Glastonbury festival lineup 2025

[Spindles]

15 minutes ago, Yokel Again said:

Not going this year. Didn't get tickets.

But... for me,

Overall headliners a bit weak on the whole... but there is loads on there I'd have gone to see. Pretty solid all in all!

 

Ticketless as well this year.  Lineup is great across the board for me, well balanced and just like any other year I'd likely see one pyramid headliner, one other and one west holts.  So much to see earlier in the day just from the first poster, I'm proper envious of those who'll be on the hallowed land come June.

[The_Fish]

2 minutes ago, SticklinchJoe said:

 

Yeah, but to be fair to the headliners, they are only 3 acts with 3 styles. The probability of liking one or all of them are quite low - especially when compared to the mass of names below them.

 

The headliners are supposed to be people with large appeal, they should be attracting the biggest crowds of the weekend. Given the various styles, you'll never get 3 headliners that appeal to many people. but this year does feel particularly poor. 

 

It's missing the wow act. Sure, there aren't always McCartneys or Eltons to play, but swap one of them for Oasis and people will see the headliners much differently. Of course, it was likely impossible to get them, but that's the sort of act that is missing. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Doesn't Emily usually give some chat inside the first day to The Guardian? Don't think I've seen that this year.

[airwaves]

I'm still convinced that O Rod sounds like someone I would call out to clear my blocked drains. 

[NorthernSoul52]

1 minute ago, The_Fish said:

It's missing the wow act. Sure, there aren't always McCartneys or Eltons to play, but swap one of them for Oasis and people will see the headliners much differently. Of course, it was likely impossible to get them, but that's the sort of act that is missing. 

Glastonbury has the price point problem though too - it requires acts to be available and/or play for lower than market value.

 

The 1975 will have been the cheapest of the three - it's always easier to promote a British act to the top of the bill, or take an existing headliner as they "get" the festival. That theoretically can help open the coffers for others elsewhere, particularly if you're trying to swing a big-name headliner.

 

I'm pretty certain Olivia Rodrigo will be playing for under her market value too, which suggests Neil Young is the most expensive booking of the three. Honestly, even as a former headliner, I don't think he'd have done it for peanuts, though he may be cheaper than others of a similar past-headliner vintage (see; Bruce Springsteen).

 

Sometimes, the acts don't want it. Oasis ruled themselves out early on, despite having the biggest tour of the summer.  

 

Sometimes, the acts have their hands tied. Green Day will have been paid a shed-load for Donwload, but they have to be a British headline exclusive to take that slot.

 

Sometimes, the acts pull themselves out of the conversation. Foo Fighters might well have been one mooted option at a point before Dave Grohl needed to begin some image rehab with all the Nirvana pop-ups.

 

And, quite often, money is the stumbling block. You can wrap up two headliners for a theoretical third of your budget on the headline side of things - and those budgets can always expand or contract to suit the rest of the lineup - and it still might not be enough to persuade the first-time mega-star they should come down to the farm. (See; Madonna.)

 

At the end of the day, for the theoretical lower budget they have, it is still - by some distance - the best festival in the UK this summer for me. I wasn't feeling it until today, but I am a wee bit jealous for those who have tickets.

[Glasto7]

This would have felt much better with FKA Twigs, Chappell, Paramore, Basement Jaxx. Or even just one of those. 
I'll still have the time of my life, but this is probably one of the weakest for me in the 12 years I've been going. 

[majormajormajor]

Osees are subbing Pyramid, right? 🤘

[fred quimby]

Very happy with the poster, loads on there for me, with more to come my clashes will have me in a dark corner shaking

[Ayrshire Chris]

1 minute ago, fred quimby said:

Very happy with the poster, loads on there for me, with more to come my clashes will have me in a dark corner shaking

Yes, I’ve listed the one I’d love to see but reckon I will be lucky to get to 25% of them, but that’s nothing unusual. And the smaller stages posters have still to drop. 
 

[Badlands]

I say it every year but if you've been going to gigs and festivals since your teens and you're in your late 30's / 40's then you're eventually going to run out of new acts to see.

 

Better lineup than 23 for me overall. Not much new on the cards (Busta, Fogerty, Weezer, Kneecap, TVOTR) but plenty to keep me occupied I'm sure.

 

 

[Johndenis]

I defended the 2024 line up a fair bit from Muggles but I do think this one isn't that great. If it's taking some pelters generally online you can understand why and it's a bit uber muso to pretend otherwise. Some interesting politics going on with a few of the font sizes - Friends of the Farm being promoted. Roan, Pulp and/or Twigs seem surprising omissions. Will be interested to see where Doechii plays and if a few SZA related lessons have been learned in general.

 

Ps lolz at all the folk in the 2025 headliners thread who started leaping through hoops yesterday about how Rihanna could be playing. Madness!

[The_Fish]

9 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Glastonbury has the price point problem though too - it requires acts to be available and/or play for lower than market value.

 

The 1975 will have been the cheapest of the three - it's always easier to promote a British act to the top of the bill, or take an existing headliner as they "get" the festival. That theoretically can help open the coffers for others elsewhere, particularly if you're trying to swing a big-name headliner.

 

I'm pretty certain Olivia Rodrigo will be playing for under her market value too, which suggests Neil Young is the most expensive booking of the three. Honestly, even as a former headliner, I don't think he'd have done it for peanuts, though he may be cheaper than others of a similar past-headliner vintage (see; Bruce Springsteen).

 

Sometimes, the acts don't want it. Oasis ruled themselves out early on, despite having the biggest tour of the summer.  

 

Sometimes, the acts have their hands tied. Green Day will have been paid a shed-load for Donwload, but they have to be a British headline exclusive to take that slot.

