2025 Headliners

[CaledonianGonzo]

Well - it certainly didn't help that his music wasn't available on streaming for a period.

[NorthernSoul52]

Absolutely. 

[Brunty9]

I was bought up listening to Neil Young and was lucky enough to see him with my Dad when I was 15 at Sheffield arena in 2001. I couldn't believe my luck when he was announced for Glastonbury 2009. 

Really hoping he's confirmed again but do understand the lack of appeal for some of the younger Glastonbury goers but also isn't Glastonbury all about listening to new music and going to see things you wouldn't normally see.

 

If Neil is announced then there will be plenty of time for those unaware of his work to do some listening and get really excited ahead of seeing a proper legend. 

 

After 30+years of listening to the Weld live album I know I will never get bored of it. I believe the eclectic breadth of his music is pretty unrivalled.

[CaledonianGonzo]

If someone is big enough to headline the G and I'm not really familiar with their music I would usually assume that that's a skill issue on my side and boot up Spotify.

[Gnomicide]

Seeing as she's been discussed here, I've just listened to Chappell Roan for the first time.

 

I like this one...

 

 

[Moobles]

I was 27 when I saw Neil Young headline Glastonbury. Wasn’t too familiar at the time but quickly realised I knew more than I had thought. Really excited at the thought of him possibly headlining again. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Aye, he's headliner for me. I'm more playing devil's advocate to suggest why people may not see him as such.

[NorthernSoul52]

Elsewhere, Banks wants a million from Healy.

 

 

[ClementsMike]

11 hours ago, Superscally said:

Has he EVER done that? 

Even when he did a scheduled Q&A in Williams Green, he got the crowd to sing a few lines of DLBIA, and he genuinely didn't join in or sing a word.

[Avalon_Fields]

33 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

Seeing as she's been discussed here, I've just listened to Chappell Roan for the first time.

 

I like this one...

 

 

I used to love Lene Lovich! 2 great albums. 

[jonnytee1]

Neil young is a headliner of any festival he plays - that's a fact. 

If Neil Young plays Glastonbury next year he headlines  -  that's a fact

 

I would not dispute either of the above, 

 

However, whilst appreciating his status as an artist and in stating I am quite a fan myself. He is a bit Niche

 

Fans of his will flock in their droves to see him and defend his back catalogue ( and rightly so as its full of beautiful songs) but outside of his fanbase I am not sure most people would be able to name 1 song by him and certainly not a handful of songs. I think other than Ring of Fire Johnny Cash falls in to the same bracket. 

 

That's the difference between Neil Young and many of the other artists mentioned above (Stevie, Bowie, Elton etc). 

 

It doesn't make NY less worthy of headlining, nor does it mean he's any less of an artist or performer, it simply means that (rightly or wrongly) his songs are not as universally well known. 

[Avalon_Fields]

100 Greatest Artists of All Time (Rolling Stone 2012). There’s only about 5 ahead of Neil still potentially available, and maybe Smokey R will be there too!:

1. The Beatles
2. Bob Dylan
3. Elvis Presley
4. Rolling Stones
5. Chuck Berry
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. James Brown
8. Little Richard
9. Aretha Franklin
10. Ray Charles
11. Bob Marley
12. The Beach Boys
13. Buddy Holly
14. Led Zeppelin
15. Stevie Wonder
16. Sam Cooke
17. Muddy Waters
18. Marvin Gaye
19. The Velvet Underground
20. Bo Diddley
21. Otis Redding
22. U2
23. Bruce Springsteen
24. Jerry Lee Lewis
25. Fats Domino
26. The Ramones
27. Nirvana
28. Prince
29. The Who
30. The Clash
31. Johnny Cash
32. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
33. The Everly Brothers
34. Neil Young
35. Michael Jackson
36. Madonna
37. Roy Orbison
38. John Lennon
39. David Bowie
40. Simon and Garfunkel
 

Edited December 9, 2024 by Avalon_Fields

[NorthernSoul52]

2 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

100 Greatest Artists of All Time (Rolling Stone 2012). There’s only about 5 ahead of Neil still potentially available, and maybe Smokey R will be there too!:

