2025 Headliners

[AlanFish23]

I didn't manage to get a ticket last year. SZA seems to get a fair few mentions, as in a small crowd and also how she was never planned to headline originally but was bumped up at the last minute. What was the actual story?

[northernangel]

Charli Xcx was embarrassing in LA at her gig. Stopped performing because the crowd wouldn't jump, dance and song as she wanted and all you could hear was her backing track of the song which made her look really bad 

[CaledonianGonzo]

5 hours ago, AlanFish23 said:

I didn't manage to get a ticket last year. SZA seems to get a fair few mentions, as in a small crowd and also how she was never planned to headline originally but was bumped up at the last minute. What was the actual story?

 

Noone knows for sure, but the most likely theory is they wanted Madge and it came reasonably close to happening.  When that fell theough it sounded like Stevie Wonder was next in line as part of double up with BST.  Then Stevie opted not to tour.

 

Personally I think they then asked O-Rod who was touring and had the weekend free.  Perhaps that was when it was agreed she headline this year.

 

Making SZA probably the 4th choice when they moved her up from headlining the Other Stage (and put Idles in her place).

 

Mostly all speculation, but it doesn't feel too outlandish.

[charlierc]

33 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Charli Xcx was embarrassing in LA at her gig. Stopped performing because the crowd wouldn't jump, dance and song as she wanted and all you could hear was her backing track of the song which made her look really bad 

Otherwise known as the Kings of Leon at Reading 2009 getting mopey the crowd only knew 2 songs then.

[NorthernSoul52]

1 hour ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Noone knows for sure, but the most likely theory is they wanted Madge and it came reasonably close to happening.  When that fell theough it sounded like Stevie Wonder was next in line as part of double up with BST.  Then Stevie opted not to tour.

 

Personally I think they then asked O-Rod who was touring and had the weekend free.  Perhaps that was when it was agreed she headline this year.

 

Making SZA probably the 4th choice when they moved her up from headlining the Other Stage (and put Idles in her place).

 

Mostly all speculation, but it doesn't feel too outlandish.

Seems to line up nicely. All that chatter feels a lifetime ago now.

[NorthernSoul52]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

Charli Xcx was embarrassing in LA at her gig. Stopped performing because the crowd wouldn't jump, dance and song as she wanted and all you could hear was her backing track of the song which made her look really bad 

Not touring with a band?

[Barneym]

On 13/03/2025 at 07:47, northernangel said:

 

These days I rather do own or the other or I feel like I've not taken advantage of grabbing one of a festival and I suddenly need to see both again outside.

 

It's each to their own but I don't know anyone who chooses Macaabees over those two Sunday options....worst headliner clash I've come across for a long time, possibly in my attending time completely. The Prodigy Friday made most sense. Maccabees for me also starts and ends at Pelican, it did when I was around when they were younger.

My whole group of 10 will choose the Maccabees over anything else it’s the thing we are all most excited over. Gutted to miss The Prodigy but seen them loads and they tour regularly, I hate APE as sound is always sh*t so there is a chance this is my only chance to see them again.  You really need to check out the first two and last albums, Pelican is fine and catchy but wouldn’t make my top 10.

If it helps that is age range 35-43 so it may be very demographic specific 

[km9]

1 hour ago, Barneym said:

My whole group of 10 will choose the Maccabees over anything else it’s the thing we are all most excited over. Gutted to miss The Prodigy but seen them loads and they tour regularly, I hate APE as sound is always sh*t so there is a chance this is my only chance to see them again.  You really need to check out the first two and last albums, Pelican is fine and catchy but wouldn’t make my top 10.

If it helps that is age range 35-43 so it may be very demographic specific 

Agreed. If Pelican is your first choice Maccabees tune, then you don't really know the Maccabees. Each to their own though.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Barneym said:

My whole group of 10 will choose the Maccabees over anything else it’s the thing we are all most excited over. Gutted to miss The Prodigy but seen them loads and they tour regularly, I hate APE as sound is always sh*t so there is a chance this is my only chance to see them again.  You really need to check out the first two and last albums, Pelican is fine and catchy but wouldn’t make my top 10.

If it helps that is age range 35-43 so it may be very demographic specific 

 

13 minutes ago, km9 said:

Agreed. If Pelican is your first choice Maccabees tune, then you don't really know the Maccabees. Each to their own though.

 

I saw Maccabees once when I was younger but I went through the top 10 songs on Spotify to give a chance and listen and I believe First Love, Latchmere and Love you better were okay I guess.

[Ben7amin_]

My top 5 Maccabees tracks.

