2026 line-up speculation

[mario man]

SFA could headline Garden? 🤞

That’s the stage they headlined back in 2007 so could tie with the anniversary rumours.

I remember meeting Gruff briefly at the cider bus afterwards over a HOT CIDER 

[xxialac]

18 minutes ago, mario man said:

SFA could headline Garden? 🤞

That’s the stage they headlined back in 2007 so could tie with the anniversary rumours.

I remember meeting Gruff briefly at the cider bus afterwards over a HOT CIDER 

Too big for that slot. Selling out arenas, 2 nights at Brixton sold out etc.

[SweepingTheNation]

Metronomy are billed as a "European exclusive" on Bombay Bicycle Club's Lido bill so that's any lingering thought of them out. Looks like Saint Etienne, whose name was raised, are out too, they're in Poole four days later for what they say is the absolute start of their farewell tour.

 

One interesting possibility I've seen raised is Lucinda Williams, who's playing Shrewsbury Folk Festival the previous weekend with nothing else yet announced in the UK.

[accordionandvoice]

21 minutes ago, SweepingTheNation said:

Metronomy are billed as a "European exclusive" on Bombay Bicycle Club's Lido bill so that's any lingering thought of them out. Looks like Saint Etienne, whose name was raised, are out too, they're in Poole four days later for what they say is the absolute start of their farewell tour.

 

One interesting possibility I've seen raised is Lucinda Williams, who's playing Shrewsbury Folk Festival the previous weekend with nothing else yet announced in the UK.

reckon Lucinda Williams is a strong shout tbh

[zahidf]

26 minutes ago, SweepingTheNation said:

Metronomy are billed as a "European exclusive" on Bombay Bicycle Club's Lido bill so that's any lingering thought of them out. Looks like Saint Etienne, whose name was raised, are out too, they're in Poole four days later for what they say is the absolute start of their farewell tour.

 

One interesting possibility I've seen raised is Lucinda Williams, who's playing Shrewsbury Folk Festival the previous weekend with nothing else yet announced in the UK.

Well St Etienne are on the IOW bill, so they arent 100% out

[accordionandvoice]

not a chance in hell SFA play, they're far too big to not headline and will almost certainly be headlining Green Man this year

[The Nal]

SFAs tour is half 2k-5k venues which have sold and then bigger venues like Bristol, Ally Pally, Llangollen which have been on sale for months and still have loads of tickets available. 

 

Don't get this "too big" thing at all. 

[SweepingTheNation]

15 minutes ago, accordionandvoice said:

not a chance in hell SFA play, they're far too big to not headline and will almost certainly be headlining Green Man this year

They've stated they're not playing anything else in Wales this year other than those already announced, and I've heard talk that they were offered GM and turned it down.

 

But it's silly to think they wouldn't be pitched to EOTR only at headliner level. Mac DeMarco is headlining!

[Mardy]

St Etienne are spending the summer supporting Belle & Sebastian at some outdoor venues. They're active, and while I think they probably won't be on the bill, I wouldn't rule them out completely.

 

I think SFA are probably headliner level for EOTR, but you know what, Gruff has played several times, good relationship with the festival, could see them being squeezed in somewhere if Simon pushes his luck.

[The Nal]

One thing EOTR has going for it regarding booking bands is thats its such a nice place. Seems the acts are all well looked after, like the site etc. Theyre not being shuttled into some dressing room and then told to do one before the next act arrives.

 

 

[Mardy]

5 minutes ago, The Nal said:

One thing EOTR has going for it regarding booking bands is thats its such a nice place. Seems the acts are all well looked after, like the site etc. Theyre not being shuttled into some dressing room and then told to do one before the next act arrives.

 

 

 

 

100% this. You only have to see the interviews where artists talk about their positive experiences there etc. Means they can punch well above their weight, as this year's headliners prove. Personally, I think SFA are too big for the Garden, but who knows what goes on inside their heads, and if Simon can get to the artists directly and  bypass the wishes of a rapacious promotor/manager.

