Headliners 2015

[FloorFiller]

What everyone thinks will happen....Prince/Fleetwood Mac/Foo fighters

What will probably happen... Florence & The Machine/Rihanna/Muse

Prince (for once) definitely seems off the table next year (thankfully - he'd be fantastic but all the arsing about is more trouble than it's worth)

definitely think the 'rock' band of next year will be either Muse or Foo Fighters (but not both - more inclined to say Foos though what with Muse only having done it in 2010). Fleetwood seem nailed on (again), and then the third could be just about anybody (as always)

A year full of major festival slots and continuous praise for their album does a band a lot of good. Wouldn't say they're the smaller Bestival headliner at all either; strongest after Outkast even. Do you think Latitude and Bestival are the same level and Foals could've headlined that last year? I don't personally.

i suppose their stock has risen a bit but i really don't see their new album boosting them up to headliner. maybe if it contains another big played-everywhere song like My Number, but even that would be a push. if Kasabian couldn't headline until album number 5 after having numerous big hits and number 1 albums then i can't see Foals getting there after having 0 (or possibly one depending on how the new album fairs), and much like Kasabian, i still think it'll be R/Ls who give them the bump up first

[eFestivals]

Could the festival offer be for 2016 when they expect to have an album? Would make more sense unless Foals have it ready to be recorded and want to strike while the iron is still hot.

Anything is possible, but that's probably unlikely.

Bookers are often in a confidential loop where they get to hear a new album months and months before its release, and they take a punt on how well they think the album will sell and use that educated guess to position the act within a line-up.

And from the opposite direction, the band putting offers to the side for a year or two is pretty risky for any act not already solidly established at the top, because their star can fade. It might never happen.

[Gucci Piggy]

I could see Foals subbing next year, and playing a few other festivals, and debuting a few new songs to build hype. Then release the album in Autumn and headline R&L the following year. Then headline Glasto on the next album.

[zahidf]

I read an interview with john Giddings this year were he said he only booked biffy because they did well at reading last year. It basically seemed like iow and v wait for a band to do well at reading or Glastonbury before considering them.

[FloorFiller]

I could see Foals subbing next year, and playing a few other festivals, and debuting a few new songs to build hype. Then release the album in Autumn and headline R&L the following year. Then headline Glasto on the next album.

this is what i see happening (if they're to play Glastonbury at all next year). reckon they could possibly have a new single out by the time they play as well so that there's some momentum behind them being there rather than playing the same set they've been playing for the past two years

[CHRLY]

Kate Bush

[GlastoSimon]

Kate Bush

Apparently being joined by Mr. DB tonight. I will, however, believe it when I see it.

Either would be just fine for a 2015 headliner...

Edited August 26, 2014 by GlastoSimon

[eFestivals]

I read an interview with john Giddings this year were he said he only booked biffy because they did well at reading last year. It basically seemed like iow and v wait for a band to do well at reading or Glastonbury before considering them.

Giddings is a solo (ha!) operator, so he's got less scope to make perhaps-risky choices. So it's not really surprising that he plays it safe.

And I'd say that V is working things in a different way to that, even if it appears to be the same thing going on from the outside. Because V go for much more 'pop' type acts than R/L does, it's not surprising that acts are 'underground' and playing at R/L before they hit the 'mainstream' and become V-suitable.

Glastonbury meanwhile sells less on its major bands than other fests do, and with so much on the bill there's always something a person could see. So it has a bit more freedom in its choices.

[Justiceforcedave]

Where have you pulled Rihanna from?

My post was more of a mockery of the unrealistic expectations of people of these boards then an actual prediction.

[stuartbert two hats]

Kate Bush

Let's see how tonight and the next couple of months go first. She might remember why she stopped performing for so long!

[FloorFiller]

not that there was ever a chance of her actually doing it, but from the sounds of Kate Bush's show tonight there's no way she will / could headline the Pyramid. the show sounds absolutely nuts:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/live/2014/aug/26/kate-bush-first-before-the-dawn-gig-live-blog?CMP=fb_gu

glad to hear that she seems to be on top form though. a bit mad that people are getting ejected for having cameras, though - i thought the 'no camera / filming' thing was going to be a polite suggestion; not an enforced rule

[Guest]

I, for one, welcome our new camera-banning overlords!

[FloorFiller]

I, for one, welcome our new camera-banning overlords!

you get an up vote for the Simpsons reference

and yeah i guess it's kind of good that they're informing it, if a bit heavy handed actually ejecting people (and reports are saying that there's security constantly roaming the isles and checking which seems a bit intrusive). also says in that Guardian article that somebody got told off for doing a Kate Bush-esque dance

[Guest]

you get an up vote for the Simpsons reference

and yeah i guess it's kind of good that they're informing it, if a bit heavy handed actually ejecting people (and reports are saying that there's security constantly roaming the isles and checking which seems a bit intrusive). also says in that Guardian article that somebody got told off for doing a Kate Bush-esque dance

I was just being silly, don't really agree with it at all. It's something that should be enforced by mutual respect, kicking people out for it is a bit of a shitty way to treat your fans (unless they've been told multiple times and are taking the piss). I hate cameras at gigs, especially when the artist explicitly tells you not to use them, but I don't think this is the right way to go about it.

[FloorFiller]

i suppose it could only ever really be enforced in such a way at an all sitting gig like this. they can try all they want to stop it at the door and search every inch of somebody but people will always manage to sneak stuff in. just a shame that people are so persistent in taking pictures / videos that it actually had to come to somebody being chucked out. bet they regret it now

[dentalplan]

you get an up vote for the Simpsons reference

Ahoy-hoy!

[mattgimmeshelter]

I'm starting to gravitate towards predicting we'l probably get something like

Muse or Foo Fighters

Fleetwood Mac

Florence + The Machine

As Neil said earlier, i've got a nagging feeling reading will throw money at foo fighters as a safe established booking, just like Arctics this year.

I think repeats at festivals are getting more common, because for two years now we've had a limited amount of touring acts.

I think (as things look) there may be some truth in the Muse rumours, just as their album release and tour plans for next year remind me alot of Arctics in 2013, haven't played the UK properly for a while, slightly ducked under the radar and there's anticipation for them to come back.

Florence has a new album in October, something tells me she's really gonna get huge with it, I think she'l headline the sunday and it'l look much stronger by the time the festival comes.

I'd say (personally) Muse, Fleetwood and Florence is a pretty strong trio, but someone will probably disagree with me.

[CHRLY]

That is a strong trio, I just don't see FM and Florence in the same year

[mattgimmeshelter]

That is a strong trio, I just don't see FM and Florence in the same year

I think this argument is enough to start a feminist debate.

Why is it okay to have a trio of male headline bands, but two female ones in the same year is too much?

[CHRLY]

Ohh come on you don't actually think that's the reason I said it? Florence and FM are pretty similar no?

[FloorFiller]

yeah it's not just that it's two female fronted acts. Stevie Nicks is Florence's biggest influence and she wears it on her sleeve. it'd be Fleetwood Mac headlining one day and Fleetwood Mac Jr. the next. not gonna happen. Adele and Fleetwood on the other hand would be, imo, fine and dandy

[CHRLY]

Or FM, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey......

[dentalplan]

I don't think they're as similar as is made out. I don't think it's enough to start a feminist debate though either.

By the way that thing about Flo releasing an album in October was never confirmed was it? Was still working on it in June anyway. Not that all that matters but just for the sake of mentioning it.

[sisco]

Any prediction without Biffy Clyro is just Silly

[dentalplan]

Any with is just hopeful.