Bearded Theory 2025

[Paul ™]

While still being in the mud and looking likely that's extended till next week now, I thought I would start a thread for next year.

 

3 Headliners I would like to see on Pallet

 

Fri - Underworld

Sat - The National

Sun - James (overdue a return)

 

(assuming it goes ahead!)

Edited May 29, 2024 by Paul ™

[bexj]

Well, firstly I'd like to actually get there next year instead of shelling out £400+ for tickets and winding up in hospital 3 days before the festival... 

 

Headliners

Ride or Pixies

Siouxsie

Idles

 

Others I'd be happy with 

Nadine Shah

Oh Sees

Goat

The Wedding Present 

Johnny Marr

The Lovely Eggs

Happy Mondays 

Inspiral carpets 

 

And some sunshine ☀ 

 

[Paul ™]

Oh yes and no rain please! 

[onemoresolo]

Would be great to see Belle & Sebastian as a headliner. I'd love to see Fat Freddy's Drop either as a Pallet sub or Meadow headliner too.

 

[Flaminglippy]

7 hours ago, Paul ™ said:

While still being in the mud and looking likely that's extended till next week now, I thought I would start a thread for next year.

 

3 Headliners I would like to see on Pallet

 

Fri - Underworld

Sat - The National

Sun - James (overdue a return)

 

(assuming it goes ahead!)

 

Those two on Sat and Sunday would probably be enough alone for me to get a ticket. 

 

Also some of the following-.

 

* Super Furries reunion gig

* Bob Vylan

* BIg Special

* DEADLETTER

* Charlatans

* Johnny Marr

* Skindred

* Young Fathers

* Teenage Fanclub

* Squeeze

 

[balti-pie]

Too early to see the Flaming Lips return i guess (though i'd be content with them every year, like the Levellers thingo in Devon) but the Pixies, IDLES and Skindred would be a lovely bouncy triple

[picicata]

Had to miss this year to go to a wedding so very much hoping to get to BT in '25.

 

I'm going to add Fontaines DC as a possible headliner.

[ciderbus]

Some great suggestions already. Pixies and the National particularly. Super Furries reunion would be the dream but can’t see it happening.  Wonder if Wilco would be a good fit if in the country.

 

Off the top of my head- Somewhere on the bill I’d be delighted to see any of Young Fathers, Richard Hawley, Breeders, Goat, Sisters of Mercy , Kid Congo Powers, Acid Klaus, Moonlandingz.
 

2024 was a spot on mix of things I really wanted to see and some random new discoveries on site so I’m optimistic for same next year.

 

[onemoresolo]

I can never work out how big Fontaines are but they would be great.

[ciderbus]

44 minutes ago, onemoresolo said:

I can never work out how big Fontaines are but they would be great.

Me neither but I know their childhood was small, if thats any help.🙂

[Spuddhism]

Pallet:

PJ Harvey

The The

Big Special

 

Elsewhere:

Fink

Joey Beltram

Nightmares on Wax

[Johnnyseven]

1 hour ago, Spuddhism said:

Pallet:

PJ Harvey

The The

Big Special

 

Elsewhere:

Fink

Joey Beltram

Nightmares on Wax

 

Joey Beltram played last year.

[onemoresolo]

2 hours ago, ciderbus said:

Me neither but I know their childhood was small, if thats any help.🙂

Very good.

[Flaminglippy]

Assume there isn't likely to be a Wednesday next year? (and before some smart arse says 'yes there will be 52 Wednesdays next year' I mean specifically at Bearded)

[Callum_96]

Pixies seem like a good bet. Not sure if I can see The National about next summer but Green Man seems like the main shout if they were. Fontaines no chance, massive with the younger crowds absolute certain for the likes of Truck and Kendal next year. 

 

IDLES, Father John Misty and Sigur Ros feel like a potential trio for here.  Maybe slots for Working Men's Club, Squid, Fat Whites, Johnny Marr. Wonder if Fleet Foxes could be a shout for a headliner...

[incident]

1 hour ago, Flaminglippy said:

Assume there isn't likely to be a Wednesday next year? (and before some smart arse says 'yes there will be 52 Wednesdays next year' I mean specifically at Bearded)

 

I suspect that a final decision on that will only come when they do a full debrief on this years festival. But certainly the main reason for introducing Wednesday entry (the knackered bridge on the main approach to site) will still be the same. So I reckon there's a good chance (and hopefully, next year it doesn't piss down all day).

[Paul ™]

4 hours ago, Flaminglippy said:

Assume there isn't likely to be a Wednesday next year? (and before some smart arse says 'yes there will be 52 Wednesdays next year' I mean specifically at Bearded)

Chetwynd Bridge will still have that width restriction on....

