Ed Sheeran. Bets are off

[CaledonianGonzo]

2 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

He's the sort of feel good story the festival likes to promote, isn't he? Started on small stages, played something like 8 times the first year he was there I think, since then he's moved up the bill and could now headline.

I think that is why people see him as being a fit rather than just that he's sold a shed load of records. The festival can lay claim to having nurtured him.

It's certainly one factor - and the appreciation is seemingly mutual.  He probably could headline any other festival he wanted to, but is keeping his cherry for the big G.   As with Adele, that has to only add to the reasons to book him.

[Rose-Colored Boy]

50 minutes ago, russycarps said:

I agree with you and I dont actually have a problem with his booking one bit. Just like I didnt with adele or mumfords, who i see as similar bookings. But it seems to me all people have in his defence when the booking is challenged is to cite his record sales and the fact he sold out wembley, rather than his actual ability. I dont know any of his songs, and nothing I've read in here has convinced me to check him out, because no one ever actually mentions his music!

When kanye was booked people were enthusiastic about his music/shows to the extent I went to see him. This isnt happening with ed.

I do think it would have been a positive thing if dido had headlined back in the day too actually, for the reasons you state. She was huge for a year or 2.

 

 

Probably because you're asking on efests and as usual efests isn't representative of the public innit. He's not in any way 'cool' and doesn't pretend to be but there are hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of people in this country who'd absolutely jam out when he plays the likes of this:

 

Edited November 8, 2016 by Zac Quinn

[Tartan_Glasto]

Let's just wait and see. Adele was thought to be a dull headliner as someone that would just stand there and sing, yet she totally smashed it. Why? Because she has songs which thousands of people can sing along to. This is the same as Ed Sheeran. He might not have the patter but he does have the popular songs.

[jparx]

9 minutes ago, dentalplan said:

I mean, nobody's saying he invented the loop pedal but it's just impressive that he can carry it off and has chosen to do his live show that way. The fact that you've used a post-metal band to point out he's not all that tells says a lot.

In fairness I didn't say Russian Circles make him look pants! More that if you're impressed with his loop pedal work you should check them out.

[stuartbert two hats]

1 hour ago, dentalplan said:

It's because many see him holding an acoustic guitar and make their judgements of what he is based on that - as opposed to what CG is saying. He has some songs that are just your generic strumming but his actual ability w/ his technique and the looping and managing to pull it off on a huge stage is pretty amazing.

 

I just had to put Battles on to cleanse myself.

[waterfalls212434]

1 hour ago, jparx said:

I think Ed is perfectly ok. I do think his live show is much less impressive than people give him credit for though. For a song or two it's pretty neat, but for a whole set it just feels a bit gimmicky. If you want to see someone do impressive stuff with loop pedals, check out Russian Circles!

If you remove the album sales and judge him solely on his tunes and the live experience, he's an underwhelming headliner. I don't particularly care what's a good booking and what isn't, because I'm a paying customer and not organising the thing. I'm sure they're happy with it, but I don't have to rejoice at what a huge booking it is.

But with all that, Radiohead are headlining and I've never cared less about the other headliners at a festival 

thats the thing, hes only `ok` hes nothing special so I dont see why hes pushed as such.....hadly reinventing the wheel.....or even doing anything particularly extraordinary with the wheel he currently uses. ed sheeran is one of those artists that blends into the background with the rest of the chart cheese im forced to listen to via local radion station thats always on at work.

[eFestivals]

Look, I get some(?) of you don't like Ed.  I'm not much taken with Ed myself either, as it happens.

But lots of people are, and regardless of the criteria you might want for a headliner, Ed is no less suitable to headline than plenty of others who've headlined over the years, and more suitable than some who have too.

Can I ask that you stop sounding like a bunch of old farts...?

[Quark]

13 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

Look, I get some(?) of you don't like Ed.  I'm not much taken with Ed myself either, as it happens.

But lots of people are, and regardless of the criteria you might want for a headliner, Ed is no less suitable to headline than plenty of others who've headlined over the years, and more suitable than some who have too.

Can I ask that you stop sounding like a bunch of old farts...?

