I've been saying this elsewhere tbf - rock had a real slow 2010s, which has fed through to a lack of big headliners coming through in the same way as they did in the 90s and 00s, when it did feel like the genre had multiple boom periods.
It may well be that the style will come back around again, but it'll need a big shift to pull off given most of the interest in rock still seems to be on the been-there-done-it acts. The expense of putting a band together when you're starting out probably doesn't help.
Over the years I’ve had a blast at Chems, Hot Chip, Avril, The Streets, Bloc Party, Jamie T, Glass Animals, Fred, TLDP, Vampire Weekend.
It’s a great stage.
Especially since the new sound system was installed.
The Other Stage has one of the best atmospheres of any festival stage I've been to. Confidence Man this year, CRJ last year, Foals in 2022 - I could go on. The amount of absolute party sets that place hosts every year is phenomenal
An even bigger fact here is that the musical landscape is changing.
How many new great guitar led rock bands have emerged in the last 10 years? Rock and roll isn't dead, it never will be and it will go full circle and have its time again i am sure.
In the same way pop will never die and is in a huge resurgence these days.
I do agree with you that some people seem to feel entitled to see huge rock bands headlining festivals. This leads to the same headliners on a three year cycle which in itself becomes tedious.
I think its time to embrace a wider range of headliners or simply don't buy tickets and go and see Arena tours and stadium shows of your favorite acts at around £150 a ticket.
I'm a metal head but i tell you what - some of the best acts I've seen in recent years are pure pop.