Jonathan Jonathan

London Grammar appear to be back at Latitude and Glastonbury. Would make sense for them to do some sort of London show. Probably coheadline like last time. My bet is still on New Order though but they’re definitely a name in the ring.

Death Cab support announced including Phoenix, Sleater-Kinney and the Decembrists among others. Pretty solid line up though still can’t imagine it being a big ticket shifter

Yeah that was my thought. Would be a weird exclusion especially since Manchester isn’t short of arenas right now. Plus no Liverpool or Leeds

Feel like a lot of that line up could appear at ape. The Smile seem likely and reckon Overmono would be a good Field Day booking. Could see Ezra Collective on the undercard somewhere after the Mercury Win. What are people’s Field Day predictions this year? Haven’t seen Jamie XX on any like ups from what I remember this year but assume he’s in album prep mode, so perhaps a festival exclusive, perhaps as a coheadliner. Justice are also around. The Streets and Four Tet seem like they could appear too.

Doha Cat has just announced dates in the UK starting a couple days after Parklife. No Manchester stop so reckon she’s likely.

Yes but have you considered that his music slaps.

I agree. Feel like they’re an awkward size of not quite suiting arenas (eve though they play them occasionally) but being too big for lots of other venues. They suit outdoor/amphitheatre type events well

I could imagine The National playing, they’re in europe late spring/early summer. Imagine they might be at Glasto and another Southern Festival. Feel like it could be their ‘northern date’ like their show at Depot Mayfield last year. Though perhaps they’ll be back in Manchester again since they didn’t stop there this year and went to Leeds instead.

Agreed. Correct me if I’m wrong but the old format was one larger ‘festival’ weekend then smaller headline shows? (Wikipedia implies so, even if the festival never explicitly stated so from what I can find). Feel like they’re continuing that format but in a less rigid way - some smaller days mixed with some bigger days

Reason I suggest 2025 is simply because I feel like his tour is coming to natural conclusion soon and it’ll be when he releases a new album. Could also see him doing his own festival of some sorts in South London alternatively.

Have a feeling Nick Cave is gonna be out with a new Bad Seeds album next year. Might be too soon to be back and he might do a solo tour first, so maybe more likely 2025. Feel like The XX are in the same boat, probably a Jamie XX album next year and then they’ll be back 2025 (and probably a decent booking if they have toured in like 7 years). Could see London Grammar releasing new stuff and returning next year. Feel like even though their last album went number 1 it wasn’t super successful? So probably a coheadline again. Feel like Loyle Carner is a future headliner. He’s been ever present recently but reckon his next album will bump him up to headliner for 2025. Is weird to already be talking about 2025, but kind of scratching my head for next years headliners. Edit: Just to throw some names out…Would like to see Bjork back. The Smile and Beck would also be good return bookings. Glass Animals seems likely (but boring). Would Blondie be an apt booking for APE? Would like to see Blood Orange show up.

I think the tent helped atmosphere significantly. Based on watching someone like Rina Sawyama online looked a bit unexciting in broad daylight but would have benefitted from the added production the darkness of the tent allows. Similarly heard Bicep was a bit flaccid live outside based on a friend’s word, despite them being a massive Bicep fans Though maybe I’m wrong because I wasn’t there.

Echoing others that whilst it felt a bit chaotic/messy with room for improvement the vibe of the festival felt great and authentic - a bit less corporate than most fests and a bargain for 20 pounds.

I’ve basically accepted that 12 quid is standard of what most festival food is nowadays. Weirdly I’ve realised going to the more expensive looking places is a better shout. The cheap burger, hot dog and chips type places know they can charge you 12 pounds for a McDonalds quality burger whilst the fancier places know that most people won’t pay over 15 quid for festival food so have to keep prices more realistic. I went to the poke bowl place at both Field Day and Ape and got salmon and teriyaki chicken bowls for 11 pounds, which is about what a regular poke bowl costs. Felt like I’d found a bargain compared to most festival food. At other festivals this year I’ve had full pizzas and Korean chicken dishes for around 12 pounds too. Also halloumi is the enemy. Halloumi fries, halloumi burgers, halloumi skewers, halloumi wraps - always the biggest rip off.

Grace Jones seems like a good shoot for the ‘oldie’ headliner based on the survey options. Probably a cheaper booking than most ‘oldies’. Could also imagine Liam Gallagher in that role as a bigger ticket shifter Could imagine her plus a 2000s indie act like The National/Strokes or a 2010s more electronic pop act like London Grammar or Jungle. Then round off with a ‘newer’ booking like Fred Again.. (though he seems unlikely), Fontaines or Glass Animals.