Headliners 2015

[DomDom1984]

I'm not sure Sigur Ros are big enough, but I reckon they'd win every single person in the field over.

[Winslow Leach]

This (bold) attitude is going to bite people in the butt soon. There's not going to be bloody anyone left! Sigur Ros are big enough in my mind to do it, but I'm also looking to the future and realising that the current "headliner pool" is drying up. The Eavises even said they're looking to put less focus onto the headliners and more to other areas of the festival.

The Stone Roses could if they were definitely going to still be around, and I actually agree that the festival going out on a limb for Sigur Ros could really pay off, but there is no way on this earth that PJ Harvey is headlining the Pyramid unless the festival undergoes a massive change in approach.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Winslow Leach

[rjb94]

if people are served crap they will accept crap. If people are served good stuff they will accept good stuff.

The pyramid field will be filled no matter who headlines. History proves that, even when it's someone truly shite like rod stewart and shakespeares sister.

All of the acts listed would pull the usual huge crowds.

But presumably as a fan of Sigur Ros and PJ Harvey, you'd rather see them in the slightly more intimate setting of the Other stage - which is a far more realistic proposition for both. I know I certainly would

[DomDom1984]

They COULD have PJ or Sigur Ros headline if they had two properly legendary acts doing it too. Which I'm not sure they have. They couldn't do the three russy suggested together.

[Tuna]

The Stone Roses could if they were definitely going to still be around, and I actually agree that the festival going out on a limb for Sigur Ros could really pay off, but there is no way on this earth that PJ Harvey is headlining the Pyramid unless the festival undergoes a massive change in approach.

That's not exactly the point. People's expectations of headliner size are currently too big. PJ Harvey definitely isn't the best example.

[FloorFiller]

This (bold) attitude is going to bite people in the butt soon. There's not going to be bloody anyone left! Sigur Ros are big enough in my mind to do it, but I'm also looking to the future and realising that the current "headliner pool" is drying up. The Eavises even said they're looking to put less focus onto the headliners and more to other areas of the festival.

yes but where does it end? "oh we can't book Arctic Monkeys again... let's book that band playing the local pub to headline. we need somebody different!!!!"

Sigur Ros didn't even headline Bestival (although they definitely could've). they're a great band, but a major festival headliner? no. people would leave in hoards

PJ Harvey headlining is laughable. she couldn't even sub. her being suggested just shows how out of the loop russy is

[DomDom1984]

I reckon you could book ANYONE to do one night headlining if you get the right acts to do the other two. Especially in PJ Harvey's case, since she's right on the cusp of being a big act.

[Winslow Leach]

yes but where does it end? "oh we can't book Arctic Monkeys again... let's book that band playing the local pub to headline. we need somebody different!!!!"

Sigur Ros didn't even headline Bestival (although they definitely could've). they're a great band, but a major festival headliner? no. people would leave in hoards

PJ Harvey headlining is laughable. she couldn't even sub. her being suggested just shows how out of the loop russy is

I think if festivals had wanted to bump Sigur Ros up to headliners, they should have done so after Takk.

[FloorFiller]

I reckon you could book ANYONE to do one night headlining if you get the right acts to do the other two. Especially in PJ Harvey's case, since she's right on the cusp of being a big act.

she's been right on the cusp of being a big act for 20+ years. granted she's had a boost in popularity as of late, but headlining Glastonbury? come on

[Winslow Leach]

I reckon you could book ANYONE to do one night headlining if you get the right acts to do the other two. Especially in PJ Harvey's case, since she's right on the cusp of being a big act.

Is she? If anything I'd say she's comfortably settled into her niche as a cult hero.

[FloorFiller]

Is she? If anything I'd say she's comfortably settled into her niche as a cult hero.

and what better way to settle into that cult hero status than headlining the biggest festival in the world

[russycarps]

I think if festivals had wanted to bump Sigur Ros up to headliners, they should have done so after Takk.

I agree, they are past their peak and it's never going to happen now. It's a shame really, there's been loads of opportunities for them to get the headline gig

I guess the point is there are loads of bands who may not have the record sales (though sigur ros have still sold loads I bet) but who given the chance of a headliner slot would surprise everyone.

I think elbow should have been given the headline slot after SSK came out, whenever that was. They were not that popular at the time but would have pulled it off. Likewise arcade fire should have been given the gig after the suburbs came out (or even after neon bible).

It seems to me glastonbury are scared to give bands a leg up these days. You could argue for mumfords but they were ridiculously huge.

It seems like it's all about record sales these days. They are too scared to take a chance. I guess the money at stake means they have to play it safe.

Edited January 23, 2015 by russycarps

[Brave Sir Robin]

Good answer Russy (although I don't think PJ Harvey has ever been popular enough, and certainly isn't now).

Given the annual clamour for tickets, the breadth of the lineup and the amount of people who'd go anyway for the SE corner, Arcadia etc, I do think the festival could afford to be a bit more adventurous with its headliners. Sigur Ros would be great.

