Lineup 2014

[mattgimmeshelter]

Festivals are great

I feel that people expect far too much from them now though.

[mrtourette]

I think I can't enjoy the atmosphere at Reading any more; knowing that I'm being extorted at every available opportunity is not a nice feeling

After going to Glasto and 2000trees a couple of times not being able to drink your own alcohol whilst watching a band feels like an alien concept

I guess it comes down to expectations, Reading has always been a major corporate festival so I don't see why people are surprised at what's it's like, especially referring to 'nowadays'. It was like this 15 years ago. A lot of us have found festivals that we prefer but that's nothing to do with Reading changing as keeps being suggested. I would suggest that instead a number of us have grown up, tried other things and moved on, yet some still resent or blame Reading for not changing with us.

Edited August 4, 2014 by mrtourette

[mrtourette]

Festivals are great

I feel that people expect far too much from them now though.

I completely agree.

[justanothername]

I completely agree.

What is this! mrtourette agreeing with mattgimmeshelter!

[dentalplan]

I guess it comes down to expectations, Reading has always been a major corporate festival so I don't see why people are surprised at what's it's like, especially referring to 'nowadays'. It was like this 15 years ago. A lot of us have found festivals that we prefer but that's nothing to do with Reading changing as keeps being suggested. I would suggest that instead a number of us have grown up, tried other things and moved on, yet some still resent or blame Reading for not changing with us.

It cost £125 less fifteen years ago.

My main annoyance is that they cost so damn much and you can barely cough for free when you get there. Mid sized festival lineups often shine brighter but you pay a similar amount to major ones for two stages or something and the same money grabbing. Small ones are less money-grabby but you kinda have to be local or it doesn't make much sense. Glastonbury negates a lot of the moneygrabbing but the trade off is that it feels overpopulated. You and Matt are probably right about expecting too much but as you say it's the same as it was fifteen years ago, just vastly inflated.

And I wrote money-grabbing three times and spelt it differently each time. Wow what a melt.

Edited August 4, 2014 by dentalplan

[justanothername]

But I do agree that people are expecting too much from festivals and R&L hasn't changed much at all, just the people that attended it in the past (I mean as a sense that they grow up and go somewhere else. Not that the R&L demographic has changed)

[mattgimmeshelter]

I completely agree.

... what.

I'm shocked.

I feel that the common argument that comes every year is "weak headliners". My response is simply to ask who they would feel would be a stronger booking?

and it's usually a band that headlined last year or the year before.

Edited August 4, 2014 by mattgimmeshelter

[mrtourette]

... what.

I'm shocked.

I feel that the common argument that comes every year is "weak headliners". My response is simply to ask who they would feel would be a stronger booking?

and it's usually a band that headlined last year or the year before.

I completely agree.

[dentalplan]

... what.

I'm shocked.

I feel that the common argument that comes every year is "weak headliners". My response is simply to ask who they would feel would be a stronger booking?

and it's usually a band that headlined last year or the year before.

When you say that do they point out the hypocrisy of you trashing the line up for months, and ask why you're eating Nutella with a plastic fork?

[mattgimmeshelter]

When you say that do they point out the hypocrisy of you trashing the line up for months, and ask why you're eating Nutella with a plastic fork?

I haven't trashed it, in fact i've bought a ticket so I don't see how that argument works

I can understand why the nutella was taken... but a plastic fork, nope.

[kaosmark2]

I guess it comes down to expectations, Reading has always been a major corporate festival so I don't see why people are surprised at what's it's like, especially referring to 'nowadays'. It was like this 15 years ago. A lot of us have found festivals that we prefer but that's nothing to do with Reading changing as keeps being suggested. I would suggest that instead a number of us have grown up, tried other things and moved on, yet some still resent or blame Reading for not changing with us.

I figured this out when I was 19. The reason I went back to Reading is because it was semi-local and I could see a fair whack of big acts on exclusives that I wanted to see and hadn't yet/for a while/masturbateoverregardless. Now the lineup doesn't suit me and I'm not going. I'm a bit annoyed about the subs because it suggests to me that it's unlikely to be a lineup I'd want in the near future either, but I don't feel any obligation or habit of going.

Also, I think most of the moaners weren't going to festivals close to 15 years ago.

Though, as dental points out, the price change is a bit ridiculous.

[dentalplan]

I haven't trashed it, in fact i've bought a ticket so I don't see how that argument works

I can understand why the nutella was taken... but a plastic fork, nope.

