It is like a different planet' Excitement, emotion and the unexpected at Glastonbury

As the noon sun broke through the cloud over the Glastonbury festival yesterday, the excitement among the 200,000 ticketholders as the first chords of music rang across Worthy Farm was palpable.

- Jamie Grierson Robyn Vinter

Lorde was among the opening artists on the first full day of music at the Somerset carnival in a "secret" set in the small Woodsies tent – an understated turn for the pop superstar, who has played the Pyramid and Other stages at previous festivals.

The "TBA" listing on the lineup was fooling no one, and thousands of people flooded the relatively small Woodsies area, forcing the stewards to close it off to prevent overcrowding.

After watching the New Zealander play her new album, Virgin, in full, Catherine Shipton, 27, from Southampton was buzzing: "We were pretty sure Lorde was the TBA on the list, and when the album dropped last night we were almost definite.

"But it didn't stop it being so amazing to see her. She was brilliant – the new songs were great."

Setting the tone for the day, it was the sort of magical start that has become synonymous with the Glastonbury experience: unexpected, emotional, energetic, enigmatic.

Through sunny intervals and 25C temperatures, festivalgoers meandered through the fields of Pilton dressed in outfits ranging from practical Patagonia outdoor gear to tutus, and superhero and pirate costumes.

Early arrivals on Wednesday were treated to a circus performance on the Pyramid stage – a quiet affair, given that Glastonbury's licence does not allow for loud music until Thursday – in which spectators hummed and sang along to large samba drums.

Supergrass opened the festivities on the venerable Pyramid stage; the indie rockers' 1995 hit Alright – with its tribute to the rebellious spirit of youth – a fitting anthem for the occasion.