1. The Beatles
2. Bob Dylan
3. Elvis Presley
4. Rolling Stones
5. Chuck Berry
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. James Brown
8. Little Richard
9. Aretha Franklin
10. Ray Charles
11. Bob Marley
12. The Beach Boys
13. Buddy Holly
14. Led Zeppelin
15. Stevie Wonder
16. Sam Cooke
17. Muddy Waters
18. Marvin Gaye
19. The Velvet Underground
20. Bo Diddley
21. Otis Redding
22. U2
23. Bruce Springsteen
24. Jerry Lee Lewis
25. Fats Domino
26. The Ramones
27. Nirvana
28. Prince
29. The Who
30. The Clash
31. Johnny Cash
32. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
33. The Everly Brothers
34. Neil Young
35. Michael Jackson
36. Madonna
37. Roy Orbison
38. John Lennon
39. David Bowie
40. Simon and Garfunkel
 

There are some wild shouts on that list. Lennon's solo work at 38 ahead of Bowie?!

[kalifire]

1 hour ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Elsewhere, Banks wants a million from Healy.

 

 

I’ve no idea why presumably highly skilled and experienced attorneys write things like “I am legal counsel to superstar Azealia Banks”. It comes off as so sycophantic to their client, and the tone instantly gives the impression of delegitimising their position. Almost as if the letter is being dictated by them directly. Like when Trump’s physician’s report claimed he was in “perfect health”.  

[kalifire]

1 hour ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

If someone is big enough to headline the G and I'm not really familiar with their music I would usually assume that that's a skill issue on my side and boot up Spotify.

100%. Doesn’t mean I’m going to personally enjoy them or be pleased with their headline position, but at least I’ll have more appreciation.

 

I wasn’t that familiar with Neil Young, for example. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve heard so far. Took the advice to start with Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, and moved on to Harvest. Can’t say I’ll be in his crowd (depends on clashes) but I’m sure he’ll entertain everyone who’s there. 

[Avalon_Fields]

43 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

There are some wild shouts on that list. Lennon's solo work at 38 ahead of Bowie?!

Yes, that was the clear anomaly for me, I’m sure a British list would have Bowie much higher. 

[Justcalledtosay]

2 hours ago, Punksnotdead said:

Imagine living in a world where Neil Young is considered unworthy of a headline slot but The 1975 are!

 

It's like living in a world where Trump and Farage get voted in! 😲

They're shite as well....unfortunately they'll attract a larger crowd than Neil Young.

[NorthernSoul52]

37 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

Yes, that was the clear anomaly for me, I’m sure a British list would have Bowie much higher. 

If it's the NME or The Guardian that write that, Bowie comes top. That's a 2012 list though too - imagine he'd rank higher now, having since stuck out two acclaimed albums and passed on.

[steviewevie]

Is Trump headlining a rumour? 

[steviewevie]

[steviewevie]

Neil Young on the Other.

[Havors]

3 hours ago, Avalon_Fields said:

Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, written by Neil), a massively important political song written about the police killing 4 in a Vietnam war protest, easily one of the most influential songs of that era and I’m guessing every American would have known of the song. 

You just proved my point there tbh.

[gfa]

5 hours ago, Avalon_Fields said:

Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, written by Neil), a massively important political song written about the police killing 4 in a Vietnam war protest, easily one of the most influential songs of that era and I’m guessing every American would have known of the song. 

Festivals in the UK though - point doesn't really hold up!

 

Bad Bunny is a headliner in the US but not over here etc

[judyblue110]

Bold statement:

 

Other than dedicated fans of the individual artists, your average festival goer could not name 5 songs by any of Olivia, The 1975, or Neil Young. Further to that, they could not name 5 songs between them.

 

I really don't know what naming songs has to do with whether an act could or should headline Glastonbury or not.

 

Most attendees couldn't name 5 Cure songs, 5 Springsteen songs, 5 Radiohead songs, 5 Kendrick Lamar songs, 5 Billie Eilish songs or 1 SZA song - the list goes on. It doesn't matter.

 

He is who he is, and he has the status he has. 

[fakeplastictrees2000]

2 hours ago, steviewevie said:

Neil Young on the Other.

is this info or a guess?