 

Sometimes, the acts pull themselves out of the conversation. Foo Fighters might well have been one mooted option at a point before Dave Grohl needed to begin some image rehab with all the Nirvana pop-ups.

 

And, quite often, money is the stumbling block. You can wrap up two headliners for a theoretical third of your budget on the headline side of things - and those budgets can always expand or contract to suit the rest of the lineup - and it still might not be enough to persuade the first-time mega-star they should come down to the farm. (See; Madonna.)

 

At the end of the day, for the theoretical lower budget they have, it is still - by some distance - the best festival in the UK this summer for me. I wasn't feeling it until today, but I am a wee bit jealous for those who have tickets.

 

This may be the best trio that it was feasibly possible to get this year (although I think Fender over 1975 is a no brainer personally) but that doesn't prevent the headliners being weak imo, especially compared to some recent previous years. 

 

I understand why Oasis, Green Day, Foos etc aren't there, but an average band with a very creepy frontman, an old man who loves complaining and the pop princess of choice doesn't cut it for me. 

 

I think it's clear that they probably realise this too, hence the very strong undercard.

[FieldingGoodney]

Couldn't believe my eyes but Gary Numan's playing Glastonbury, just goes to show it's never all about the headliners, Gary and Neil young on the same day, excellent. Last year was a bit hmmm but this time it's better, something for everyone in my opinion.

[cb4747]

I can't say I've ever felt disappointed with a line-up for this festival. 
Always feel privileged and happy to be there. 
Roll on June 😁

[bennyboi]

4 hours ago, homesick said:

Bit surprised the festival would go near Pa Salieu after his convictions 

 

Its part of the "Culture". He gets a pass apparently

[Jack The Stripper]

16 minutes ago, Johndenis said:

I defended the 2024 line up a fair bit from Muggles but I do think this one isn't that great. If it's taking some pelters generally online you can understand why and it's a bit uber muso to pretend otherwise. Some interesting politics going on with a few of the font sizes - Friends of the Farm being promoted. Roan, Pulp and/or Twigs seem surprising omissions. Will be interested to see where Doechii plays and if a few SZA related lessons have been learned in general.

 

Ps lolz at all the folk in the 2025 headliners thread who started leaping through hoops yesterday about how Rihanna could be playing. Madness!

Doechi is Saturday WH headliner 

[rwoo]

2 minutes ago, Jack The Stripper said:

Doechi is Saturday WH headliner 

Can see that being very busy

[NorthernSoul52]

20 minutes ago, The_Fish said:

 

This may be the best trio that it was feasibly possible to get this year (although I think Fender over 1975 is a no brainer personally) but that doesn't prevent the headliners being weak imo, especially compared to some recent previous years. 

 

I understand why Oasis, Green Day, Foos etc aren't there, but an average band with a very creepy frontman, an old man who loves complaining and the pop princess of choice doesn't cut it for me. 

 

I think it's clear that they probably realise this too, hence the very strong undercard.

Fender feels like the obvious miss. Like, glaringly obvious. But his health issues are possibly a barrier, and the festival may well have wondered if any of their subs would have been match-fit as a promotion such he bail.

 

If it happens at short notice, it's not that easy to toss Charli XCX from the Other Stage, perhaps, to seize the day. It's either look outside the festival - a la Gorillaz in 2010 - or leg up a sub - a la Florence and the Machine in 2015.

 

Plus there's other tour dates to consider. Noah Kahan is in Cardiff on the Friday, for example.

 

Think, if we do get a case of a headliner bailing at short notice, it will be Raye they boot up the bill to do justice - though given how seasoned they are as festival headliners at every other major festival in the UK, Biffy Clyro could definitely do it in a pinch too.

 

But they may feel they are on safer ground with The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo. We'll never know - until it leaks at some point, of course.

[NorthernSoul52]

8 minutes ago, rwoo said:

Can see that being very busy

Didn't realise they were quite so big. Nor do the doomsayers on Twitter threatening that Charli XCX is going to be a crush disaster.

[Jack The Stripper]

10 minutes ago, rwoo said:

Can see that being very busy

Splits the Charli XCX crowd I guess?

[balti-pie]

This whole 'Charli XCX is world-straddlingly humungous and her Other set will have at least half a million people at it' doesnt really sit with her having a great stack of tickets available for her london shows this summer. Maybe she . . . isnt that big?  

[NorthernSoul52]

Honestly, she is good - great even, plenty of bops! - and really was the girl of the moment outside of, y'know, all the other girls of the moment last summer.

 

But people vote with their feet. She'll have a big crowd, don't get me wrong, but think there is a tremendous understatement for the draw others will get. Glastonbury, to the disappointment of those screaming about it into the void, is not online, is not Gen Z-exclusive, is not - for now - a TikTok fad. It's a blood-and-earth festival filled with a broad spectrum of musical tastes and humanity.

 

Neil Young might not be everybody's cup of tea. But he will be many people's cup of tea, and he will attract plenty of curious casuals too.

 

Charli XCX isn't going to sink the Other under the weight of the crowd.

[lendan]

Overall, I like the lineup

 

Pyramid headlines don’t appeal to me. So will find another option. 
other stage headliners, only really The Prodigy for us, who are at the top of our list. 

 

But the undercard looks great for us. A good mix of new and older bands/artists.

Edited March 6, 2025 by lendan

[NorthernSoul52]

It's a cracker. Not quite an all-timer, but a very, very good starting gun.

[Nobby's Old Boots]

43 minutes ago, bennyboi said:

 

Its part of the "Culture". He gets a pass apparently

Is Axl Rose part of this "culture" or are you just being picky on which acts can and can't play the festival?