2025 Headliners

[Nduja]

21 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

You should visit more often and you'd realise the Pyramid has plenty of parties! 

 
For example, Burna Boy last year, which near enough everyone seemed to miss.

[Justcalledtosay]

2 hours ago, Tfarm said:

According to our AI overlord,

 

Based on UK chart performance and public recognition, Cat Stevens appears to have been more consistently popular in the UK compared to Neil Young, particularly during the peak of his career in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Key Factors:

Albums:

• Cat Stevens has had multiple albums reach the UK Top 10, including Catch Bull at Four (#1) and Teaser and the Firecat (#2).
• Neil Young’s only UK #1 album was Harvest, though he has had consistent entries into the UK charts.

Singles:

• Cat Stevens achieved several UK Top 10 singles, including "Matthew and Son" (#2) and "Morning Has Broken" (#9). These singles had widespread appeal and chart success in the UK.
• Neil Young’s only UK Top 10 single was "Heart of Gold" (#10), highlighting his lesser impact on UK singles charts compared to Stevens.

Cultural Influence:

• Cat Stevens, born in London, has a strong cultural connection to the UK. His music resonates with themes and styles that were particularly popular among UK audiences during the 60s and 70s.
• Neil Young, though globally iconic, is more closely associated with the North American market. His UK fan base has grown over time but was less dominant during his peak years.

Conclusion:

In terms of chart success and cultural prominence in the UK, Cat Stevens is arguably more popular, especially during the height of his career. Neil Young remains a highly respected artist but is more of a niche figure compared to Stevens' widespread appeal in the UK.

Thanks. @judyblue110 👆

[fraybentos1]

31 minutes ago, Nduja said:

In recent memory, which lineups featured 3 top-tier headliners? It feels like the exception rather than the norm when you analyse it.

2009, 2011 & 2013 look pretty stacked, 2004 looks strong too. 2020 would have been the goat but of course never happened, but 2022 was strong. As was 2023. Years in which Coldplay definitely look strong because they're a massive act but also basically a house band and there is no challenge associated with booking them.

These things happen in waves and it's very much driven by the supply side. A few years ago, booking a big american pop-star would have been quite a challenging act but now there's almost an oversupply. That will change too in time.

Muse Adele Coldplay was pretty strong objectively. 2016 I think it was.

[gfa]

1 hour ago, Respectfatfrog said:

1 legacy 

1 established star 

1 up and coming 

 

perfect for me 

 

although not sure how to break it to my kids they need to sit through a Neil young set tho

Is this meant to be:

 

Neil Young

1975

Olivia Rodrigo

 

I think some would disagree with 1975 being an established star - but I think I agree given they have headlined Reading 3 times now!

[CaledonianGonzo]

They first played the Pyramid Stage 11 years ago. They're hardly newbies.

Edited January 6, 2025 by CaledonianGonzo

[Avalon_Fields]

1 hour ago, fraybentos1 said:

Michael Eavis is a fan of Neil Young is he not? Pure speculation on my part but he might not have too many more festivals left and maybe that influenced the booking? They clearly like to have a legacy act playing and with it looking like O Rod & The 1975 maybe NY made sense if they couldn't get stevie wonder for example.

 

Also spotify stats for artists like him are close to irrelevant. By in large, the bookers know who is big enough and the only exception to that is when they have to scramble for a last minute headliner

He certainly is a fan, this from 2008:

[Ayrshire Chris]

3 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

He certainly is a fan, this from 2008:

I’m sure he’d have loved Fleetwood Mac and the Bee Gees as well, though he did get Barry Gibb in 17. 

[Avalon_Fields]

7 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

He certainly is a fan, this from 2008:

The whole article is worth a read:

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/18/popandrock.shopping45

[Someoni]

1 hour ago, Nduja said:

In recent memory, which lineups featured 3 top-tier headliners? It feels like the exception rather than the norm when you analyse it.

2009, 2011 & 2013 look pretty stacked, 2004 looks strong too. 2020 would have been the goat but of course never happened, but 2022 was strong. As was 2023. Years in which Coldplay definitely look strong because they're a massive act but also basically a house band and there is no challenge associated with booking them.

These things happen in waves and it's very much driven by the supply side. A few years ago, booking a big american pop-star would have been quite a challenging act but now there's almost an oversupply. That will change too in time.

I think 2017 wasn't too bad either tbh. 

Radiohead 

Foo Fighters 

Ed Sheerans

[CaledonianGonzo]

1 hour ago, Nduja said:

In recent memory, which lineups featured 3 top-tier headliners? It feels like the exception rather than the norm when you analyse it.

 

 2023 they were all stadium acts

[jonnytee1]

5 hours ago, Justcalledtosay said:

I'm not sure quoting gigs he did nearly 30 years ago is relevant. 

 

I'd argue that Spotify streaming figures are a more relevant metric in this day and age. Cat Stevens dwarves Neil Young in that regard.