I just hope it goes ahead, so many festivals cancelled, rescheduled or on their final year this year... 

Edited May 29, 2024 by Paul ™

[Neil]

1 hour ago, Paul ™ said:

 so many festivals cancelled, rescheduled or on their final year this year... 

gonna get worse because there's not the same stream of bands coming thru to keep drawing the punters in, even the older bands are (literally) dying away.

[OKMess]

A buddy of mine said he spoke to the booker and the only titbit he got was that one of the headliners was 'International'. 

Based on that and vibes alone I'd guess one of either Alice in Chains, Bjork or Pixies. 

EDIT - After reading someone elses comment I'd add Sigur Ros to that list. 

Edited May 30, 2024 by OKMess

[Kurosagi]

Sigur Ros would make me a 100% deffo for next year.

 

Has the festival had much post rock stuff in the past? Mogwai, Godspeed, Silver Mt Zion, 65DOS, This Will Destroy You, Swans would all make me happy.

 

And whilst Nick Cave would be waaay too expensive, I'd bloody love Warren Ellis and his Dirty Three band, they would absolutely blow up any stage they were on.

[Kurosagi]

4 hours ago, Nobody Interesting said:

I can see Bearded surviving and doing really well - just not quite as it was 10 years ago.

 

So, Meadow was introduced last year and Coda was new for this year? Were they new-new or did they simply replace existing smaller tents? For example, before Coda was Big Ed the only dance music venue on the site?

 

I'm interested in how the site has evolved and how it might evolve in the future.

[incident]

6 minutes ago, Kurosagi said:

 

So, Meadow was introduced last year and Coda was new for this year? Were they new-new or did they simply replace existing smaller tents? For example, before Coda was Big Ed the only dance music venue on the site?

 

I'm interested in how the site has evolved and how it might evolve in the future.

 

Coda was a like for like replacement for Magical Sounds. Big Ed was a like for like replacement for The Pirate Ship.

 

In all honesty, aside from the addition of the Meadow Stage the site has barely changed. There's been a handful of tiny stages (Showcase, Knockerdown) come and go, and Maui Waui and Magical Sounds swapped locations at one point but really anyone who went 10 years ago would easily recognise it today.

[Kurosagi]

12 hours ago, Neil said:

gonna get worse because there's not the same stream of bands coming thru to keep drawing the punters in, even the older bands are (literally) dying away.

 

Neil, do you think festivals will start going the way of most small to mid size venues with booking more tribute bands? With the demand for classic rock acts from the 60s/70s relatively undiminished but the bands themselves either dead, dying or permanently retired, I can see that it would be an easy win for festivals to have a stage/tent dedicated to tribute acts. I suppose some of the bigger more established tribute acts would be a bit pricey though?

 

I LOVE finding new stuff at a festival, but I'm pretty eclectic and like to move around a site and can see that I would enjoy dipping into some nostalgic tribute acts if they were good, in the same way that I like dipping into a dance music stage playing retro stuff from the 90s.

[Kurosagi]

5 minutes ago, incident said:

Coda was a like for like replacement for Magical Sounds. Big Ed was a like for like replacement for The Pirate Ship.

 

In all honesty, aside from the addition of the Meadow Stage the site has barely changed.

 

Oh, okay, that explains things then, thanks. I was trying to think what occupied the spaces before!

 

Personally, I'd like to see the Coda and Maui Waui tents get a bit bigger. I get that for most of their acts during the day the size is about right and you don't want small crowds in a big tent as that always feels a bit naff. But there were a couple of times later on at both when they were rammed and I had to make do with being outside.

 

PS I was impressed with the Maui 'vibe', I enjoy a mix of gypsy, klezmer, balkan, funk and brass related stuff and so am tempted to go to their own festival next year - anyone been to it before?

[Neil]

1 hour ago, Kurosagi said:

 

Neil, do you think festivals will start going the way of most small to mid size venues with booking more tribute bands? With the demand for classic rock acts from the 60s/70s relatively undiminished but the bands themselves either dead, dying or permanently retired, I can see that it would be an easy win for festivals to have a stage/tent dedicated to tribute acts. I suppose some of the bigger more established tribute acts would be a bit pricey though?

 

I LOVE finding new stuff at a festival, but I'm pretty eclectic and like to move around a site and can see that I would enjoy dipping into some nostalgic tribute acts if they were good, in the same way that I like dipping into a dance music stage playing retro stuff from the 90s.

hadn't considered the tribute band angle, not a bad idea if you can find enough bands they cover. 

 

personally i tend to avoid tribute acts as i (wrongly!) think they're a bit naff, but I've seen tributes to Abba, the doors, talking heads and pink Floyd, and they've all been utterly superb, completely nailing it. next on my tribute list will maybe be the rem tribute called 'stipe'.