2013 Headliners

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Does it really matter that new bands aren't headlining? I would much prefer to watch a band in a small tent at a festival with people that actually like the band.

[mrtourette]

Does it really matter that new bands aren't headlining? I would much prefer to watch a band in a small tent at a festival with people that actually like the band.

Edited January 22, 2013 by mrtourette

[eFestivals]

arctic monkeys have a much better and i would say more loved arsenal of songs. that first album cemented their status for a long time and i think it holds more meaning to more people than any kasabian record.

and i'd say they still have a wider appeal, that's why their status as headliner is not being particularly doubted, while kasabian's quite clearly is

I'd say that the only reason why AM's status is not being doubted is because they've long been regular headliners, while Kasabian have not been. It's the ones making a step-up that get doubted - as even Muse did when they first headlined Glasto (and they'd certainly penetrated widespread public conciousness far more than AMs or K).

AMs have passed me by completely since the first single from their second album - at least, I think they have, I'm certainly not aware of having heard anything. Whereas it seems like there's no escape from Kasabian being played at you.

I'd say that there's a small-ish but very dedicated fanbase for AMs, and while Kasabian have their own dedicated fanbase of much smaller size, the casual fans for Kasabian stretch far wider than they do for AMs - and put Kasabian higher in widespread public conciousness.

But i'm hardly on the pulse of these things, so I don't really know. It's the impression I get from sat here tho, from a combination of posts made on these forums and from the numerous press releases that come in, as well as plays on TV and radio that I see/hear.

Edited January 22, 2013 by eFestivals

[sisco]

I'd say that the only reason why AM's status is not being doubted is because they've long been regular headliners, while Kasabian have not been. It's the ones making a step-up that get doubted - as even Muse did when they first headlined Glasto (and they'd certainly penetrated widespread public conciousness far more than AMs or K).

AMs have passed me by completely since the first single from their second album - at least, I think they have, I'm certainly not aware of having heard anything. Whereas it seems like there's no escape from Kasabian being played at you.

I'd say that there's a small-ish but very dedicated fanbase for AMs, and while Kasabian have their own dedicated fanbase of much smaller size, the casual fans for Kasabian stretch far wider than they do for AMs - and put Kasabian higher in widespread public conciousness.

But i'm hardly on the pulse of these things, so I don't really know. It's the impression I get from sat here tho, from a combination of posts made on these forums and from the numerous press releases that come in, as well as plays on TV and radio that I see/hear.

[jimmyt]

I quite like Arctic Monkeys and I quite like Kasabian. I'm probably more likely to put an AMs record on at home but I'm definitely more likely to watch Kasabian in a field. I have no reason to criticise either of them apart from AMs being poor last time they headlined Glasto, although that might give them motivation to put on a terrific show if they're given another go (as I believe they have previously said).

Kasabian are responsible for one of my smuggest festival stories, though. I'd heard one track ("Club Foot") once before Reading Festival in about '98 or so. They were headlining the Carling Tent, The Darkness were headlining the main stage. I guessed (correctly) that the Darkness were going to be absolutely awful and went and saw Kasabian with the only person out of our group (of about 30) who also thought The Darkness were awful. We got back bouncing from seeing a new band put on a great show, the others all came back really disappointed that an hour and a half of the same joke hadn't been funny.

There just might be a lesson about watching over-hyped headliners in that, somewhere.

[mrtourette]

I quite like Arctic Monkeys and I quite like Kasabian. I'm probably more likely to put an AMs record on at home but I'm definitely more likely to watch Kasabian in a field. I have no reason to criticise either of them apart from AMs being poor last time they headlined Glasto, although that might give them motivation to put on a terrific show if they're given another go (as I believe they have previously said).

Kasabian are responsible for one of my smuggest festival stories, though. I'd heard one track ("Club Foot") once before Reading Festival in about '98 or so. They were headlining the Carling Tent, The Darkness were headlining the main stage. I guessed (correctly) that the Darkness were going to be absolutely awful and went and saw Kasabian with the only person out of our group (of about 30) who also thought The Darkness were awful. We got back bouncing from seeing a new band put on a great show, the others all came back really disappointed that an hour and a half of the same joke hadn't been funny.

There just might be a lesson about watching over-hyped headliners in that, somewhere.

Edited January 22, 2013 by mrtourette

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I think your fairly on the money.