My argument here is that when i attended my first Glastonbury in 1998 Bob Dylan didn't headline. He is a legacy act like Neil Young. Bob has sold almost double the amount of albums than NY and surely has more tunes that are well known to the general public. 

 

However Bob didn't headline in 1998 . Would he headline if he played now?  

[doogie]

2 minutes ago, jonnytee1 said:

My argument here is that when i attended my first Glastonbury in 1998 Bob Dylan didn't headline. He is a legacy act like Neil Young. Bob has sold almost double the amount of albums than NY and surely has more tunes that are well known to the general public. 

 

However Bob didn't headline in 1998 . Would he headline if he played now?  

 

Bob's a bit of a special case though because although he has both the credentials and the bangers, he either doesn't play them or if he does they are completely unrecognisable.

[jonnytee1]

1 minute ago, doogie said:

 

Bob's a bit of a special case though because although he has both the credentials and the bangers, he either doesn't play them or if he does they are completely unrecognisable.

Yeah your right, there's also the "showmanship" side of it. Sitting on a stall for 2 hours with an electric acoustic doesn't make for a very exciting spectacle I suppose.

 

They could just let extra fireworks off but at Bobs age, i'd imagine even that is dangerous   

[MEGABOWL]

2 hours ago, Nduja said:

In recent memory, which lineups featured 3 top-tier headliners? It feels like the exception rather than the norm when you analyse it.

2009, 2011 & 2013 look pretty stacked, 2004 looks strong too. 2020 would have been the goat but of course never happened, but 2022 was strong. As was 2023. Years in which Coldplay definitely look strong because they're a massive act but also basically a house band and there is no challenge associated with booking them.

These things happen in waves and it's very much driven by the supply side. A few years ago, booking a big american pop-star would have been quite a challenging act but now there's almost an oversupply. That will change too in time.

2023 was a huge set of headliners.

[northernangel]

18 hours ago, jonnytee1 said:

But your argument and view on his music does not, in anyway affect the fact that he was a deserved headliner, which he was. 
 

 

 

He was a class A tosser in my opinion even at that point.

[CharlotteB]

2 hours ago, fraybentos1 said:

Michael Eavis is a fan of Neil Young is he not? Pure speculation on my part but he might not have too many more festivals left and maybe that influenced the booking? They clearly like to have a legacy act playing and with it looking like O Rod & The 1975 maybe NY made sense if they couldn't get stevie wonder for example.

 

Also spotify stats for artists like him are close to irrelevant. By in large, the bookers know who is big enough and the only exception to that is when they have to scramble for a last minute headliner

 

Yes, I was thinking this exact same thing ❤️ 

[Respectfatfrog]

1 hour ago, gfa said:

Is this meant to be:

 

Neil Young

1975

Olivia Rodrigo

 

I think some would disagree with 1975 being an established star - but I think I agree given they have headlined Reading 3 times now!

I would argue about 1975 but im old and cranky 

[doogie]

26 minutes ago, jonnytee1 said:

Yeah your right, there's also the "showmanship" side of it. Sitting on a stall for 2 hours with an electric acoustic doesn't make for a very exciting spectacle I suppose.

 

They could just let extra fireworks off but at Bobs age, i'd imagine even that is dangerous   

Yep, if you're headlining El Pointo, people will expect a show.  For something more intimate, the Acoustic's a better bet.

[Mordy1990]

On 1/3/2025 at 4:33 PM, ac123 said:

I still haven't quite got over the Loyle Carner info. I think he's great and I'll probably go, clash depending, but it's MENTAL he's headlining Other supposedly. Can't begin to think where the budget they've saved on booking him has gone.

 

Why is everyone so confident of him headlining the other stage ? Is it a self confirm ? 

[judyblue110]

2 hours ago, Justcalledtosay said:

Thanks. @judyblue110 👆

 

Relying on AI instead of your own eyes and common sense... No worries mate, didn't realise you were a troll until now. You got me good!

[CaledonianGonzo]

imho the best way to tell who from Cat Stevens and Neil Young is a Glastonbury headline act vs. who is a legend slot act is to look at how they've been booked by Glastonbury Festival.

[Jamm]

2 hours ago, Avalon_Fields said:

He certainly is a fan, this from 2008:

Quite frankly I’d ascend if they somehow booked Dead & Company.

 

But I think the ship has long sailed on any notable Grateful Dead adjacent act performing in Europe ever again.

[Guz]

2 hours ago, Avalon_Fields said:

The whole article is worth a read:

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/18/popandrock.shopping45

Love to see Kitty, Daisy and Lewis this year too, but a higher chance we get Kitty Liv with Lewis and her bf on drums 

[FrogLobster]

Any chance of Gaga instead of 1975? Mostly because she is actually active, has an album dropping sometime first half and will have a festival-show already done for Coachella.

[Skip997]

8 minutes ago, FrogLobster said:

Any chance of Gaga instead of 1975? Mostly because she is actually active, has an album dropping sometime first half and will have a festival-show already done for Coachella.

And is infinitely more fun and entertaining