2014 1st headliner

[jump]

Actually quite a few festivals have announced bands. Bloodstock, Sweden Rock, Hellfest, Wacken and a lot more. I've heard Rock am Ring are just about ready to announce and know that Nova Rock, Graspop and a few others have a headliner that played Download this year, so won't be playing there again.

How do you know those who haven't announced yet are linked to Download's headliners, they could be waiting for a different festival to announce.

Let's be honest here, Download's 3rd headliner pulled out, it's now October and their paddling up shit creek trying to book someone.

[Black_Crow]

I wouldnt' say that, R&L haven't booked their 3rd headliner either.

[Black_Crow]

If they are struggling for a 3rd headliner & it's not just a case of a band wanting to announce a few Euro fests at once then I can't see 2014 being a big year.

2011 had a low attendance (I remember reading 75k somewhere?) & that was with the return of SOAD & Linkin Park, A7X, Alter Bridge,BFMV, Disturbed & Rob Zombie on the bill too. Aerosmith, A7X & A.N Other band sounds far less impressive imo.

[theramm]

I don't understand why they don't just announce what they have booked.

[jammy2211]

Download used to announce the first set of bands in Janaury / February so there's no real point in getting worried or making out like they're taking far too long now. It was only really early last year to kill of Sonisphere for another year. They've announced headliners in the past before having all 3 tied up and ready to announce too, so their reluctance to do so this year is probably less to do with having the third sorted this year and more just to do with general marketing / promotions that feel it'd be better to hold off for maximum publicity and effect.

I think it can be very hard to judge how strong a festival lineup is and going off just a few headliners is futile. Download 2009 had Slipknot (bumped to HL for first time), Def Leppard (not as big as Aerosmith) and Faith No More (Who headlined the second stage at RL that year and were part of the Sonisphere failure). Yet it was an extremely successful year, because they had depth in the undercard and managed to target different demographics successfully. It still baffles me 2009 sold out as I really didn't think there was big enough bands, but it goes to show theres a lot more to shifting tickets then having 3 huge names at the top of the poster.

[theramm]

2009 was a different landscape than now. The festival market was still bouyant & R&L were still selling out on announcement days. 2009 only 'sold out' because they had less capacity.

R&L announced in November last year. I imagine DL will want to beat them to line with their first announcement.

[jammy2211]

2009 was a different landscape than now. The festival market was still bouyant & R&L were still selling out on announcement days. 2009 only 'sold out' because they had less capacity.

R&L announced in November last year. I imagine DL will want to beat them to line with their first announcement.

[Black_Crow]

I think it can be very hard to judge how strong a festival lineup is and going off just a few headliners is futile. Download 2009 had Slipknot (bumped to HL for first time), Def Leppard (not as big as Aerosmith) and Faith No More (Who headlined the second stage at RL that year and were part of the Sonisphere failure). Yet it was an extremely successful year, because they had depth in the undercard and managed to target different demographics successfully. It still baffles me 2009 sold out as I really didn't think there was big enough bands, but it goes to show theres a lot more to shifting tickets then having 3 huge names at the top of the poster.

[Black_Crow]

I'm aware of that but equally 2009 was following up to DL 2008 which was a total bomb. Further DL has become much stronger in sales over 2010-2013 then it ever was pre-2009 and there is (probably) no direct competition from Sonisphere like there was in 2009. The landscape has changed but DL seems to have been one of the least effected festivals, most likely because it's targeting an older demographic with more disposable income and less hurt by a dodgy economy.

[jammy2211]

Slipknot had been selling out arenas for years before headlining in 2009, many people thought they should have had headlined when they played last in 2005. 3 top 5 albums and 6 top 40 singles. They were twice the size than what A7X are now.

It was Def Leppard's first UK festival in over 20 years, Aerosmith playing for the 2nd time in 4 years isn't bigger than Def Leppard in 09. FNM's first UK festival headlining show, plus their first official show since they reunited after so many years was a big deal and not as small as you're making out.

2009's lineup is arguably Download's greatest lineup. It was so good, they had to increase the arena size from 60k to 90k due to demand for tickets.

Seriously A7X + Aerosmith is extremely weak.

[jammy2211]

Download's capacity was only 60k pre-2009. It's now 110k, so they can afford to book bigger bands.

2010 was carried by AC/DC, add debuts from Aerosmith and RATM as well.

2011 bombed in comparison and wasn't much bigger than pre-2009. Sonisphere sold out that year.

2012 had a reunited Sabbath and Metallica playing the Black Album

2013 had Slipknot, Rammstein and Iron Maiden.

2014 - A7X, Aerosmith and ? doesn't sound so good now.

It's their own fault for blowing their load over the last 2 years, but it does follow a pattern of 3. 2008 and 2011 were both weak years, depending on their 3rd headliner, 2014 could be the same.

[theramm]

2011 had weaker sales (Supposedly, not seen too much evidence)

[Black_Crow]

That's a nice summary of years but doesn't show much. 2011 had weaker sales (Supposedly, not seen too much evidence) but even if it did it still will have sold near double a 'sold out' sonisphere (Which year(s) did Soni start handing out free tickets in 'competitions' and such like?).

[jammy2211]

Were you not there? It seemed half full compared recent years, even worse on the Sunday when everyone left in the morning due to the awful weather.

[jammy2211]

Sonisphere sold 60k camping tickets in 2011, not sure how many day tickets, but they said afterwards that they could have easily sold 80k.

Download supposedly sold 75k tickets for the SOAD day, but the other days struggled from what I gather, I remember seeing reports saying that it was empty on the Friday and obviously the rain forced people to leave the site on the Sunday.

[devilman]

I thought the SOAD A7X day was just as busy as any of the headliners in 2010. Obviously I wasn't at the alternative stages. I love the use of "supposedly" and then clutching a figure out of nowhere. I'll concede that Def Leppard wasn't as busy but then getting into Pendulum half way through was a tough ask. There was no wonder LP was roomier, I stood with one of the local event staff at the F1 cafe watching droves of people leaving on sunday morning in the rain. He had never seen anything like it and neither had I at any festival. It was pretty fucking miserable but I can't understand quitters like that. I'll get my money's worth no matter what!

[theramm]

I stood with one of the local event staff at the F1 cafe watching droves of people leaving on sunday morning in the rain. He had never seen anything like it and neither had I at any festival. It was pretty fucking miserable but I can't understand quitters like that. I'll get my money's worth no matter what!

[Black_Crow]

It's looking likely that the headliners will be - Biffy Clyro - Aerosmith - Avenged Sevenfold.

[mrtourette]

Hilarity ensued

[dentalplan]

Bring back Nickelback

[cornucopia]

It's looking likely that the headliners will be - Biffy Clyro - Aerosmith - Avenged Sevenfold.

[theramm]

What's the source for this?

[Gucci Piggy]

His imagination.

[theramm]

Someone on the official DL forums said a while ago, when news that Van Halen said no that an offer had supposedly gone out to Biffy. Wondered if this was based on that or if it was just pure speculation?

Biffy - A7X - Aerosmith wouldn't come close to hitting the attendance of this year IMO.

[jammy2211]

I thought Biffy would be possible when Van Halen pulled and they seemed to start running out of backups. Weak choice maybe but if they're desperate then sobeit.

Personally I hope its true as I'd love to see both A7X and Biffy headline . Two bands I've listened to for near 10 years now (Wow thats a scary thought) and sort of seen them both progress from the low stages at RL to headlining DL is nice. Might be difficult to convince all my friends to come though lol.