Heavy Sunday

[VCK]

As you may know this year's Sunday (Reading) had the least heavy line-up in years, with the Friday being the heavy day (barring KOL and Kaisers, of course). Do you think this was a one-off or do you reckon FR have decided to stop the tradition? Some people think the latter but looking at older line-ups, the Sunday in 1996 and 1998 weren't typically heavy but the Fridays were, and the following year the line-up "returned to normal".

I personally think, unless FR can't get the right acts, that the heavy Sunday will be back.

[pink_triangle]

I think it depends which bands are willing to tour next summer and which bands play download or sonisphere. I dont think there are many"rock" bands who could headlien the festival, metallica, linkin park, acdc, pearl jam and iron maiden are the ones that come to mind. However there are other bands like marilyn manson, slipknott and tool who in theory could be second headliners.

[tomisnothere]

I really don't think "heavy Sunday" has ever been a plan. I think it just depends who's available for booking at the time. Some people say the Sunday is more of a "legend slot" - I think that's far more accurate.

[beLIEveR]

I don't really care about the Sunday headliner, and in fairness I'd much rather have Radiohead than one band from a small rolling shortlist of heavy acts who are big enough to headline. Radiohead unquestionably deserve that slot. I do however hope that early on Sunday is slightly heavier next year.

[TalkShow Bob]

I really don't think "heavy Sunday" has ever been a plan. I think it just depends who's available for booking at the time. Some people say the Sunday is more of a "legend slot" - I think that's far more accurate.

[bobzz]

i think they have stopped it to try and calm down the campsites, all those heavy metal fueled holigans ha, although if people can riot to Radiohead what hope do we have =/

[Budweiser]

i think they have stopped it to try and calm down the campsites, all those heavy metal fueled holigans ha, although if people can riot to Radiohead what hope do we have =/

Edited September 14, 2009 by Budweiser

[scottt]

There has usually been a metal day, especially in recent times. Obviously there are always a couple of bands on these days who dont fit in as well. Unfortunately these bands where the headliner and sub-headliner. And unfrotunately, "metal" now means lost prophets

Edited September 14, 2009 by scottt

[VCK]

I never said "metal day", but "heavy day". Look at the Sunday line-ups for the years between 1999 and 2008 you'll see that the tone of the bands playing are heavier.

[thomasowen]

There is no point denying the heavy day (not a metal day) existed because the evidence speaks for itself and Melvin Benn has acknowledged it's existance in lots of interviews I've read.

As to whether it will be back next year - yes, it has to be to apeal to the hardcore fans some would say were disapointed with this years lack of heavy music (complete rubbish, it just wasn't neatly laid out as it usualy is for people to find on the sunday main stage). Saying that I doubt it will be to the extent it was at it's peak years purely because heavy music isn't as commercial as it was a few years back and there is now increased competition from Sonisphere, Download and smaller fests.

Edited September 14, 2009 by thomasowen

[rivalschools.price]

i agree about the competion from sonisphere and download has resulted in less (main stage size)heavy bands being booked.at the end of the day,why would r/l fight it out with these other festivals for the heavy bands when they can just re-book the likes of bloc party/maximo park/etc. unless someone like green day or ac/dc decide to tag a festival on the end of their world tour i cant see this changing.the festival still sold out and the only losers from the (perceived) weaker line up were the touts,who found selling tickets for KOL/arctics/radiohead a lot less lucrative than selling tickets for RATM/killers/metallica.

[Englishdragon]

Not in a million years

I was going to start a similar topic in that FR are obviously completly changing the demographic of Reading and Leeds. Its becoming more popular by the year

seriously when I first went in 2003 I got looks for wearing trackie bottoms by the 99% goth and scene Kids in attendance.

This year I was getting looks for wearng a offspring t-shirt.

FR want next years festival to be 17-21 "nightclub" people, they have been slowly pushing towards it and the line up for next year will show (expect 3 bands at the top of the charts headlining)

so no dont expect anybody "heavy" to play

[dakyras]

Not in a million years

I was going to start a similar topic in that FR are obviously completly changing the demographic of Reading and Leeds. Its becoming more popular by the year

seriously when I first went in 2003 I got looks for wearing trackie bottoms by the 99% goth and scene Kids in attendance.

This year I was getting looks for wearng a offspring t-shirt.

[VCK]

There is no point denying the heavy day (not a metal day) existed because the evidence speaks for itself and Melvin Benn has acknowledged it's existance in lots of interviews I've read.

As to whether it will be back next year - yes, it has to be to apeal to the hardcore fans some would say were disapointed with this years lack of heavy music (complete rubbish, it just wasn't neatly laid out as it usualy is for people to find on the sunday main stage). Saying that I doubt it will be to the extent it was at it's peak years purely because heavy music isn't as commercial as it was a few years back and there is now increased competition from Sonisphere, Download and smaller fests.

[Englishdragon]

All that proves is that musical tastes are different for different generations, not that FR are in some sort of conspiracy to actively attract a different type of person. Reading is a festival for young people, and always has been since MB has had his fingers in the pie. The fact that young people on the whole like a different genre of music than when you were young has got more to do with it than some sick plan to ruin 'your' festival.

[rivalschools.price]

As I said, the heavy day this year was the KOL day. Just that because it wasn't on the Sunday and the two bands headlining were KOL and Kaiser Chiefs, two Indie bands, it created the illusion that there was no heavy day at all.

[beLIEveR]

All that proves is that musical tastes are different for different generations, not that FR are in some sort of conspiracy to actively attract a different type of person. Reading is a festival for young people, and always has been since MB has had his fingers in the pie. The fact that young people on the whole like a different genre of music than when you were young has got more to do with it than some sick plan to ruin 'your' festival.

[Budweiser]

FR want next years festival to be 17-21 "nightclub" people, they have been slowly pushing towards it and the line up for next year will show (expect 3 bands at the top of the charts headlining)

[rexclark]

I'm quite sure there will be a rock day next year, fair enough perhaps they're trying for a different crowd this year but I believe that they will realise that this can be only short term as the fad for going to festivals will eventually run out and they'll be stuck.

I could be wrong but If they do away with a rock day I see it being the death of the festival as we know it.

[King101]

I definitely think we'll see a heavier day next year, if you look at bands who will be doing the rounds next year - Green Day, Blink 182, Muse, Pearl Jam, Rammstein, My Chemical Romance, Lostprophets, AC/DC, maybe Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden - its hard to believe Reading wont snap at least one of them up.

I think the main difference may be that we no longer have to have a 'legend' act topping the heavy day - this year the legend act was topping the most indie day and the heaviest day had a first time headliner at the top of the bill, that trend could continue.

[thomasowen]

I definitely think we'll see a heavier day next year, if you look at bands who will be doing the rounds next year - Green Day, Blink 182, Muse, Pearl Jam, Rammstein, My Chemical Romance, Lostprophets, AC/DC, maybe Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden - its hard to believe Reading wont snap at least one of them up.

I think the main difference may be that we no longer have to have a 'legend' act topping the heavy day - this year the legend act was topping the most indie day and the heaviest day had a first time headliner at the top of the bill, that trend could continue.

[JameSemajj]

heavy sunday? big no....

[Budweiser]

heavy sunday? big no....

[Jaybles]

heavy sunday? big no....

[pink_triangle]

....big yes for me.

Get System of a down touring again, put them headlining the mainstage above Rammstein..