The way I would put it is if your not a fan of either u will know more Kasabian songs. Much more commercial and I'm sure much more airtime.

For me, I really like Kasabian. I like the big belting tunes that people know.

Arctic Monkeys, well I loved there first 2 albums, didnt like number 3 so basically stopped paying attention to them

[CaledonianGonzo]

The fact that Kasabian have headlined every festival under the sun in the last 5 years should be an argument against them headlining Glastonbury, not a reason why they should. Anyone with even remote interest in seeing them must already have done so multiple times. I'm not a fan and even then I've still crossed paths with them on about 4 or 5 occasions.

[Wooderson]

The überstain that is Sting is playing Cork on the 1st July.

[mrtourette]

The fact that Kasabian have headlined every festival under the sun in the last 5 years should be an argument against them headlining Glastonbury, not a reason why they should. Anyone with even remote interest in seeing them must already have done so multiple times. I'm not a fan and even then I've still crossed paths with them on about 4 or 5 occasions.

[Diva Sam]

The überstain that is Sting is playing Cork on the 1st July.

[Justiceforcedave]

The überstain that is Sting is playing Cork on the 1st July.

[neilloggie]

I'm 18 and Arctics are probably the best supported 'Rock' group, except maybe the Beatles, amongst my generation. Far more of a pull than Kasabian, who are just fun to get drunk to and dance .

A lot of fans still pine for the first two albums, but I'd still say most of them have stuck with them and enjoy the last two.

[a_kelaz]

I'll probably be hated for this...but I'd watch a Sting Headline set...and I reckon I might like it.

[Wooderson]

Sting is the pits.

[sisco]

I don't think that's true.

I think people are more likely to know more recent Kasabian songs. If you ask people to name a track off their first record which isn't LSF or Club Foot they'd struggle. Ask people to name a track off Arctics first record, and a decent amount could name three or four, maybe more.

I agree the key is, Kasabian have become more commercial from their relatively leftfield debut, while Arctics have become less.

[FloorFiller]

Kasabian are the more festival-friendly band as they play all of their hits etc, giving the crowd what they want, whereas Arctics leave out some of their more popular songs and seem to prefer to play whatever the hell they want, so in that sense, a non-fan of either band would definitely be able to recognise more Kasabian songs as they will play more songs that've been on the radio

[redmosquito]

I got dragged to see The Police a couple of years ago by my wife. It was fecking awful. Totally faxed in. Sting at Glastonbury would be worse than Rod Stewart

[Guest]

I saw Sting at Glastonbury

I still don't know why

[Sketchead]

not normally with the headliners, nope.

Arctic Monkeys are to me a sort of Oasis-very-lite - liked by many of the same people, but only a fraction of them. They manage to make as much noise as oarses fans tho.

[LondonTom]

So...

Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and Sting to headline?

I'd also say Kasabian are the bigger band to the casual fan. Just look at how often they are used in football programs (often got a song in the fifa soundtrack) and on tv etc. I know thats partly down them being known as a band into the game, but it all counts.

What i often use a meter for who the bigger act are, how aware is my dad of them, has he just heard the name, how many songs he recognizes as by that band etc.

[rexclark]

Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and Sting to headline?

[Sketchead]

So...

Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and Sting to headline?

I'd also say Kasabian are the bigger band to the casual fan. Just look at how often they are used in football programs (often got a song in the fifa soundtrack) and on tv etc. I know thats partly down them being known as a band into the game, but it all counts.

What i often use a meter for who the bigger act are, how aware is my dad of them, has he just heard the name, how many songs he recognizes as by that band etc.

[eFestivals]

You said earlier that nobody gives a shit about them anymore, but they sell out every gig they do.

I think I said that few people give a shit about them, didn't I?

Anyway, I don't doubt that they're hugely popular with their mega-fans; I'm merely saying that I'm not sure how much they penetrate beyond their mega-fans. From where i'm sat my impression is: not a lot.

People on the internet don't often admit to liking them because it hasn't been cool to do so for past few years, but they'll draw a big crowd if they do it.

put any act on the Pyramid Stage with people believing they're the headliner (worded that way cos of Rod & Roger) and they'll draw a huger crowd simply by the fact of them being the headliner. It doesn't necessarily link to anything of their 'normal appeal'.

[Wooderson]

Coming across a right little Monkeys fanboy in here, which I am, but I genuinely think people would know more of their songs than Kasabian.