Future Headliners

[LondonTom]

But they played arenas the last time they did a tour in the UK though

Most of which were around half empty, not using the upper tiers etc.

My guess , is that year they did their arena tour, the arenas didn't have enough proper arena sized acts, so lowered their hire fees slightly/maybe went on % sold as they was a few odd tours around then with bands no where near big enough (and not selling them out either to prove the point) to do arena tours.

Edited May 28, 2015 by LondonTom

[rawaudioinput]

I doubt that. Remember how long it took Biffy to work their way up to headline? Just because a band isn't headline sized yet doesn't mean things can't change in the next few years.

Biffy are an anomaly rather than the standard; they are the only band I can think of in recent memory who have had to spend more than three albums building to headline status, plus there were people calling for them to headline as far back as 2010

[dentalplan]

Biffy are an anomaly rather than the standard; they are the only band I can think of in recent memory who have had to spend more than three albums building to headline status, plus there were people calling for them to headline as far back as 2010

What about QOTSA, Paramore and My Chemical Romance?

[Andre91]

I wouldn't count MCR in that personally as they headlined Download years before they did R&L.

[Gucci Piggy]

Think Florence and Slipknot will be our 'new' headliners next year, with Foos returning.

In 2017 I expect to see Kasabian return with Royal Blood as a 'new' headliner. Headliner #3 is anyone's guess.

I reckon Arctic Monkeys and Biffy Clyro are guaranteed to return at some point from 2018 onwards, we'll probably see Paramore return too as a headliner in their own right.

That's what I'm thinking for next year, with Foals subbing at Glastonbury like Flo this year. Failing that I think we'll have Foals instead of Flo or Slipknot.

[Gucci Piggy]

Can't see BMTH, YMAS, ADTR etc ever returning as headliners.

Any 'new' headliners from 2018 onwards probably don't even exist yet.

Agree with this. There'll probably be a couple that are around now that'll make it (eg. Royal Blood, Kendrick), but people seem to just be listing every band who is currently big enough for 3rd down on main or higher. Can't see bands like Bombay Bicycle Club or TDCC making it, just like The Vaccines don't look like they ever will.

[rawaudioinput]

What about QOTSA, Paramore and My Chemical Romance?

QOTSA and Paramore hung about at sub-level for around half a decade so I wouldn't say that they slowly climbed to the top of the line up in the way that Biffy did

And to be honest I can't see either act coming back to headline outright

Will is definitely right about people suggesting far too many acts that are middling at around 3rd/4th without considering if they'd ever have the mass appeal to headline

If we were having this discussion back in 2008 half of the posts would be touting Editors, The Enemy, Maximo Park and Klaxons as future headliners

Edited May 28, 2015 by rawaudioinput

[dentalplan]

I was just naming artists that recently first headlined fests after their third album because you said you couldn't remember any.

I'd disagree with this whole idea that Biffy slowly climbed to the top anyway. They climbed to the middle like plenty of acts do and then there was a shortcut the rest of the way.

[rawaudioinput]

I don't really count QotSA/Paramore as they were basically glorified subs but yeah I do concede that

But it is far more likely for a headliner to shoot to the top quickly over two/three albums than be an act who have slowly built a fanbase over a series of records

[LondonTom]

If we were having this discussion back in 2008 half of the posts would be touting Editors, The Enemy, Maximo Park and Klaxons as future headliners

But thats true of any year, loads of bands are considered the next big and expected to make the step up. The truth is most don't, as you can't really predict what they will do or audience's tastes changing!

[benus80]

mental gymnastics bud

Great band are they playing this year?

Going back to future headliners I will go for The Kaiser chiefs, haim, reformed bloc party and everything everything.

[dentalplan]

[Gucci Piggy]

This has just surpassed Gazza's claim that Glastonbury will only share their Friday headliners as the most baffling moment of my life so far.

[conroy17]

Can't see bands like Bombay Bicycle Club or TDCC making it, just like The Vaccines don't look like they ever will.

All 3 of these already seem to be on their way down; although it's hard to tell with TDCC as they've kept quiet for almost 2 years now.

I think The Vaccines will headline NME next year; but judging from the quality of their recent release they're going to do what so many bands like them do and slip down to FR subs and co-headline tours with The Enemy before we know it.

BBC and TDCC have potential to sub in the future providing their next releases are commercial successes but yeah, the only 'new' band around I can invision headlining is Royal Blood. Possibly The 1975 but they've not got the same universal appeal that's apparent with Royal Blood so it's hard to tell if they'll progress past subs. If it wasn't for Foals only being able to sub the other stage at Glasto this year I'd have had them down to headline but I can't see it now.

[Andre91]

I don't think that Bombay Bicycle Club are on the way down at all. I think that they will make it to sub level, but nothing more.

[kingcrawler]

All 3 of these already seem to be on their way down; although it's hard to tell with TDCC as they've kept quiet for almost 2 years now.

I think The Vaccines will headline NME next year; but judging from the quality of their recent release they're going to do what so many bands like them do and slip down to FR subs and co-headline tours with The Enemy before we know it.

BBC and TDCC have potential to sub in the future providing their next releases are commercial successes but yeah, the only 'new' band around I can invision headlining is Royal Blood. Possibly The 1975 but they've not got the same universal appeal that's apparent with Royal Blood so it's hard to tell if they'll progress past subs. If it wasn't for Foals only being able to sub the other stage at Glasto this year I'd have had them down to headline but I can't see it now.

Foals aren't subbing the Other stage this year, that was 2013. I think their down on the wiki page as subbing Other but that's wrong.

[Mash011]

Yeah Bombay Bicycle Club's most recent album was much bigger than the one before, also they did Earl's Court which I believe was their first arena gig. So they're definitely still on the rise. Their career is kind of difficult to track because of that absolute blunder of a second album, but I'd say it's possible they could be headliners some day though it's not especially likely. That said I'd love to see them get that big as they are a great band.

Also anyone else feeling like Tame Impala are about to take off in a very big way? Hard to tell before the album's out but I am seeing a lot of hype around it and with tracks like 'Cause I'm a Man' they're definitely becoming more accessible than they've ever been before.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Mash011

[conroy17]

Foals aren't subbing the Other stage this year, that was 2013. I think their down on the wiki page as subbing Other but that's wrong.

oh, I'd only heard that they're subbing the Other stage.

[kingcrawler]

oh, I'd only heard that they're subbing the Other stage.

Nah, unless they've still to be announced, which is unlikely as them subbing the Other stage would be very strange.

[conroy17]

Nah, unless they've still to be announced, which is unlikely as them subbing the Other stage would be very strange.

I thought it was strange when I first heard it but I believed it regardlessly. Ey well.

[oneoftherest]

I think people need to stop doubting Catfish as their live sales are doing as well as Royal Blood's, their tour they announced this morning was already majority sold out by 10am. New album was phenomenal, if they produce another to that standard, they'll sub.

I highly doubt they'll do what The Twang or CAST have done

[dentalplan]

Hard Fi did an arena tour.

[sjseabass]

If only Editors, Maximo Park and Klaxons were headlining festivals now. The Enemy got what they deserved though.

[JSmurphy]

I really like Catfish, but they're not gonna sub on on their next album, not that I wouldn't love to see them work their way up the lineup it's just not gonna happen that quick.

[dentalplan]

If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen quick. If we're talking about them sustaining and building on a fanbase in a genre where bands are so easily disposed of, there isn't the time to get to where they are now and slug it out for a few more albums to get to sub or even headline. Their fans would simply move on to the next thing.