Are all of the festival line ups this year a bit rubbish?

[zahidf]

There are a few decent bands here and there, but it seems uninspired this year. Not just the UK ones: European and US festivals seem... flat

[40 Days]

Compared to last year, absolutely.

[shuttlep]

Don't know, not seen a headliner for years.

[MrHew]

Was having this exact conversation with a friend at the weekend. None of the line up are very exciting so far. Bearded Theory is best of the bunch as it stands. 

Edited February 12, 2019 by MrHew

[Matt42]

Yeah it seems like a weak year across the board. Considering who is lined up to do Glastonbury this year though, Glasto has done pretty well on undercard.

[eastynh]

Bluedot looks fantastic.

[Matt42]

The smaller more catered festivals are taking over the scene because the big acts no longer want to do festivals 

[stuartbert two hats]

Boomtown seems stronger than normal.

[Luke Routledge]

Personally I think for their target audience R&L have knocked it of the park! 

[Nobody Interesting]

Depends if you like the bands playing at other festivals or not - if you like them then the lineup is strong/good, if not then to you it is weak/bad.

I think the lineups at Standon Calling and Truck are, especially for the size of festival, really good - shame both festivals are, in my opinion, not good overall.

[Superunknown]

Mad Cool looks fantastic yet again. Overall, probably weaker though compared to last year yeah.

[chatty]

I like Downloads best by a fair distance. Even after Ozzy pulled out and thats its made up of 80% old bands. 

[Username taken]

11 minutes ago, Nobody Interesting said:

Depends if you like the bands playing at other festivals or not - if you like them then the lineup is strong/good, if not then to you it is weak/bad.

 

Username checks out

[chatty]

Kubix probably pisses over all of them for value for money. 

Stranglers, Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Hook, Cast, Black Grape, Big Country, The Alarm, Tom Hingley, Dirt Box Disco, The Farm and Embrace for twenty quid is a steal. 

[eFestivals]

hold the front page....

festival line-ups not as good as they used to be, shocker.

 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

It's pretty subjective but the general consensus across the board seems to think so and I'd agree. Not entirely sure why it is. Maybe the rise in genre-specific festivals makes for less variety? I dunno. Having said that, I've had discussions with people who are disappointed with their usual second or third festivals' (after Glastonbury) lineups so far and that's everywhere from End of the Road to Isle of Wight to Latitude and beyond.

APE, Bluedot and Primavera stand out this year but that's about it. The only other European festival that's caught my eye is Doctor Music and that seems like it might be a logistical and organisational nightmare.

Mad Cool last year was fantastic for me because it was a pretty varied lineup. Glastonbury always caters for an eclectic music taste and this year Boomtown gets my money cos they're doing the same. Variety is key for me.

[Matt42]

Out of interest

OBJECTIVELY

what year was the strongest for the Glastonbury lineup? I’d probably say 2017 tbh

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

12 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

hold the front page....

festival line-ups not as good as they used to be, shocker.

 

I don't think the OP was referring to a long-term reduction in quality, more comparing last year, which seemed to be generally well-received to what's been announced so far this year. 

What you're referring to is a whole different thread...

...and we all know they peaked in 1999-2002 ?

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

1 minute ago, Matt42 said:

Out of interest

OBJECTIVELY

what year was the strongest for the Glastonbury lineup? I’d probably say 2017 tbh

I didn't think so at the time but when I look back, for me 2009 will take some beating

[Gnomicide]

I'm not saying 2009 because I didn't go* so the best I've been to was 2014.

 

 

 

 

*It was 2009.

[Matt42]

7 minutes ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

I didn't think so at the time but when I look back, for me 2009 will take some beating

Yeah 2009 is stacked full of stars that hadn’t quite broken out yet.

2014 also has a lot of now festival headliners that we’rent at the time. 

I’m torn between 2011, 2016 and 2004 for objectively the strongest headliner trio. 

Whilst Adele is objectively bigger, I think Beyoncé had a greater cultural impact when she headlined the festival and (speaking from experience) it ushered in a whole new generation of festival goers.

Edited February 12, 2019 by Matt42

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

Just now, Matt42 said:

Whilst Adele is objectively bigger, I think Beyoncé had a greater cultural impact when she headlined the festival and (speaking from experience) it ushered in a whole new generation of festival goers.

Yeah, Beyonce felt like a cultural shift for the festival, for sure. That was a huge booking.

[matt2007]

Why is everyone stuck on headliners and the bigger bands, I don't give a shit who headlines, a week working and playing with good friends watching random stuff and partying is what makes a festival - don't forget the original definition of a a festival is a Feast of Fools!

[Madyaker]

53 minutes ago, stuartbert two hats said:

Boomtown seems stronger than normal.

Yeah i recognised 4 names, which is a 400% increase on last year!

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

6 minutes ago, matt2007 said:

Why is everyone stuck on headliners and the bigger bands, I don't give a shit who headlines, a week working and playing with good friends watching random stuff and partying is what makes a festival - don't forget the original definition of a a festival is a Feast of Fools!

eFeastoffools