arcade fire

[Pilgrim S]

In 2007 the last two on the other stage were Editors followed by Arcade Fire, I'd be delighted if that was to be replicated on the Pyramid for the Friday.

Editors have their new album to tour and AF must be getting closer (late spring 2010 was something I read ages ago) so hopefully discussions are in place.

[Pilgrim S]

They are currently recording their new album. If rumours are correct, then they seem to be quite a way through the recording process.

Their booking agent for North America (not sure if they do Europe as well), as them down as available for booking in 2010. That was only changed recently. So things are happening.

They did state in 2007 that after giving the festival circuit a go, that year, that they didn't enjoy it. However it's pretty obvious that the people that book Glastonbury like them (nearly got them in 2005, did get them in 2007), and things can change when there is a lot of money on the table.

[Toilet Duck]

In 2007 the last two on the other stage were Editors followed by Arcade Fire, I'd be delighted if that was to be replicated on the Pyramid for the Friday.

Editors have their new album to tour and AF must be getting closer (late spring 2010 was something I read ages ago) so hopefully discussions are in place.

[lak attack]

These guys were brilliant when i saw them at a festival a few years back but they played before ratm so it was a reall dickhead/unappreciative crowd....fantastic set though

[Toilet Duck]

They did state in 2007 that after giving the festival circuit a go, that year, that they didn't enjoy it. However it's pretty obvious that the people that book Glastonbury like them (nearly got them in 2005, did get them in 2007), and things can change when there is a lot of money on the table.

[eggyrocks]

I must be going mad then! Still I saw them both over the weekend!

Maybe Im getting confused if the were both 2nd headliners but different days.

I do remember doing a runner before Bjork now - instead got bored at Arctic Monkeys!

[Langdale Wolf]

Editors played on the Saturday while the legend John Fogerty played on the Jazz World...a few misguided souls from our group went off to see them!...Arcade Fire were on the friday.

[ivan]

I may be wide of the mark here but didnt Arcade Fire take a swipe at how lousy they thougth glastonbury was and wouldnt play there again.

It something that I seem to remember but not too sure if it was glasto or not

[eFestivals]

..only thing is, there's never a lot of money on the table when it comes to Glasto. The only bargaining chip really is that the promoters run many other events (Reading/Leeds, Latitude, Electric Picnic etc) so premiun slots elsewhere can be added to the mix.

that's not the case at all, tho it's an idea that Festival Republic (FR) appear to like people thinking as true and seemingly encourage via unfactual press releases (which winds Michael up intensely ).

The acts for Glastonbury are booked by Glastonbury's own bookers, absolutely nothing to do with FR.

FR are not Glastonbury's promoter.

I believe it's the case that FR have no direct role in anything to do with Glastonbury. Glastonbury employ Melvin Benn, in a personal capacity I believe and not via FR, tho with FR's blessing. It's certainly the case that the licence has Melvin's name on and not FR's name.

Anyway, Melvin has only a site management role, and nothing to do with the performers.

It might be the case that if Glastonbury has booked some of the same acts as are at FR's festivals, then a deal is done to mutual Glastonbury & FR benefit whereby the dual bookings are used to get the act for a better overall price than would be paid for two separate transactions. But I'm not sure about this.

[Toilet Duck]

that's not the case at all, tho it's an idea that Festival Republic (FR) appear to like people thinking as true and seemingly encourage via unfactual press releases (which winds Michael up intensely ).

The acts for Glastonbury are booked by Glastonbury's own bookers, absolutely nothing to do with FR.

FR are not Glastonbury's promoter.

I believe it's the case that FR have no direct role in anything to do with Glastonbury. Glastonbury employ Melvin Benn, in a personal capacity I believe and not via FR, tho with FR's blessing. It's certainly the case that the licence has Melvin's name on and not FR's name.

Anyway, Melvin has only a site management role, and nothing to do with the performers.

It might be the case that if Glastonbury has booked some of the same acts as are at FR's festivals, then a deal is done to mutual Glastonbury & FR benefit whereby the dual bookings are used to get the act for a better overall price than would be paid for two separate transactions. But I'm not sure about this.

[eFestivals]

I believe you however when you say that Melvin Benn's name is on the license since you appear to know these people.

I'm not 100% sure that it's on the current licence in that way, but it certainly was on the last single-year licences that Glastonbury had.

In fact, he was quizzed by the Council's licencing board at one point (I was there), and asked whether his name was on the licence in a personal capacity or as an employee of (as FR was then) Mean Fiddler (MF). Melvin's answer was in a personal capacity.

And - and I might be imagining this now, cos I can't for the life of me remember where I'd have seen it - I think I once saw a document which detailed a payment to Melvin for his work on Glastonbury, and separately a payment to MF for the staff Melvin had drafted in from them to help him.

My understanding of things - tho I could be wrong with this - is that Melvin was released by MF to work for Glastonbury directly, and in return MF got a cut of the profits as (if you like) compensation to them for the time Melvin spent working for Glastonbury and not for them.

