111 replies to this topic

[kipper64]

So they have to pre-pay for services then? I wasn't aware of that, my point was about services like portaloos and the likes, they judge how much they need depending on how many people are arriving I thought, hence surely they'll know if it's been a success or not when they cross the bridge for paying for that sort of thing?

As for old vs. new contracts, some of the gigs are sonisphere replacement gigs such as Wolfmother, Marilyn Manson etc.. and obviously those acts aren't that pissed with Kili about it being cancelled as they've allowed them to promote the new shows - although I'm not naive to believe that all bands will not be fussed about it I guess.

I don't really see the appeal of Maiden either to be honest, although this time around it'll most certainly be a greatest hits/classics style setlist - like they are doing in the US this Summer - so that'll probably please a lot of people, last tour and last Sonisphere was very post 2000/new album focussed.

[chickenfire]

Am I being stupid or is it going to be MUCH harder for Kili to book bands for Knebworth next year (If it does go ahead). Bands like mastodon have had to rearrange their whole summer because of this years cancelation so I doubt they would be back next year if the risk of cancelation was still there.

[kipper64]

Depends on the band really. A lot of the bands that have been involved, bigger ones at least, Mastodon included, Agent co-owns the festival, so I'm not sure it'll have a lot of impact as their agent has a vested interest in the festival regardless - although the job of being an agent and making sure the band gets paid will always come first so obviously they wouldn't put that at risk if they felt next year was too much of a risk.

[willutalk]

kipper64, on 22 May 2012 - 12:45 PM, said:

they've started announcing and sorting bands out earlier and it's caused them to put together a very successful line up this year.

Very true here, definitely where the likes of Reading + Leeds and Soni are missing out. I love the way Download announce bands in chunks over about three/four months, this makes you automatically keep applying the good announcements up, you (as a festival) feel pressurized to keep up the good work once good headliners are announced. Instead of announcing the majority of the line-up in a halfhearted punch, you can book and announce bands as you go. You have no deadlines to reach and you can make additions compared to the public's responses to bands already announced. It's a very good system that Andy Copping has done well, and has resulted in finally achieving a very juicy Download line-up. If I was a band booker for a festival with high expectations I'd goo with that system.

Edited by willutalk, 24 May 2012 - 06:39 PM.

[kipper64]

Well I wouldn't say soni "missed out" - though they certainly did drop the ball this year, it was because of them announcing earlier in previous years and in that fashion that's caused Andy to rethink things and do similar imo. Up until basically last Download they'd, he'd usually wait till February before announcing anything.  As I said it's one of the positives of having competition, and certainly something that's improved with competition.  Without sonisphere they can become lazy again in a sense, with bookings as well as timings.

The main reason Soni and Download trickle bands out though is A) they need longer to sell tickets and B ) it means they get constant news coverage, which being niché they kind of need. Reading can usually afford to have one or two big announcement and that's enough to sell out

Edited by kipper64, 25 May 2012 - 12:27 PM.

[jump]

kipper64, on 25 May 2012 - 12:26 PM, said:

Well I wouldn't say soni "missed out" - though they certainly did drop the ball this year, it was because of them announcing earlier in previous years and in that fashion that's caused Andy to rethink things and do similar imo. Up until basically last Download they'd, he'd usually wait till February before announcing anything.  As I said it's one of the positives of having competition, and certainly something that's improved with competition.  Without sonisphere they can become lazy again in a sense, with bookings as well as timings.

The main reason Soni and Download trickle bands out though is A) they need longer to sell tickets and B ) it means they get constant news coverage, which being niché they kind of need. Reading can usually afford to have one or two big announcement and that's enough to sell out

I think the main reason for Download taking things up a notch this year is due to the big anniversary, if Soni wasn't around at the time I think it would still be very similar in both bookings and announcements.

[biffoire]

Even without Soni, I think DL need to up their game as less and less people appear to be going to festivals. I mean T, Readin, Leeds. None of them have sold out. So i think the days of DL being lazy or resting on their laurels are well and truly over. But yeah, it is good how one always drives the other to up their game.

