No fourth headliner

[whatmidlifecrisis?]

These lineup threads always make me laugh. Constant bitching for months, but has anyone ever been overheard at Glasto saying "you know there's just not enough on at this thing" or "according to my demographic calculations, the 14-19 age group are clearly under-represented"

I usually have the opposite problem, i.e. "shit, there's 15 things on at the same time that I want to see!"

Edited March 30, 2009 by whatmidlifecrisis?

[1stGlasto'09]

The only sad fact if there isn't a fourth headliner is that it was 'promised' as a certainty...everyone should feel a little cheated by that, I will be seeing Neil Young & Blur for sure but Glasto is so vast from what I have researched so entertainment is not going to be hard to come by and I am relatively young and find Neil Young awe inspiring to hear 'Down by the River' live well it just doesn't get much better

Sunshiiiiiiiiine and Glasto it is going to be incredible!

[rainbow_rock]

I don’t post at all regularly on these forums, but I have lurked for the last year or so, but feel compelled to add my two cents worth to this debate.

In terms of the fourth headliner now not happening, I don’t really think it will be that noticeable, because as others have said, the pre headline bands are potentially just as good. In fact I’m sure there are times when one festivals headliner is playing lower down the bill at other festivals.

But in terms of who these headliners are I would like to say the following: I am 21, and went to my first Glasto last year, having been to Reading 5 times before. I had always wanted to go to Glasto, but had been put off by the near impossibility to getting tickets. When the tickets sold out, I like many others saw a chance to go for the first time, and will keep going for years to come having had a truly wonderful time. It wasn’t the line up that made me go; it was the ethos of the festival that I had heard so much about. Initially I said I wouldn’t go to see Jay Z as it wasn’t my thing, but in the lead up to the festival and while there, I found that giving new things a chance (whether new in terms of contemporary music, or things new to me) was a part of the experience. So I went to Jay Z and I loved it, I haven’t bought any of his music since etc but I still had an awesome time. Maybe other people my age should do the same this year, and give people a chance.

Yes I go to festivals to see music, but many of the more contemporary bands playing I could go and see when they tour any way. At every festival I go to I make an effort to see at least one of the big seminal bands that are playing that I wouldn’t normally listen too, because there has to be a reason they are headlining , and why so many other people love them. At least that way I can say I have made my own decision.

Ultimately, music is a cultural thing for the majority of people. People listen to music that is on the radio stations they listen to, or supported by the magazine or newspaper that they read, or is popular where they live, or with their friends etc. But that is what I believe Glastonbury does so well, in that it places all of these divergent genres and sub cultures alongside each other. Why go to Glasto if you are not at least tolerant of other tastes etc?

Obviously these are just my own opinion and experience.

[Sweep]

I am disappointed at there being no fourth headliner - really Eavis shouldn't have got people's hopes up without it being confirmed. As it is currently:

Blur are a must-see. I don't care if they formed in the 80s, they are as 80s as I am (that is, born in 1989). Anyone who thinks their music is "old" clearly doesn't get it, so much modern music is a spin-off of what they did, and so many of their hits are classic youth anthems. Not only that, but they're still very current musicians, Coxon is still making great music, and Albarn is responsible for the Gorillaz for feck's sake! Maybe you'll even here a Gorillaz tune in there

Springsteen & Young are both oldies but worthy of headlining. Neither I am massively fussed about but I may see depending on the alternative. Kinda like Jay Z. Really, it's not the age that matters, just the music that I enjoy.

So, appending a more current headline act (Radiohead, White Stripes, Coldplay) would have solved any issues, and people would have stopped moaning, but to be honest, here's the cold reality of the whole thing - in two years of going to Glastonbury, I have only seen one headliner Pyramid act, and that was The Who; it doesn't matter how old a band is, I just want to see the good ones.

[Limpet]

I'm not gonna get into this old bands/new bands thing as I don't give a crap about how old a band is. But the animal collective are onto there 8th album (9th if you include panda bear's solo one), ie more than people like radiohead.

Something isn't new from when it gets played on radio 1 you know

[ralph250]

The only sad fact if there isn't a fourth headliner is that it was 'promised' as a certainty...everyone should feel a little cheated by that,

[Kyelo]

It never was promised as a certainty tho. Eavis said they were trying for 4, and if they all confirm then there'd be two for the saturday.

....very much contingent on them confirming, so no promises made as far as I'm concerned. They tried and it didn't work out.

[1stGlasto'09]

It never was promised as a certainty tho. Eavis said they were trying for 4, and if they all confirm then there'd be two for the saturday.

....very much contingent on them confirming, so no promises made as far as I'm concerned. They tried and it didn't work out.

[mario man]

i can’t believe how many people are moaning about a band not playing, that they didn’t, and still don't, know anything about!

potty

[Kyelo]

i can’t believe how many people are moaning about a band not playing, that they didn’t, and still don't, know anything about!

potty

[ralph250]

Neil Young Confirmed as Third 2009 Headliner

"With Neil on the bill we are close to completing our best ever line-up."

(http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news.aspx?id=3859)

Doesn't that refer to one more headliner and that is off of the official website...He could have meant other acts on the vast number of other stages, but if he is stating that it isn't complete with a third headliner then that means it was supposed to be four acts.