[carrierbagman]

Lucinda Williams would be epic! Seeing her at Barbican next week

 

As others have said, there has been a lot of chat of people being too big for garden/sub headline but think we all would've said Pulp were too big before they were announced... Mac Demarco is also considerably bigger than when he previously headlined and if Geese play Thursday, well they're about the most hyped band going right now. Feels like they are pulling out all the stops for 20th anniversary and could well be some big names to come! (I say somewhat optimistically)

Edited January 27 by carrierbagman

[Mardy]

As it goes, I'm about to put two tickets for Lucinda Williams at the Barbican next Tuesday up on Twickets this afternoon. Any interest on here? Row C, so close enough to see right up her nose. 50 quid each (face value)

[mario man]

2 hours ago, Mardy said:

 

 

100% this. You only have to see the interviews where artists talk about their positive experiences there etc. Means they can punch well above their weight, as this year's headliners prove. Personally, I think SFA are too big for the Garden, but who knows what goes on inside their heads, and if Simon can get to the artists directly and  bypass the wishes of a rapacious promotor/manager.

Yep, sort of where I was coming from. And any other year then no, but this year, still unlikely but perhaps

 

[xxialac]

Either the 'bigger' names points to a mega edition this year and more pulling power. 

Or they've blown the budget on Pulp and will have to be more up and coming acts than usual.

 

Could go either way!

[Mardy]

2 minutes ago, xxialac said:

Either the 'bigger' names points to a mega edition this year and more pulling power. 

Or they've blown the budget on Pulp and will have to be more up and coming acts than usual.

 

Could go either way!

 Yeah, spot on. Done their brains on the headliners, rest of it is going to be cheapo bargain basement stuff. 

[accordionandvoice]

6 hours ago, The Nal said:

SFAs tour is half 2k-5k venues which have sold and then bigger venues like Bristol, Ally Pally, Llangollen which have been on sale for months and still have loads of tickets available. 

 

Don't get this "too big" thing at all. 

That's just how booking festivals works... Lots of acts of a certain standing won't play non-headline slots as it's poor for reputation or image, but also because those slots offer lower fees. SFA will be getting big fees for their tour. Add to that the fact that these are their first gigs in 10 years and they headlined EOTR in 2007 and Green Man in 2015. It just doesn't happen that a festival of EOTR's size books a huge act to play a non-headline slot. Even Geese, who aren't as established, are contractually a "secret" because of industry ideas around contracts and conflicting schedules, other performances, etc.

 

That isn't to say there won't be plenty of amazing and well established acts on the bill. But yes, SFA are "too big" to not be headlining the festival. 

 

Sorry don't mean to be all cynical and this thread is for 'speculation', obviously, but concert bookings are complicated and there are so many unwritten (and written) rules that determine who does or doesn't play at any given festival.

Edited January 27 by accordionandvoice

[xxialac]

Given the trend is to announce early, I'm hoping we get a notification end of week for an announcement next week.

 

It was 7 Feb for the lineup reveal in 2024, that date isn't far away...

[SweepingTheNation]

So now it seems Super Furries are headlining Moseley Folk Festival the same weekend, I believe that's their first confirmed  festival of the year. Lucinda Williams, Junior Brother, Folk Bitch Trio and Madra Salach also playing.

[zahidf]

17 minutes ago, SweepingTheNation said:

So now it seems Super Furries are headlining Moseley Folk Festival the same weekend, I believe that's their first confirmed  festival of the year. Lucinda Williams, Junior Brother, Folk Bitch Trio and Madra Salach also playing.

 

[zahidf]

Policia playing London Sept 3rd with no dates after that. Would be a good tent headiner

[carrierbagman]

41 minutes ago, zahidf said:

 

 

expect to see Madra Salach on the undercard too, Irish folk band (similar to Lankum) who played Line of Best Fits 'Five Day Forecast' which was a decent indicator for smaller acts last year

[zahidf]

9 minutes ago, carrierbagman said:

 

expect to see Madra Salach on the undercard too, Irish folk band (similar to Lankum) who played Line of Best Fits 'Five Day Forecast' which was a decent indicator for smaller acts last year

 

Little Grandad and Goblin Band feel likely as well

[AtomsForPizza]

W.H. Lung playing Manchester Albert Hall in Nov - billed as their only headline show of 2026. Were at GM last year so could be EOTR this year 

[ElGanzo]

1 hour ago, zahidf said:

 

 

Hoping we also get Joshua Burnside. Would love Jacqui McShee's Pentangle as well but probably a longer shot and not sure what they'd be like without Bert.