I can understand why bands won't confirm they're playing....

[bombfrog]

... But why won't they confirm that they're not?

Let me explain.

There are a couple of resons that bands won't confirm that they are playing before the official announcement. The obvious reason is contractual obligation but the other reason is that they will sell more tickets to their summer tours if Glaso isn't confirmed.

So, you would think it would be easy to work out who's playing because everyone else who's on the rumour list would want to rule themselves out, wouldn't they?

They rarely do though. We could easily rule out Coldplay, Faithless, Daft Punk, Orbital, Radiohead etc if they would just say they're not playing. After all, it's not as if they aren't being asked every 5 minutes on their official websites, forums, in interviews etc.

Anyone else find this strange?

[Andy_T]

Some may still be waiting to be asked so can't confirm either way I suppose. I guess you mean the ones who have definitely decided not to play though.

[paulo999]

Well, what's the upside to making that kind of announcement? It could imply you that you wanted to, but didn't get the gig. Or that you simply were never interested - with a snub value attached.

Can't see the benefit to saying "We're not playing Glastonbury".

The only neutral thing is a statement like "We're not playing any festivals this year".

[Sipperana]

The only neutral thing is a statement like "We're not playing any festivals this year".

[pezzypops]

I can understand why bands won't confirm they're playing but why won't they confirm that they're not?

There are a couple of resons that bands won't confirm that they are playing before the official announcement. The obvious reason is contractual obligation but the other reason is that they will sell more tickets to their summer tours if Glaso isn't confirmed.

So, you would think it would be easy to work out who's playing because everyone else who's on the rumour list would want to rule themselves out, wouldn't they?

[robith]

But can you even believe that statement? I remember the Fratellis one year saying they weren't doing any festivals, then somehow managed to be at nearly all of them.

[Tugger2k]

That particular incident was because God hates us all

[dacbo]

my, thats very funny

they were shocking in 2007, how they managed to be on after bloc party i'll never know

[BlackHole2006]

and then following that second from top in 2008? wtf

[Alcatraz]

My one man band can confirm we are not playing

[robith]

and then following that second from top in 2008? wtf