2025 Headliners

[efcfanwirral]

On 22/03/2025 at 14:52, mufcok said:

The Strokes/Glastonbury thing kills me. Would love to see it. Then again, I'd love to see them play a handful of normal UK tour dates, rather than the smattering of random summer dates here and there. Lytham was good though.

I'm the same, just a Manchester gig would be nice, anything that isn't a big hotel/trip in the summer situation. 

[NorthernSoul52]

They were ropey at Lytham. Everybody has off days, but they have reportedly had them more than most. 

 

Cannot see them ever coming to the G because, for them, it's top billing or nothing, and Glastonbury is unlikely to hand it to them unless they're having a tough year to book acts. 

[jonnytee1]

On 23/03/2025 at 12:59, Superscally said:

They were absolutely boss at APE a couple of years back. Disagree. 

I concur….. the strokes are one of a few band (kings of Leon, the libertines for example) who have had bad / tricky patches playing live in the past but seem to be rejuvenated.
 

The difference when I saw all three of those bands recently vs 10 / 15 years ago was huge  

[Superscally]

33 minutes ago, jonnytee1 said:

I concur….. the strokes are one of a few band (kings of Leon, the libertines for example) who have had bad / tricky patches playing live in the past but seem to be rejuvenated.
 

The difference when I saw all three of those bands recently vs 10 / 15 years ago was huge  

Would agree with all three examples you used there. People forget the Stones, ACDC, McCartney and Elton were ridiculed for years before all the bores f**ked off and we realised that they have an incredible catalogue of songs and live shows. 

 

[Andre91]

The Strokes are my white whale band. I’ve never seen them and they’re right at the top of my list of bands I’m still yet to see. 

[northernangel]

On 23/03/2025 at 18:18, NorthernSoul52 said:

They were ropey at Lytham. Everybody has off days, but they have reportedly had them more than most. 

 

Cannot see them ever coming to the G because, for them, it's top billing or nothing, and Glastonbury is unlikely to hand it to them unless they're having a tough year to book acts. 

 

Yup. I've listened to a lot of performances and seen since seeing them and while I think APE put me off because of hearing things about poor sound, Julian has often sounded poor and ropey which is a shame as if he sand well he's got a great rasp in his voice to deliver.

 

They're never getting Glastonbury headline though and nor should they having settled as recently at 2022 for events that some Glastonbury subs are seen capable to do. 

6 hours ago, Superscally said:

Would agree with all three examples you used there. People forget the Stones, ACDC, McCartney and Elton were ridiculed for years before all the bores f**ked off and we realised that they have an incredible catalogue of songs and live shows. 

 

A large catalogue isn't an excuse or reason for lack of performance. Just don't do the songs you underperform live and if they haven't to be some of your better songs and the crowd can't pull you through then that's unfortunate for you.

[CaledonianGonzo]

9 hours ago, Superscally said:

Would agree with all three examples you used there. People forget the Stones, ACDC, McCartney and Elton were ridiculed for years before all the bores f**ked off and we realised that they have an incredible catalogue of songs and live shows. 

 

 

Entirely different situation. The Strokes have played dozens of UK festivals so most folk have had ample opportunity to see them phone it in.

[Colorblindjames]

On 23/03/2025 at 06:31, Dg_vic said:

There are three reasons that the strokes will likely never play Glastonbury

 

1. money 

2. the history with letting the festival down early 2000s by pulling out last minute from extravaganza performance 

3. money. 
 

 

Disagree about the money thing. Saw them in Belfast in 2020 at a medium to large venue. Can’t have made much from that gig. Was fab btw. 

[Ben7amin_]

I saw the Stokes just once at Leeds Fest with a co-headline with Pulp - they went on first at Leeds - Which was perfect because they clearly could not be arsed to be there - It was not complete sh*t just a but very half arsed - Pulp absolutely blew it away as they always do.  Kind of felt sorry for anyone at Reading who got the acts the other way round - Strokes coming on with low energy after common people......   

[Superscally]

5 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

Yup. I've listened to a lot of performances and seen since seeing them and while I think APE put me off because of hearing things about poor sound, Julian has often sounded poor and ropey which is a shame as if he sand well he's got a great rasp in his voice to deliver.

 

They're never getting Glastonbury headline though and nor should they having settled as recently at 2022 for events that some Glastonbury subs are seen capable to do. 

 

A large catalogue isn't an excuse or reason for lack of performance. Just don't do the songs you underperform live and if they haven't to be some of your better songs and the crowd can't pull you through then that's unfortunate for you.

Disagree on the never. They could do a good job now and if THEY decided (p.s I don't think they're arsed and depends heavily on Julian) they wanted to become prominent again they could.

 

As for the poor performance aspect - correct, but none of these were putting in shite performances- it was just bores coming out with lines like "Strolling Bones", "Frog Song" etc... The media, therefore the bovine public had decided they were sh*t when they just weren't. Maybe the odd duff creation, but still excellent as artists... All about the wave...and they weren't on it. If they were ever jaded around that time, seems understandable.