It's often the case that buying a ticket changes the negative outlook to a positive one. So complaining about the subs, complaining about acts playing lower down at other festivals and complaining that people only buy tickets because it's Reading is recycled into picking off the best bits of the lineup and giving the festival the benefit of the doubt that it did the best it could.

I don't really care though. I'm not one of the lineup detractors as I've said I like it from the start - it's just not really got enough there for me to find any value in it.

I agree about the forks though.

Edited August 4, 2014 by dentalplan

[mattgimmeshelter]

It's often the case that buying a ticket changes the negative outlook to a positive one. So complaining about the subs, complaining about acts playing lower down at other festivals and complaining that people only buy tickets because it's Reading is recycled into picking off the best bits of the lineup and giving the festival the benefit of the doubt that it did the best it could.

I don't really care though. I'm not one of the lineup detractors as I've said I like it from the start - it's just not really got enough there for me to find any value in it.

In all honesty, at first I thought it was weak. But i've got into alot of lower down acts, and in competition not alot of other festivals are looking much better.

I would of loved to go to glasto, but of course it's easier to get tickets for Reading. Even though it's not the strongest it's still a good year, with plenty to see for me.

[Gucci Piggy]

The worst thing about Reading for me is that it's still the most suitable festival for my friends who like all this modern rock music they have on The Pit and which fills the main stage, so they all go, and I'm left with the choice of going there with all my friends or convincing one or two of them to go elsewhere.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Will-2609

[#FreeComTruise]

I feel that the common argument that comes every year is "weak headliners". My response is simply to ask who they would feel would be a stronger booking?

"2014 - the year of 'meh' headliners" - Matt42

[Yellow_Fellow]

Remember when you asked them about that lineup being real? They were helpful then.

uhh excuse me no actually i contacted the zeitgeist agency

FUCKING HELL DENTALPLAN GET IT RIGHT

[mattgimmeshelter]

"2014 - the year of 'meh' headliners" - Matt42

Yes the headliners aren't particularly exciting.

But I can't suggest anyone this year that would make it more exciting.

[Yellow_Fellow]

also

Reading now isn't all that much different than it's ever been - it's just facing the trials that the entire industry is facing. There's some stylistic choices that I'm concerned and confused about but without question the older years are being looked at with rose tinted shades. It's just like anything else but apparently we care for it.

[dentalplan]

uhh excuse me no actually i contacted the zeitgeist agency

FUCKING HELL DENTALPLAN GET IT RIGHT

Ah, an apology is in order. I was confusing it with whoever emailed in asking if those were the subs.

[rawaudioinput]

The headliners are really the best that they could do; there isn't an act at any other major UK festival who would have really been a better option.

What I think is the worst aspect of the line-up is that I find it wholly uninspiring; nearly all of the acts high up have toured extensively in the past 12 months and more than likely will tour in the next 12, which means that there are very few bands that I'm interested in who I haven't seen before. Then again that's not necessarily Festival Republic's fault, I think overall this whole festival season has had fairly slim pickings. Despite going to a lot of festivals this year I haven't really seen a performance that will stick with me in the same way that Biffy Clyro/System of a Down at Reading or The Smashing Pumpkins at Glasto will; but that's not the fault of the organisers, it's just that there is a lack of really exciting bands around this summer.

I don't think I'm going to abandon Reading; if it's lucky it still has the potential to put on a brilliant line up, however I think I can no longer trust the festival to put on a line up that I know I'm going to enjoy year on year.

[Gucci Piggy]

My only suggestion in terms of headliners is that they should have either had QOTSA and Paramore headline separate days and get rid of Blink, or tried for The Prodigy instead of Blink (unless they want the The Prodigy next year with a new album). This is in the interest of not having a 4-year repeat, although in all honesty, there's probably hardly anyone going who will have been there in 2010, so it probably doesn't matter so much.

[kaosmark2]

My only suggestion is that they should get rid of Blink

Sounds good to me.

[dentalplan]

I don't see how a four year repeat with material released since is bettered by an act who subbed five years ago with nothing released since. Plus that's Rock en Seine's trio; it's cheaper for some UK people to go there than Reading or Leeds.

[mrtourette]

Yeah if you look at their main competition four years isn't anything to worry about.

[mattgimmeshelter]

I hope the reason why the Prodigy haven't been booked for the past few years is as you said will.

Not that Reading just cba to book them.