That said, they probably think they're doing that to some extent if, as I think they might, they're going for Florence.

[FloorFiller]

it's a lot harder to take such risks these days, what with the competitiveness of festivals. you could book a smaller act to headline and hope to high heaven that it pays off, but if it bombs then that's a black mark on your festival that you have to try and make up for the following year. granted, Glastonbury doesn't have to worry about that as much as some others do, but it's reputation as the 'biggest/best festival in the world' means it needs to strive for the best - and booking questionably sized acts as headliners is a risk they don't really need to take when some of the biggest acts in the world are available and (sometimes) clamouring for that top billing

[FuzzyDunlop]

I agree, they are past their peak and it's never going to happen now. It's a shame really, there's been loads of opportunities for them to get the headline gig

I guess the point is there are loads of bands who may not have the record sales (though sigur ros have still sold loads I bet) but who given the chance of a headliner slot would surprise everyone.

I think elbow should have been given the headline slot after SSK came out, whenever that was. They were not that popular at the time but would have pulled it off. Likewise arcade fire should have been given the gig after the suburbs came out (or even after neon bible).

It seems to me glastonbury are scared to give bands a leg up these days. You could argue for mumfords but they were ridiculously huge.

It seems like it's all about record sales these days. They are too scared to take a chance. I guess the money at stake means they have to play it safe.

As much as I do agree with you. They risked it with Jay-Z. That didn't go down that well.

[CaledonianGonzo]

As much as I do agree with you. They risked it with Jay-Z. That didn't go down that well.

He means that they should risk it by booking bands that he likes.

[Winslow Leach]

Given the annual clamour for tickets, the breadth of the lineup and the amount of people who'd go anyway for the SE corner, Arcadia etc, I do think the festival could afford to be a bit more adventurous with its headliners. Sigur Ros would be great.

I agree to an extent, but they can't just whip the safety net out completely. If the festival has to sometimes book popular acts I don't like so that they can justify being more adventurous and giving someone less commercially successful the leg up on the other nights, that's fine with me.

[Matt42]

I'l side with russy on this one

Sigur ros would be a fantastic headliner, but I don't think they are popular enough.

Other headliner or pyramid sub would be nice

[dentalplan]

I could say I wish Sigur Ros or PJ Harvey were popular enough to headline the Pyramid but they're not and there are many other festivals they can and do play and headline. The Pyramid is for the big popular marquee acts and the people at home, we can make do with all the other elements can't we?

[LondonTom]

OK, you got me - what the hell was the point of that, then?

That what you said, could easily be applied to someone on the side of the argument. One person's opinion is not more factual than someones and 99% of this thread is someone's opinion.

At Leeds in 2012 I watched Florence while waiting for Kasabian and it surprised how good of a performance she put in and how many songs I recognised!

It suprised me how shit she was, I thought she would at least put on a half decent show despite the shit songs. (She wasn't actually that bad, at Hop Farm in 2009 during the day for instance)

But presumably as a fan of Sigur Ros and PJ Harvey, you'd rather see them in the slightly more intimate setting of the Other stage - which is a far more realistic proposition for both. I know I certainly would

Who ever really wants to see some on the Other Stage?! Its barren wasteland of a venue that doesn't feel intimate at all!

As much as I do agree with you. They risked it with Jay-Z. That didn't go down that well.

To be fair, that was more to do with with the festival being off for a year, then coming back and by all accounts having pretty shit weather in 2007!

[Space Shanty]

I think if festivals had wanted to bump Sigur Ros up to headliners, they should have done so after Takk.

Many of the big festivals did

[Space Shanty]

I'l side with russy on this one

Sigur ros would be a fantastic headliner, but I don't think they are popular enough.

Other headliner or pyramid sub would be nice

Far better as a headliner.

The darker it is, the better the show.

They've also headlined a number of the major European festivals so this thing about them not being big enough simply doesn't wash... the pool of headliners is small enough as it is.

Is Elton John genuinely bigger than Sigur Ros these days if we are using ticket sales as a gauge?

And the suggestion (not yours) that having PJ Harvey and Sigur Ros as headliners would mean tickets not selling out the following year is ridiculous.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Space Shanty

[russycarps]

Many of the big festivals did

where did they headline out of interest? I had no idea.

I prefer () to takk though I must admit.

[Space Shanty]

Roskilde, Benicassim, Electric Picnic (twice), I thought Rock Werchter as well in 2008 but it seems they subbed Radiohead (surely the greatest pair it's possible to imagine), Positivus, Latitude that I can recall.

I think, as you say, it's never going to happen.

More's the pity.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Space Shanty

[russycarps]

Roskilde, Electric Picnic (twice), I thought Rock Werchter as well in 2008 but it seems they subbed Radiohead (surely the greatest pair it's possible to imagine), Positivus, Latitude that I can recall.

I think, as you say, it's never going to happen.

More's the pity.

cheers, just googled that rock werchter line up, what an incredible year that was for that festival!