Good luck with that Neil

[trevethin]

1 hour ago, Tartan_Glasto said:

Let's just wait and see. Adele was thought to be a dull headliner as someone that would just stand there and sing, yet she totally smashed it. Why? Because she has songs which thousands of people can sing along to. This is the same as Ed Sheeran. He might not have the patter but he does have the popular songs.

That.  ^^^^^^ 

He'd not be my choice for a headliner, but he's home grown & it's a festival which has something for everyone.

[somecoolusername]

I saw him on Croissant Neuf in 2011, before his debut album came out. I found him pretty unremarkable - standard small stage fare. That's what I've found mystifying about his meteoric rise to fame. He just seems so everyday. I guess he kind of trades on that though.

I won't begrudge him his chance at a headline slot. He's worked his way up the bill. That 'elevator' lyric is just criminal though. It makes me cringe every time.

[ClementsMike]

Fair play to him, right time and right place, and for that he leads the lumbersexual solo singer songwriter genre by a country mile. Loads of pants say I, but he's an absolute perfect selection for a headline slot. I'll also wager it will be a lot more fun than the 'head on Friday.

[The Nal]

Can't deny part of his last gig went down great

 

[russycarps]

8 minutes ago, somecoolusername said:

I saw him on Croissant Neuf in 2011, before his debut album came out. I found him pretty unremarkable - standard small stage fare. That's what I've found mystifying about his meteoric rise to fame. He just seems so everyday. I guess he kind of trades on that though.

I won't begrudge him his chance at a headline slot. He's worked his way up the bill. That 'elevator' lyric is just criminal though. It makes me cringe every time.

what's the elevator lyric?

[somecoolusername]

Just now, russycarps said:

what's the elevator lyric?

"they say I'm up-and-coming like I'm fucking in an elevator"

hurts to just write it 

[CaledonianGonzo]

6 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Can't deny part of his last gig went down great

 

#TapsAff

[siweltrebor]

I didn't stick around after Dolly for Ed so highly doubt I'll be fussed about him headlining.

 

[waterfalls212434]

7 hours ago, eFestivals said:

Look, I get some(?) of you don't like Ed.  I'm not much taken with Ed myself either, as it happens.

But lots of people are, and regardless of the criteria you might want for a headliner, Ed is no less suitable to headline than plenty of others who've headlined over the years, and more suitable than some who have too.

Can I ask that you stop sounding like a bunch of old farts...?

well this is a thread to discuss potential headliners-not kiss their arses....plenty are going to dislike as well as like personally I couldn't care if ed headlines one night, im not one of those who sees the headliners as the festival anyway and bound to be plenty else to see and do on when hes on but I reserve the right to not like the guy and express said opinion. Could be worse for the sheeran! Look what happens whenever the foos are mentioned! I think Ed gets off lightly as far as getting stick goes when it comes to these boards!

Oh yes and I also reserve my right to be an old fart.....fuck it ive earnt that right over the years! 

Edited November 8, 2016 by waterfalls212434

[Purple aki squat]

That is one mighty first sentence. Rolf would have been happier with less. You are correct though, and I think that use of Arse kissing was spot on. You shouldn't be cutting Sheeran any slack though compared to foo fighters ,old fart or not.

 

old farts fear change, acoustic guitar playing millionaires are that change.

Fight on

[waterfalls212434]

19 minutes ago, Purple aki squat said:

That is one mighty first sentence. Rolf would have been happier with less. You are correct though, and I think that use of Arse kissing was spot on. You shouldn't be cutting Sheeran any slack though compared to foo fighters ,old fart or not.

 

old farts fear change, acoustic guitar playing millionaires are that change.

Fight on

We must hold him on site and force him to play an electric with the standard metal emg 81/85 humbuckers....tape that distortion pedal to his goddamn foot and make him stomp on the thing! who knows he might like it he may morph from a sensitive wet wipe into a death metal maniac and treat the pyramid to a screaming rendition of scavenger of human sorrow while howling into the mic like hes just walked in on Nigel Farage naked on top of Katie Hopkins and been forced to watch the act!

Indeed fight on.........