crowd that she was "so undeserving" of headlining.

"Thank you for letting me do it," she said. "I am so honoured to be here."

Eilish closed the first full day of music at the festival in south-west England, which returned for its 50th anniversary two years later than planned after Covid-19 scuppered the 2020 and 2021 events.

Other acts on Friday included Wet Leg, Arlo Parks, Primal Scream and Eurovision 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine.

The band, whose song Stefania earned them the winner's title at the singing contest in Turin last month, spoke about their hopes of their war-ravaged country hosting next year's Eurovision competition.

The European Broadcasting Union announced it had ruled out Ukraine as host, saying "severe" risk of air raids in the country alongside the "high" risk of mass casualties contributed to the decision.

Eurovision winners traditionally host the competition the following year.

"So right now there (are still) a lot of discussions (going on) in Ukraine. Maybe Ukraine will be invited (to host Eurovision)," Kalush Orchestra fontman Oleg Psyuk told Press Association. "And we altogether hope Eurovision will be in Ukraine."

The BBC said it was in talks with the European broadcasting union about hosting the event in the UK, with the country's Sam Ryder finishing runner-up to Kalush in Italy.

Before the first performance at Glastonbury on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed via videolink to the crowds, urging them to spread the truth about Russia's invasion.

"Glastonbury is the greatest concentration of freedom these days and I ask you to share this feeling with everyone whose freedom is under attack," he said in a recorded message that drew cheers.

Paul McCartney headlines on Saturday, a week after his 80th birthday, while Diana Ross and Kendrick Lamar top the bill on Sunday.

— Additional reporting by Reuters and PA News