Anybody boycotting Leeds or Reading this year, and why?

[AcademicPistol]

To be fair Glastonbury is amazing

[Vieuphoria]

Everyone loves fun

[The Mean Bean]

Boys, Glastonbury is rubbish, I'd avoid it at all costs, go to V instead (trying to reduce competition for tickets, there's no way I'm missing out on Glasto again).

[jump]

Everyone loves fun

[Vieuphoria]

http://www.everybodylovesdave.com/

[ionicmoose]

I've been to Leeds every year since 2005 and decided that I wasn't going to go last year due to a lineup that appealed to me less and less each year, and an increase in the number of dick heads. But then last minute decided to buy a cheap weekend ticket for £100 and camped at the back of brown camp site (usually camp at red or orange). It was such a nice atmosphere, everyone really friendly and no bother at all.

So I was planning on doing the same this year, until the lineup was released and I realised I wasn't even prepared to pay £100 for it, one of the worst festival lineups I've seen, it could pass for T in the Park or V Festival. It just seems like Leeds and Reading are heading further and further away from what made them stand out against the other festivals and are just blending in with most of the UK's other big festivals, which is a shame. Trying Rock Ness instead this year (and Bilbao BBK as our Glasto replacement).

I may go back next year if the lineup is decent, but I don't think I'll ever pay £200+ for a Leeds ticket again, unless they really pull something special out of the bag.

[DARE]

Our lot usually camp on the Blue/Red border and we've never had any trouble with any people around us, in fact we've got on extremely well with the people around us. There is a minority of prats who got to the festival, luckily though it is a minority and they are usually confined to White/Yellow and some are in Orange but the overall majority of people who go will look out for each other and want to have a good time...

If you really did have trouble with them, why didn't you go and tell security?

[VCK]

I've been to five Leeds fests and just the one Glasto, and I can safely say that Glasto blows Leeds out of the water. Only downside is that there's a lot of walking, especially if you're camped on the other side of the site to where you parked your car and have to lug all your belongings uphill, but it really is worth it.

[Delinquent]

I have been to the last 11 Leeds festivals, last year proved to be the last. Reasons being:

1) Terrible, terrible line up this year (IMO)

2) The festival has changed so much over the years in terms of music, im just not in touch with it anymore. e.g. bands like the Black Keys and The National playing so high up, I have barely heard of them

3)At the age of 27, feel out of touch with the age demographic.

4)Time to find pastures new.

[Banana Co]

Just because you haven't heard of some of the bands doesn't mean that the line up is rubbish or that you're losing touch. Do some research. The National and The Black Keys are bands that can appeal to all ages.

[dirtymookie]

I would say those two bands are more likely to appeal to "older" people.

[kev1664]

I think he was pointing out that 11 year ago you wouldn't see bands like the national or the black keys so near the top. I'm guessing that's because bands like that we're not hot at the time.

You had bands like marylin Manson, green day, iggy, QOTSA, Rancid, Weezer, slipknot, ash, SOAD, blink, placebo all taking the majority of the spots higher up the bill.

This year we have the black keys, kaiser chiefs, Florence atm, Bombay BC, The vaccines.

Comparing the names and types of bands that he will have seen 11 years ago to those high up now, a clear shift in direction can be seen.

It probably not that he doesn't do reasearch, more that he has and is not remotely interested in what they do.

[dirtymookie]

I'm sorry I just don't see this shift at all. You've just listed current bands from two different decades. Where's the shift in that?

Since 2008 I count six of those earlier bands have appeared on the booked line-ups. Is this what is wanted to continue?

Or is it the fact that the newer bands listed are the carefully selected "non-heavy" to try and portray a shift in styles? There are plenty of other bands who have subbed who play heavier music than Florence recently.

I actually agree in the sense that after a while of going it becomes stale but I wouldn't put that down to the music. If you went to the same holiday resort for eleven years you'd get bored.

Depending on which festivals are left next year, I could see this being my last. Glasto or Isle of Wight for me next year, and maybe a smaller one like Latitude or Kendal or Hop Farm.

Edited April 1, 2012 by dirtymookie

[2rare2die]

This year there are just 3 bands on the main stage that i own albums by, so there certainly has been a shift in the type of bands book for me personally. And it's not that i'm not into current music, i'm just not that into current indie

[dirtymookie]

It's you that's shifted then not the festival.

[BTK1609]

Hopefully if there's one good thing to come out of Soni being cancelled (and unlikely to return) it should mean a few heavier acts for R&L next year. I like the line up on the whole this year but if there is only Download catering for the heavier stuff it should mean a good few coming this way in the future.

[2rare2die]

I wasn't into the current indie of the day when i first started going in 2000 and, looking back at the first four years i attended, there were 11, 9, 12, and 9 acts that i owned albums by, so i don't see how it's me that's shifted. It just seems to be gradually moving away from my personal tastes

[dirtymookie]

Perhaps its the wrong festival for you then?

[Delinquent]

Just because you haven't heard of some of the bands doesn't mean that the line up is rubbish or that you're losing touch. Do some research. The National and The Black Keys are bands that can appeal to all ages.

[2rare2die]

Perhaps its the wrong festival for you then?

[thetime]

Certainly starting to feel like that, may well be my last year (depending on next years lineup i suppose, although i do still enjoy the atmosphere and can usually find something to watch). I'm still hoping the Lockup throws up a few gems though

[2rare2die]

Do you do other fests?

[thetime]

Yeah i've done every Download so far, but a lot of my mates do Leeds and usually there are a fair few bands i like on. It's just this year all the high slots seem to have been taken by the 'flavour of the month' type bands. I'm not really having a whinge as i'm sure i'll still have a great time, but i may well consider not going next year

[2rare2die]

To be honest i think that's how i'm going to start looking at it, although it will be a shame to stop after 13 years. I guess i'll just have to see how this year goes, and what next year brings

[dirtymookie]

Certainly starting to feel like that, may well be my last year (depending on next years lineup i suppose, although i do still enjoy the atmosphere and can usually find something to watch). I'm still hoping the Lockup throws up a few gems though