MEGABOWL

One of my dream bookings but one that I think won’t happen

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/topic/244093-2024-headliners/?do=findComment&comment=6715757

100% agree on the last bit. I think it would make sense to emulate some of the stuff Williams Green had after headliner time-Northern Soul, Guilty Pleasures, Motown, that kind of thing. Give people who want something different to what the SE Corner offers another place to go.

In the last 24 hours I have listened to Olivia Rodrigo Coldplay x BTS Rianne Downey The Big Moon Holly Humberstone Oasis Taylor Swift Sigrid Kendrick Lamar feat SZA Dua Lipa

I wouldn’t be in anyway surprised if that was the 3. With Styles (and Rihanna actually) it’s simply a case of if they want to. I’m sure the festival would book them in a heartbeat.

That wasn’t aimed at you specifically mate. Just an observation.

I heard that. He and Jackson ‘the edgiest edgester’ Browne.

It’s interesting to see how people of different ages treat music. I’m 47 and I see in some of my friends this self assurance that their music taste is not just an opinion, it’s better. They’ve been around a while (getting less open-minded) whereas the kids don’t know what they’re talking about. You can see how it happens. In the 90s I was an Indie kid so I’d buy NME and Select and listen to Steve Lamacq and you got siloed off into a particular type of music. Same when I then got into pills and Dance music and you had to buy the right mags and go to the right record shops and be seen in the cool clubs. You become part of the scene. There was a kudos to being the first to hear something. Kids don’t do that now. We’ve had an influx at my work of folk in their 20s who are gig and festival-goers and when you ask ‘what type of music are you into?’ none of them have a ‘type’ because they have instant access to all the music ever and listen to whatever they feel like. Nobody gets anything ‘first’ because if someone recommends a track they can be listening to it within 5 seconds. They’re open to whatever and will go and watch all sorts of different stuff at festivals. You know what, they’re doing it right.

If you say so. Then where’s the precedent for Glastonbury festival being successful while filling the Pyramid with ‘edgy’ acts?

That would only make sense if you were comparing Main Stages. Glastonbury would have to shut about 70% of the festival to be like those festivals. They need to sell over 100000 tickets because they need money to fund the festival. Given ticket prices these days there is absolutely no guarantee it would sell out especially if they start arrogantly thinking they can book whoever they want to headline. That type of hubris is the road to ruin. They’ve got a formula that currently works. They’ve been booking the biggest names possible for 30+ years now while proving a huge variety in the headliners on alternative stages and catching every up and coming act possible somewhere on the line up. They didn’t book Oasis/The Prodigy/Blur/Radiohead/REM/Shakespears Sister in the 90s because they were cool and edgy, they booked them because they were massive and what the kids were listening to at the time. The idea that booking a load of acts to headline that aren’t popular enough will lead to it still selling out but with some sort of more alternative crowd is just a total myth with no basis in history.

The idea that one of the biggest music festivals in the world has to be ‘creative’ or ‘imaginative’ or ‘edgy’ is just self indulgent bollocks. Sorry. They need to sell over 100000 expensive tickets.

Thats a phenomenal list. That just makes the bookers-and remember what they pay-look like they’re very very good at their job.

Squeeze were really good on the Pyramid on 2016. I’d go and see Heart too.

She played 13 songs in an hour in 2022 because, you know, there are pauses between songs and sometimes she talks. Like there would be if she headlined

One or two should be plenty especially if she can get a guest or two involved e.g. shes had Natalie Imbruglia up to do Torn before, or could get Lily Allen again. Complicated is a given, who knows, maybe Avril will be about. Just looked and Eilish did 20 songs (3 shortened, 1 extended). Rodrigo has enough to match that.

She easily has the material. Two huge albums to go at which include three Number 1s and another 4 songs that have made the top 10. Chuck in the Hunger Games song, a High School Musical track and a cover and she’ll fill 80-90 minutes no problem even before we start thinking of guests. Plenty of other acts have headlined off 1 or 2 albums.

She should have been higher than she was in 2022 but subbing? Nah that’s about right this year, an album later. The line up as a whole will be full of music for younger people. Like Dua Lipa (and in fact judging by last time I saw them, Coldplay).

Yes for me. But that sort of ‘strong sub, not Top Tier headliner’ position.

Exactly this. I judge Glastonbury bookings by two separate measures. 1. Subjectively do I like them? 2. Objectively are they a good book if for the festival that justifies their slot? The two are often very different but the second one is actually more important.

You just have to ignore a lot of the arguments. This forum is largely populated by the hardcore, those who go year in year out. Reality is there will be absolutely shedloads of people at Glastonbury this year who haven’t seen any of them and will be really excited. All three mooted headliners will get big crowds and probably go over really well.

Massive set of headliners IMO, whether it’s Madge or Stevie. Nice balance too. For all the usual pissing and moaning about Coldplay they’re pretty much the most consistent ticket shifter in the world, aren’t doing any other festivals, aren’t even currently doing any UK gigs next year, will get a huge crowd and go over really well. Dua is at exactly the right point in her career, has a volley of proper bangers, female, very good live from what I’ve seen. Female legend and one Female headliner is a positive. Madge or Stevie, both are huge all time legends. They may not be right at the top of the game but have enough hits to level Worthy Farm and both will have an event feel (especially Madge). Look at what other festivals that pay a lot more have got this year and GFL are punching again.

Absolutely excellent at TENSMT last year. Downey was very good in the Abbott role too.

That is Glastonbury reflecting trends in real life. It was going to be a huge presence on Social Media no matter what.

Yeah this. Glastonbury reflects trends in the outside world much more than it drives them.

Ok that one’s good