[willutalk]

T, Reading and Leeds will have to up their game to compete with the return of Glasto next year. Their line-ups this year would have been out classed by a Glastonbury callibre line-up. Download will have to have a mainly rock/metal lineup though for 2013 as we may not be seeing the return of Snsphr. The UK needs a proper rock/metal festival like Download to keep on it's roots by the fact that Sonisphere is now not an alternative for DL and visa-versa. Although I quite like some indie rock I have lost hope with R+L being a rock/metal type festival, way too much indie rock is on this years lineup, some would be good though. 2003, 05 and 08 were the heaviest Reading line-ups and I doubt they'll go back to confirming bands like Metallica and SOAD and Slipknot who have played Reading before. I think 2013 will be a VERY interesting year for festivals and I would be very interested in seeing what the situation is before festivals start planning for 2014.

[kaosmark2]

Reading will book the bands that sell tickets. I don't think they'll stop booking Metallica, or Maiden, etc. because they'll sell tickets and attract fans. I doubt it's going to be a heavy festival for a while, but I'm pretty sure the "indie" fad is dying, and Reading will look to shift away from it at some point soon.

[jump]

willutalk, on 25 May 2012 - 07:23 PM, said:

T, Reading and Leeds will have to up their game to compete with the return of Glasto next year. Their line-ups this year would have been out classed by a Glastonbury callibre line-up. Download will have to have a mainly rock/metal lineup though for 2013 as we may not be seeing the return of Snsphr. The UK needs a proper rock/metal festival like Download to keep on it's roots by the fact that Sonisphere is now not an alternative for DL and visa-versa. Although I quite like some indie rock I have lost hope with R+L being a rock/metal type festival, way too much indie rock is on this years lineup, some would be good though. 2003, 05 and 08 were the heaviest Reading line-ups and I doubt they'll go back to confirming bands like Metallica and SOAD and Slipknot who have played Reading before. I think 2013 will be a VERY interesting year for festivals and I would be very interested in seeing what the situation is before festivals start planning for 2014.

One of the arguements I've heard a lot of this year is fests have been struggling for acts because bands haven't been coming over for Glasto.

Why should R&L be a metal fest when it never has been before? There's an element of rock to it but even when there's been a heavier line up than normal there's still been indie/britpop bands on the bill. The problem with bands like Iron Maiden and System Of A Down is they aren't really relevant, when Maiden were booked (something like 30 year since the last time) there was a lot of re-intrest in them and singles reaching no 2 in the charts at the time and there's not a lot of metal bands doing that now with the alternative side of music in the mainstream is more like Paramore & 30 Secs To Mars who are being booked by them.

[willutalk]

jump, on 26 May 2012 - 01:42 PM, said:

One of the arguements I've heard a lot of this year is fests have been struggling for acts because bands haven't been coming over for Glasto.

Why should R&L be a metal fest when it never has been before? There's an element of rock to it but even when there's been a heavier line up than normal there's still been indie/britpop bands on the bill. The problem with bands like Iron Maiden and System Of A Down is they aren't really relevant, when Maiden were booked (something like 30 year since the last time) there was a lot of re-intrest in them and singles reaching no 2 in the charts at the time and there's not a lot of metal bands doing that now with the alternative side of music in the mainstream is more like Paramore & 30 Secs To Mars who are being booked by them.

I agree that Reading isn't a metal fest and shouldn't be but some people are missing a good proper rock band from being confirmed. Tenacious D were rumored this year, but no. More indie rock. There isn't really enough variety this year for it to be a very good line up. 2003,04,05 were great years for Reading. Shame Sonisphere may cease to exist as it usually had a really good mix of rock and metal and they weren't afraid to stick in bands like Pendulum high on the bill. I am starting to really hope for Sonisphere to come back!! Glad that Download are looking strong and bold with lineup choices for this year. Come on Kili !!

Edited by willutalk, Today, 02:54 PM.

[jump]

willutalk, on 27 May 2012 - 02:49 PM, said:

I agree that Reading isn't a metal fest and shouldn't be but some people are missing a good proper rock band from being confirmed. Tenacious D were rumored this year, but no. More indie rock. There isn't really enough variety this year for it to be a very good line up. 2003,04,05 were great years for Reading. Shame Sonisphere may cease to exist as it usually had a really good mix of rock and metal and they weren't afraid to stick in bands like Pendulum high on the bill. I am starting to really hope for Sonisphere to come back!! Glad that Download are looking strong and bold with lineup choices for this year. Come on Kili !!

I find it strange you are talking about "proper rock" bands than name Tenacious D as band that should have been announced. Truth be told there's far more alternative music on the mainstage at R&L than there is indie rock.

Pendulum aren't rock or metal but given the size of the fest them subbing isn't a huge surprise and pretty much did similar when the headline Bestival, 2nd stage at Download, NME tent at R&L etc.