However, these things were under the old agreement that existed until & including the 2005 festival. A new agreement would have had to have been made I guess for Mevin to keep working for the fest beyond 2005, and that might have been done under different terms.

It does seem though that there's some collective bargaining when signing bands, for example, I know Aiken/POD lost Arcade Fire in '07 after bringing them to the electric picnic in '05 as MCD were able to offer them Oxegen, Glasto, Pukkelpop, Lowlands, Latitude, Leeds/Reading...all festivals controlled by MCD or Live Nation in some way (though as you point out, the amount of input they have in Glasto appears to be minimal if at all)...

That sort of collaborative working makes great financial sense, but doesn't have to impact on stage programming. I vaguely know most of the major (and some minor) stage programmers at Glasto, and I very much doubt they're being told who to book or have on their stage to any great degree*.

(* I say "to any great degree" because I know that on occasion the stage programmers do have acts pushed on them by Michael. But every time I've heard of this happening it's been for what might be considered a good reason by the festival, it's just that the stage programmer hasn't wanted the act they've been told they've got to have. In no cases I've heard of do I believe it's been due to any background collaborative bookings, because of who those acts have been).

[Spider43]

There may not be a contractual link but guess that for the more money orientated bands they may consider it is worth playing Glasto for a smaller fee in order to 'prove' themselves to MB or FR and get a higher paid slot at Reading/Leeds...

What is MB's role at Glasto, is it purely on logistics? You'd have to imagine they'd be trying to use his pull to obtain acts as well...

[Pilgrim S]

..only thing is, there's never a lot of money on the table when it comes to Glasto. The only bargaining chip really is that the promoters run many other events (Reading/Leeds, Latitude, Electric Picnic etc) so premiun slots elsewhere can be added to the mix.

[hooray!]

They doing strings for the new record, so people are reckoning spring 2010.

Win said he felt like he could go onstage soon.

But they said they wouldn't be doing festivals again if they can help it.

And i'm pretty sure if they were headlining with Flaming Lips it would be a tad arkward.

[Toilet Duck]

And i'm pretty sure if they were headlining with Flaming Lips it would be a tad arkward.

[robith]

I don't think it's likely.

They haven't done anything in approaching 3 years, and they weren't big BIG then.

As had been mentioned, they described doing festivals as being on a "rock n roll conveyor belt" - the shows took a lot out of them and left them a bit disillusioned from interviews I've read.

People have mentioned Arctic Monkeys and KOL, but at the time they headlined AM were probably the bigegst band in Britain and everyone said KOL's headline set would fully propel them into the big time having been on the verge. As wonderful as they are, and as much as Mr Eavis has the right to do whatever the damn hell he wants to, I think a lot of people would be underwhelmed if they headlined the pyramid.

Now, an Other Stage headline slot would be most agreeable :-)

[MartinGooding]

I'd be very happy if they played, can't really see it though, they havent released anything for ages and would have nothing to promote, would be a nice suprise though if they made an appearance

[Pilgrim S]

I'd be very happy if they played, can't really see it though, they havent released anything for ages and would have nothing to promote, would be a nice suprise though if they made an appearance

[robsadler]

i'd love to see them at glasto.

saw them at brixton academy about 2/3 years ago and it is one of the best gigs i have ever been to. they really were incredible!

it would be cool if they headlined the pyramid but i'd be happy to see them anywhere.

i know bowie rumours have been quashed slightly but they have played with him before i think.

my ideal day would be......

tv on the radio -----> arcade fire ---------> david bowie.

PERFECT!

[theticket]

Just another vote for Arcade Fire - Couldn't get a ticket last time they played so i'd be absolutely over the moon if they played - don't care which stage.

The perfect 2010 for me would have Rolling Stones, Pulp, Flaming Lips, The Cribs, Super Furries, Charlatans, whatever Jack White's currently doing and a whole raft of new bands for me to get excited about... Don't think that's too unrealistic?

[VCK]

Saw them at Leeds in 2007 and were very good. The sun was setting which really added to their music.

Dunno about headlining though, KOL already had quite a "mainstream" reputation when they'd headlined, what with Because Of The Times going to number 1 in the charts the previous year, whereas I don't think Neon Bible did go to number 1, although it was still a succesful album.

[festivalsareforthegrey]

Saw them at R&L a few years back didnt know that much about them , they blew me away as a live band , I think they were on before the chilli peppers and they knocked them into a cocked hat, so yeah bring the arcade fire back to pilton for 2010

[twickershavin]

Saw them at Leeds in 2007 and were very good. The sun was setting which really added to their music.

Dunno about headlining though, KOL already had quite a "mainstream" reputation when they'd headlined, what with Because Of The Times going to number 1 in the charts the previous year, whereas I don't think Neon Bible did go to number 1, although it was still a succesful album.