The Lumineers might have first played Glastonbury three years ago, but they’re still in awe of the mud, crowds and long drops at the UK’s biggest festival.

The folk-rock trio from Denver, Colorado, took over The Other Stage on Friday afternoon, leading the whole field in a sing-song chorus of hit Ho Hey (“I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart.” You know it.)

The Lumineers (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Lumineers on The Other Stage at Glastonbury (Ben Birchall/PA)

Despite pulling in a huge crowd, Jeremiah Fraites, the man on the drums, said he still feels unworthy to say the name “Glasto”.

He said: “Coachella is maybe like the biggest festival in America but Glastonbury is its own beast. We’d heard so much about Glastonbury (before we first performed).

“I don’t even feel right saying the word Glasto, I don’t feel like I’ve earned that. It’s talked about so much over here, I don’t know if there is a comparison in America.”

Guitarist and vocalist Wesley Schultz was similarly reverent about the experience.

Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers (Ben Birchall/PA)
Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers (Ben Birchall/PA)

He said: “I just walked through the village last time we were here and I couldn’t believe how vast and expansive and detailed it was. If I was on a heavy drug, it would be pretty insane to walk through.

“You’re in this whole 200,000 population city for a few days, it’s like you’re in a new tribe.”

Unlike last time, the band did not jump down off the stage to perform in the middle of the crowd during their sun-kissed set.

“It’s really muddy, we might get stuck!” Wes protested.

Singer and cellist Neyla Pekarek confessed that the band preferred smaller venues to the vast fields of Worthy Farm.

She said: “You have to earn the crowd at a festival because they’re not necessarily there to see you and that has a fun element to it but it’s a harder job, for sure.”

Glastonbury is, however, a good place to hook up with Saturday’s headliner Adele, who they said they would love to collaborate with.

The trio are touring their second album, Cleopatra.