 

1 - Forever I've Known

2 - Grew Up At Midnight

3 - No Kind Words

4 - Previous Time

5 - Spit It Out

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Not touring with a band?

It sounded like she stopped signing and her song, being Icona Pop?, was still being play and sung by her in the background

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, charlierc said:

Otherwise known as the Kings of Leon at Reading 2009 getting mopey the crowd only knew 2 songs then.

 

Most likely yeah. This is supposed to be an artist though seen as credible right now.

[km9]

20 minutes ago, Ben7amin_ said:

My top 5 Maccabees tracks.

 

1 - Forever I've Known

2 - Grew Up At Midnight

3 - No Kind Words

4 - Previous Time

5 - Spit It Out

I picked up a ticket for their gig in cologne in June as I'll be working there and staying down the road from the (small) venue. Can't wait. Saw them loads, including their farewell show at ally pally and their headline set at latitude 

[FKA SOSOTWS]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

Most likely yeah. This is supposed to be an artist though seen as credible right now.

 

Nothing against Charli, but the concept and weight of credibility is not what it used to be.

[AlanFish23]

12 hours ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Noone knows for sure, but the most likely theory is they wanted Madge and it came reasonably close to happening.  When that fell theough it sounded like Stevie Wonder was next in line as part of double up with BST.  Then Stevie opted not to tour.

 

Personally I think they then asked O-Rod who was touring and had the weekend free.  Perhaps that was when it was agreed she headline this year.

 

Making SZA probably the 4th choice when they moved her up from headlining the Other Stage (and put Idles in her place).

 

Mostly all speculation, but it doesn't feel too outlandish.

Interesting. Cheers for the info.

[charlierc]

12 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

Most likely yeah. This is supposed to be an artist though seen as credible right now.

I mean, Kings of Leon were seen as credible after 3 albums well liked by more hardcore indie fans and then had two monster hits that were in the charts for what felt like forever. So... is it that far removed from Charli XCX's 6th album seeing her become a big mainstream act in a way she perhaps wasn't before?

[charlierc]

14 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Not touring with a band?

Reminds me of that time Ian Brown toured with just a backing tape a few years ago.

[Gnomicide]

On 09/03/2025 at 21:29, stuie said:

 

I'm not sure mate, I wasn't there... just wondered if it was practicable with so many ways in and out. 

 

They used bins/fences to close off the entrance by Leftfield, even had a few stewards in the woods to stop people cutting through from by The Glade.

 

Issue was with the other side, how do you block off Oxlyers?

 

 

 

 

[northernangel]

11 hours ago, FKA SOSOTWS said:

 

Nothing against Charli, but the concept and weight of credibility is not what it used to be.

 

Indeed. I still think I love it is her best song and she was featured on that as an Icona Pop song. Got no time for artists that think they are too big for fans not to do react how she wants them too. It reeks of, I've done one arena tour and then got swallowed up my own arse while I still can't tell out Lido Fest which is smaller than Finsbury at 32k

 

2 hours ago, charlierc said:

I mean, Kings of Leon were seen as credible after 3 albums well liked by more hardcore indie fans and then had two monster hits that were in the charts for what felt like forever. So... is it that far removed from Charli XCX's 6th album seeing her become a big mainstream act in a way she perhaps wasn't before?

Sounds about right 

[Ben7amin_]

20 hours ago, km9 said:

I picked up a ticket for their gig in cologne in June as I'll be working there and staying down the road from the (small) venue. Can't wait. Saw them loads, including their farewell show at ally pally and their headline set at latitude 

 

Absolutely love them though cannot make the APE show so Glastonbury or bust for me. 

 

Think I've seen them 3-4 times before. 

 

There must be other UK dates coming though. 

[NorthernSoul52]

On 15/03/2025 at 10:28, charlierc said:

Reminds me of that time Ian Brown toured with just a backing tape a few years ago.

God, that was awful scenes. 

[archiegow]

On 15/03/2025 at 10:28, charlierc said:

Reminds me of that time Ian Brown toured with just a backing tape a few years ago.

The Justin Hawkins video dissecting it is absolutely outstanding stuff.

[SticklinchJoe]

I've got to admit, I've known of The Maccabees for ages but I wouldn't be able to tell you even one of their songs or what style of music they play. I assume indie rock, but I could be wrong.

[Euphoricape]

Still hoping we get Underworld or basement jaxx

[Crazyfool01]

6 minutes ago, Euphoricape said:

Still hoping we get Underworld or basement jaxx

is there any chance we might get basement jaxx but in a non headline slot ?.