Edited March 25, 2025 by Superscally

[Superscally]

1 hour ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Entirely different situation. The Strokes have played dozens of UK festivals so most folk have had ample opportunity to see them phone it in.

They're not phoning it in anymore. Dated comment.

[JonSnow]

1 hour ago, Ben7amin_ said:

I saw the Stokes just once at Leeds Fest with a co-headline with Pulp - they went on first at Leeds - Which was perfect because they clearly could not be arsed to be there - It was not complete sh*t just a but very half arsed - Pulp absolutely blew it away as they always do.  Kind of felt sorry for anyone at Reading who got the acts the other way round - Strokes coming on with low energy after common people......   

I was one of those people there

 

From memory I was still on such a hype from Pulp it didn't bother me too much that Strokes were as dull as dishwater.

[NorthernSoul52]

12 hours ago, Superscally said:

Would agree with all three examples you used there. People forget the Stones, ACDC, McCartney and Elton were ridiculed for years before all the bores f**ked off and we realised that they have an incredible catalogue of songs and live shows. 

 

I mean, having seen all four, I will say they are all great live "shows" without being necessarily great live performers. But as you say, catalogue can do the business.

[NorthernSoul52]

48 minutes ago, Superscally said:

They're not phoning it in anymore. Dated comment.

I can't comment for other shows, but four-fifths were not phoning it in at Lytham. You can guess which one quite clearly didn't seem to get the memo.

[MEGABOWL]

1 hour ago, Ben7amin_ said:

I saw the Stokes just once at Leeds Fest with a co-headline with Pulp - they went on first at Leeds - Which was perfect because they clearly could not be arsed to be there - It was not complete sh*t just a but very half arsed - Pulp absolutely blew it away as they always do.  Kind of felt sorry for anyone at Reading who got the acts the other way round - Strokes coming on with low energy after common people......   

 

 

They were same at Reading. It didn’t help that Pulp blew them away but I doubt that really made any difference. My next experience of the Strokes live was TRNSMT in 2022 and they, were exactly the same disinterested disappointment then.

 

They won’t do Glastonbury because it doesn’t pay enough. Having seen KOL last year I’d actually rather have them back, though I don’t think that’ll happen either 

[NorthernSoul52]

It is fascinating to see this divide on The Strokes and their live prospects. Some proper martmite reactions we've got going on, top banana stuff.

[Superscally]

31 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

It is fascinating to see this divide on The Strokes and their live prospects. Some proper martmite reactions we've got going on, top banana stuff.

1975 for the 6 Music crew! 😄

[NorthernSoul52]

Just now, Superscally said:

1975 for the 6 Music crew! 😄

😄😄😄

[Meerkat]

Working with music on in the background and I know Matty Healy is enough to turn anyone away but The 1975 genuinely make some really good Indie Pop music.

 

I think there’s also a lot more to them than Sam Fender as well as probably being a fair bit bigger artist (could be wrong with that judgement tbf)

[NorthernSoul52]

The 1975 absolutely know a hook when they see one, and in a way that isn't always as obvious as you think too.

[NorthernSoul52]

Looks like plans are coming together for The 1975's show, which I increasingly believe will be theatrical in execution rather than straight-up rock-skewed.

 

https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975s-polly-money-interview-t-shirt-nothing-else-ep-glastonbury-2025-new-material-3849083

[northernangel]

Just seen a piece on instagram about how stadium shows are more and more an incentive for the huge artists costing festivals to lose huge artists. Reminds you even more how massive it was getting Coldplay last year.

[foolee]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

Just seen a piece on instagram about how stadium shows are more and more an incentive for the huge artists costing festivals to lose huge artists. Reminds you even more how massive it was getting Coldplay last year.

To be honest Olivia Rodrigo is a massive get too considering she’s on the verge of stadiums. The fact she’s headlining festivals and sold out BST is a very good get for the festival. They’ll get the headliners that want to do Glasto and get it but the money grabbers won’t do it but that’s almost always been the case anyway. 

[northernangel]

32 minutes ago, foolee said:

To be honest Olivia Rodrigo is a massive get too considering she’s on the verge of stadiums. The fact she’s headlining festivals and sold out BST is a very good get for the festival. They’ll get the headliners that want to do Glasto and get it but the money grabbers won’t do it but that’s almost always been the case anyway. 

The reason I used Coldplay was that Glastonbury is the only festival that got them worldwide. To put into context, Glasto is the only festival Coldplay have played anywhere I believe worldwide since 2011. Olivia is a big get but she is doing loads of festival shows this summer, Glastonbury isn't an exclusive. And she will no doubt go on to headline Coachella in 2026.

[FKA SOSOTWS]

2 hours ago, northernangel said:

Just seen a piece on instagram about how stadium shows are more and more an incentive for the huge artists costing festivals to lose huge artists. Reminds you even more how massive it was getting Coldplay last year.

Could you share that IG link?