shoebox

Can we all just blame the Tories for underwhelming festival line-ups and meet up in Larmer Tree Gardens for some good times regardless?

And that is fine. It's a closed community and a discussion. The issue Nick is really referring to is the posters on EOTR's social's directly telling them that their product is "shit". You wouldn't (you would hope!) do it to an artist if their work isn't to your taste, so why do it here? What does it achieve? Are they expecting EOTR to go "hang on, you're right. We'll change it"?

HAs anyone updated the clashfinder yet?

Mass confusion over whether we're going to see Kokoko or Kokoroko on the day!

Yep, there are a LOT of new names for me there. Really looking forward to it and REALLY pleased about the return Angel and Caitlin Rose.

"Stressing" probably a poor choice of words. But there's certainly already criticism based on rumours. I guess I just hate the negativity that always gets bandied around when a line-up is announced that doesn't perfectly capture someone's taste. I have the same frustrations every year, and mostly because whatever they announce I will find so much to love in it.

We do it every year. "Mac Demarco not big enough to headline!" "Michael Kiwanuka not big enough to headline!" "King Krule not big enough to headline!" And yet they ALWAYS draw a massive crowd and people have a great time. Just don't stress it. If the Woods headliners aren't for you, there's always something else on. The festival doesn't sell based on its Woods Stage headliners. If the acts mentioned do headline, well, I like them all and would watch them if there is nothing I'm also interested in up against them.

Looks like they're walking towards a mirror, man. The Human League nailed on as headlining the Saturday night.

Fair enough. I'm probably talking bollocks, or maybe it's just the way my Twitter feed is so random, and it appears that the media partners get there first. I remember one year the announcement being made on 6Music, but we're going back a few years now. Doesn't really matter. I have notifications set up for EOTR Tweeting anyway.

Twitter mostly. Them or Loud & Quiet on Twitter will probably break the news whilst we awaiting the official EOTR announcement (with, hopefully, an animated video and Spotify playlist)

Probably. Usually is, and it'll be someone like The Line Of Best Fit who break the news.

The Smile would be one of my ultimate "meh" bookings, but I know all my mates would be well up for it. That would be a headline set I be spending on my own elsewhere. Which I'm fine with, although I do tend to drink more when that happens.

Recent years have given us about 75% of the line-up. All Woods headliners, but not really any clues as to where the other acts fit in (although assumptions can usually be made)

I think you're right. I hadn't noticed the overall spacing, just the EOTR gap.

Big EOTR shaped hole in Bjork's autumn tour. I mean, it's incredibly unlikely, but not beyond the realms of possibility.

There was something mentioned but it was difficult to determine whether it was a joke or not.

That'd be pretty spot on, tbf.

I saw them in London last weekend and they were playing as an 8 piece. Strings, flutes. It was beautiful. Much more suited to the Garden than the Big Top in my opinion. Think they're already playing Deer Shed, so are doing festivals.

Just cam on to post that. Very promising!

Absolutely correct. Had completely forgotten about her.

One of the things I love about EOTR is their willingness to give a number of acts their first headline slot. Whilst this may end up looking like weak bookings to many, they are generally there on merit rather than clout, if you get my meaning. As we say in here every year, the Woods headliners to not make the festival. A supposedly "weak" line-up at EOTR will still have me running from stage to stage trying to catch 50% of the acts on a 100 act bill. It doesn't sell out based on the line-up, it sells out because people love the festival.

I think it is rare for EOTR to have repeat "main stage" headliners. I think I can only recall Yo La Tengo, Fleet Foxes and Bright Eyes (kind of) headlining Garden (when it was the main stage) and Woods, and only Joanna Newsom headlining Woods twice. So I would surprised if B&S were called back to headline, but it's unthinkable. I also don't think Stuart's announcement has any bearing on the timing, they've already announced revised UK dates in the summer, so he obviously expects to be well enough to tour by then. Think these US dates have just come too soon in his recovery. Unless I've completely misread it.

Ah man, if that means you missed K.O.G. you missed an absolute belter. One of my sets of the weekend. What a way to kick off the festival!