Edited March 30, 2009 by ralph250

[russycarps]

Well not really as if it had been Coldplay/Kasabian/Artic Monkeys/Muse etc etc people wouldn't be complaining about the oldie headliners. Just feels a bit biased now.

[Kyelo]

a bit biased?

when are you going to give this hard done by victim act up? There is no conspiracy against younger people.

I am quite certain I wasnt this much of a whiny little brat when I was 18-21 or whatever you are.

Just relax.

[krisskross]

Its good fun to winge isn't it!

can we have an american themed day where we just say "thats awesome" and "i love glastonbury, its so quant" and other stereotypical comments.

[krisskross]

Yes I go to festivals to see music, but many of the more contemporary bands playing I could go and see when they tour any way. At every festival I go to I make an effort to see at least one of the big seminal bands that are playing that I wouldn’t normally listen too, because there has to be a reason they are headlining , and why so many other people love them. At least that way I can say I have made my own decision.

Ultimately, music is a cultural thing for the majority of people. People listen to music that is on the radio stations they listen to, or supported by the magazine or newspaper that they read, or is popular where they live, or with their friends etc. But that is what I believe Glastonbury does so well, in that it places all of these divergent genres and sub cultures alongside each other. Why go to Glasto if you are not at least tolerant of other tastes etc?

[rosstopher]

a bit biased?

when are you going to give this hard done by victim act up? There is no conspiracy against younger people.

I am quite certain I wasnt this much of a whiny little brat when I was 18-21 or whatever you are.

Just relax.

[FestMonster]

i managed to get to page 5 before getting bored of reading all the arguments, at the end of the day this is glastonbury where talking about not leeds or v or anyother of the teenage festivals out there glastonbury has and always will be so much more than just what names are headlining you could go and not see any of the headliners but still come away feeling like you was part of something special, as i do every year when i come back from worthy farm, to moan about anything before the festival is madness just go with the intention of having a good time and meeting some great new friends without all these preconceived ideas that its not going to be good, and you will have a great time im so sure i will bet you a pint of cider

Edited March 30, 2009 by FestMonster

[rosstopher]

you will have a great time im so sure i will bet you a pint of cider

[beamends]

Call me a cynic, but I'll bet the "fourth headliner" is also the "surprise" - and I'll also bet they have been mentioned already. I have no idea why a surprise act is considered necessary though. Personally I'd much rather the line-up is announced (even if subject to change) simply to stop all the guessing and speculation - and get 'Er Indoors off my back. I haven't the heart to tell her Coldplay have disappeared (or have they really.....cue spooky music).

[tazzyb]

I was hoping for a fourth headliner because I have no interest in Neil or Bruce and I do like a good pyramid performance I agree it makes it seem a bit more special.

However its not going to happen and its fine. Nothing was confirmed I will just spend the time doing something else and I know I will be prefectly happy.

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

I wasn't here last year but on other forums people were crying saying that Eavis is wrong getting the likes of Jay Z / Kings of Leon on the bill & that he's only catering for the younger age groups etc.

This year he has catered for the older age groups and there are still people crying that he hasn't thought about the younger age groups lol

Eavis can't win can he as there will be always someone to whine about who's headlining no matter who they are or from what age group they generally cater for or represent.

Eavis doesn't force people to go to his festival, so if you want to see all the modern bands then go to V or T.

I do agree with a few others though that I had built my hopes up over this 4th headliner business but to be fair Eavis had said ...

"We've got four headliners at the moment. if they all confirm, then I've got two headliners for Saturday."

Which isn't exactly promising us that it's a dead cert so noone can complain ... the only thing i was gutted about was the comment that we would be seeing some of the line up in February which didn't happen, but I wasn't overly fussed because I am used to waiting for the line up to come out later on in the year.

My guess for the 4th headliner was The Pet Shop Boys but I am probably way off lol.

[Kyelo]

I wasn't here last year but on other forums people were crying saying that Eavis is wrong getting the likes of Jay Z / Kings of Leon on the bill & that he's only catering for the younger age groups etc.

This year he has catered for the older age groups and there are still people crying that he hasn't thought about the younger age groups lol

Eavis can't win can he as there will be always someone to whine about who's headlining no matter who they are or from what age group they generally cater for or represent.

Eavis doesn't force people to go to his festival, so if you want to see all the modern bands then go to V or T.

I do agree with a few others though that I had built my hopes up over this 4th headliner business but to be fair Eavis had said ...

"We've got four headliners at the moment. if they all confirm, then I've got two headliners for Saturday."

Which isn't exactly promising us that it's a dead cert so noone can complain ... the only thing i was gutted about was the comment that we would be seeing some of the line up in February which didn't happen, but I wasn't overly fussed because I am used to waiting for the line up to come out later on in the year.

My guess for the 4th headliner was The Pet Shop Boys but I am probably way off lol.

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

Simple have a balanced headliner set. Don't go from one extreme to the other.

[llcoolphil]

Firstly im disletsic.

[Neeeeeedles]

sorry if this has already been said, i skipped a few pages to get away from the arguments.

but surely it was Arctic Monkeys as the 'fourth headliner'

just confirmed reading and leeds the same day the fourth headliner has been dismissed

headlined before.

hmmmmm

apologies again if this has been said previous.