2025 Headliners

[NorthernSoul52]

Amen to that.

[Memory Man]

3 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

I'd be surprised if it was a promoter issue given he's got five shows, two of which are Lytham and BST - which I think are run by competitors? Cuffe and Taylor is Live Nation, and BST is AEG, I think.

Yeah i think youre right actually

[CaledonianGonzo]

6 minutes ago, Memory Man said:

There could be any number of reasons why no stevie (other than slow to announce or confirm)

 

Fees

Unable / Unwilling to meet specific artist requirements

Doesnt want to be recorded

Exclusivity contract with promoter

Artist sees Glastonbury as one and done

Festival sees artist as one and done

 

Sounds like they had him pencilled in for last year, so the last two may not apply

[Memory Man]

2 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

But why would Fender have a no-Glasto clause? He's homegrown and British, plus the G is already sold out. It's not going to seriously impact his sales if so, especially given he would have been announced after most of them had been released and shifted sizable numbers.

 

I think they maybe passed on him themselves for one reason or another, rather than he turned it down.

We will never truly know but i dont see them actively having picked 1975 over sam fender

[NorthernSoul52]

Just now, Memory Man said:

Yeah i think youre right actually

All of the other reasons easily track though. I think it comes down to fees, health or a lack of interest from Wonder.

 

He's doing Lytham, for heck's sake though. Not exactly a date that screams "Pyramid headliner".

[CaledonianGonzo]

6 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Cannot imagine NY would have accepted the Legends Slot.

 

He's a bad fit for it.  Anyone who thinks its a good idea doesn't really know that much about Shakey.

[NorthernSoul52]

Just now, Memory Man said:

We will never truly know but i dont see them actively having picked 1975 over sam fender

The 1975 were reportedly down for 2021, before the pandemic though. It could be cashing that in.

 

I don't think The 1975, in all honesty, will ever be bigger than they are right now. Think they could well track the Mumford and Sons route, and just slip down.

 

The question for me is whether they use Glastonbury this summer to pull a Dua Lipa springboard and get that Wembley Stadium show lined up for summer 2026. Would argue, with no Glastonbury to compete against next year, a few acts will try for some career-defining dates.

[NorthernSoul52]

1 minute ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

He's a bad fit for it.  Anyone who thinks its a good idea doesn't really know that much about Shakey.

Exactamundo. Doesn't groove to it.

[Colorblindjames]

23 minutes ago, Memory Man said:

Kylie was incredible and my favourite legend slot

 

she could have headlined. And still could today!

Lionel and Dolly have forgotten more good songs than Kylie ever had. Kylie is pure cringe IMO. She’s done well for herself though considering how little talent she has. 

[CaledonianGonzo]

Or there's the reality where Dolly, Lionel and Kylie were all good fits for the Legend Slot and all 3 of them smashed it.

[NorthernSoul52]

I'd certainly say they were three of the stronger shouts. A wild Nick Cave cameo wasn't a bad touch either.

[NorthernSoul52]

Rod will do fine, plenty there will love it, plenty on the box will love it, plenty will moan about it. Perfect Legends Slot material.

[NorthernSoul52]

Kylie is in the weird bracket where she does actually appear to have had a commercial revival since her slot. The Tension-era stuff has put her back on the map.

[Superscally]

1 hour ago, Skip997 said:

Maybe they (Michael) had decided on Neil Young and two old duffers headlining would be a step too far. 

Stevie would have been such a party...

[NorthernSoul52]

And Neil Young won't be? Man's going to be spending half of his set setting off fireworks from his guitar neck and praising Bob Smith for suggesting he should lower his prices.

[northernangel]

Think Olivia, Kylie and Stevie would be a great trio

[matrainertje]

1 hour ago, Memory Man said:

i am convinced 1975 are only in the frame as Fender was a no

 

I'm not a 1975 guy but I still prefer them doing it instead of Fender. 

[NorthernSoul52]

The 1975 might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it's not a bad booking, no matter what folks might tell you.

[Superscally]

26 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Think Olivia, Kylie and Stevie would be a great trio

It does feel...BIG

[CaledonianGonzo]

1 minute ago, Superscally said:

It does feel...BIG

 

Not really any bigger than the actual trio we have.

[Superscally]

Just now, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Not really any bigger than the actual trio we have.

I'm happy with the three, but Kylie is the multiplier here

[NorthernSoul52]

The Kylie issue is that she has played the Legends Slot, which means to a certain section of punter, no matter her increased currency, it feels less of a "wow!" booking.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Indeed.  Dont think Padam Padam alone would be enough to prevent it feeling like a retread of something we got in a less prestigious slot just a few festivals back.

[efcfanwirral]

1 hour ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

Or there's the reality where Dolly, Lionel and Kylie were all good fits for the Legend Slot and all 3 of them smashed it.

The crowd reaction for Lionel was incredible. He's probably my favourite 

 

I did enjoy Kylie too (and Shania, and Sheryl Crow when she played actually) but I grew up when their music was big and in the charts. Alanis will be exactly the same for me 

[kalifire]

At one point I would have suggested that the headliners of 2020 (as intended), 2022, and 2023, might have been considered a golden period in headliner history. Swift, Macca, Elton. Has there ever been a consecutive run as strong as that? 
 

But imo, Dua Lipa absolutely stole the show last year. Obviously she isn’t as legendary as the others but she was just as exciting to watch.

 

So I’m more open to moments that happen in real time, these days. I think anyone who’s got a few Glastonburys under their belt ought to be. What’s on paper means very little compared to what transpires.