Lineup 2015

[conroy17]

had no idea relentless was a coke product

you're right, that is weird.

[DarthSaul]

is it just me or did that press release give the impression that NME were no longer a sponsor

Yeah not listed as a partner and radio one not said to be cohosting a stage

[supreme]

Not on the press release but still on the R&L website

[Yellow_Fellow]

NME are still a sponsor

[DGrant261]

Yeah not listed as a partner and radio one not said to be cohosting a stage

Really hope this means Rebel Sound aren't actually headlining the second stage.

Not on the press release but still on the R&L website

It appears not, but I wouldn't surpirse me if NME pulled their sponsorship of the stage. Their 'worst' band of 2013 sub headlined 'their' stage last year for gods sake. It would make sense imo for the FR stage to eventually just become the NME stage and the current second stage to just be 'Radio 1' stage

[Bisque]

had no idea relentless was a coke product

you're right, that is weird.

I used to work for Coca-Cola, just doesn't make any sense cost wise.

Carlsberg, as far as I'm aware, distributes Somersby & Tuborg, why would the soft drinks be different & competing companies? Odd

[kingcrawler]

Bastille are headlining Boardmasters, so not quite the exclusive claimed.

[justanothername]

Ok by all I mean of the younger demo but I can't see a lot of older goers picking reading in the first place.

Of the "youngun's" there's a massive rock/metal, hip hop, pop, dance and indie scene and reading is clearly trying to get a mix of that! I have no objections tbh, if the fest stayed the same we'd have more and more repeats. After it's settled in I reckon last nights announcement was a good one, three massive bands which sell tickets on reading exclusive is surely gonna draw a lot of audience.

Heck it says a lot when a fair chunk of V goers now go to reading because it's more diverse!

So why wasn't that shown in this announcement then? It didn't really show diversity at all in my opinion and ended up alienating quite a lot of people in the process. From a lot of my mates it has been a 50/50 split and a lot of that half really don't like it and aren't considering going now because of it (they probably will do though like me as it probably will get better in the end) so the announcement good? It wouldn't be hard to make it better either as get rid of a few names no one has heard and just replace with Bury Tomorrow and The Cribs (assuming they're both play) and it would have been more diverse and perhaps soften the blow for a lot of people. I do agree with you that the festival has to constantly change but it seemed to go about it the wrong way yesterday

Also justanothername I can't show how Drenge is playing because it's gone and disappeared. Apologies.

Did they see the announcement yesterday and decide that they don't want to play anymore?

[justanothername]

That Rebel Sound video posted here is no different to the Global Gathering event I went to in Birmingham on New Year's Eve. They're an act that has performed live only once and its not even as if I really dislike their sound, but I don't see how they would warrant an NME headline spot.

An easy way to potentially sort this out. Neil, have you heard anything about what stage they are playing?

I think that annoyed me more than Mumford headlining, a band has only played one show gets to headline the 2nd stage just because they need the space and they can stick Chase & Status and the bottom to bring people in? I seriously hope that they're closing it and that there is still another NME headliner. Then again Shikari Sound System headlined the Rock Stage in 2013 without even playing a single show (which again, was equally as stupid)

Edited February 3, 2015 by justanothername

[Gucci Piggy]

If by "Stick Chase & Status at the bottom" you mean "advertise the fact Chase and Status are part of the act and therefore they kind of justify the slot", then yeah.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Will-2609

[Gucci Piggy]

And the announcement wasn't any stranger than the last one.

In the last announcement there was only Jamie T to appeal to the LAD and LASS crowd you love to mention, and in this announcement there was Royal Blood to appeal to those with more alternative tastes - they'll be one of the most popular heavier bands on the lineup. People are just using the fact they don't personally like it to complain that it lacks diversity. Mumford/Royal Blood/Deadmau5 is as diverse as the first announcement.

Only complaint from me would be that those smaller acts were pointless to include; but they always seem to include acts like this.

[KingPin]

And the announcement wasn't any stranger than the last one.

In the last announcement there was only Jamie T to appeal to the LAD and LASS crowd you love to mention, and in this announcement there was Royal Blood to appeal to those with more alternative tastes - they'll be one of the most popular heavier bands on the lineup. People are just using the fact they don't personally like it to complain that it lacks diversity. Mumford/Royal Blood/Deadmau5 is as diverse as the first announcement.

Only complaint from me would be that those smaller acts were pointless to include; but they always seem to include acts like this.

It's because they're trying to hype up the bands that are smaller to try and get them onto the next level, so the line up seems deeper with good decently sized acts.

[dentalplan]

Royal Blood to appeal to those with more alternative tastes

Heck.

[DGrant261]

Looking back on last nights announcement, provided Rebel Sound DONT HEADLINE nme it's only really Bastille I'm dissapointed with. Although it coulda been better

Mumfords - Not a perfect R&L, but an ok one nonethless, and a 'strong' booking for a first time headliner

Royal Blood - Can't fault this, 3rd's the best place for them

Rebel Sound - Fine as long they headline dance or close NME at a push

Catfish - Obvious one but perfect for a NME headliner/sub

Deadmau5 - Decent NME headliner, as long as up against Libs/Metallica

Wolf Alice/Y&y/Pretty Vicious - Decent low NMEE/FR bands

Bastille - Load of shite, not fitting with where R&L is/should be going. Only positive thing I can't think of is that Imagine Dragons did the slot last year and it wasn't a cathastrophe (Even though they're far better)

[#FreeComTruise]

Their 'worst' band of 2013 sub headlined 'their' stage last year for gods sake.

Tbf it was voted for by readers and not NME themselves.

[Gucci Piggy]

Heck.

I was gonna edit this, but couldn't be bothered.

But they will appease the people who attend and like heavier music (the likes of QOTSA and Foos), AKA Justanothername.

[justanothername]

If by "Stick Chase & Status at the bottom" you mean "advertise the fact Chase and Status are part of the act and therefore they kind of justify the slot", then yeah.

Still a weak booking and I'm not going to like it, don't at the end of the day I'm forced to go and see them. I'll go else where

And the announcement wasn't any stranger than the last one.

In the last announcement there was only Jamie T to appeal to the LAD and LASS crowd you love to mention, and in this announcement there was Royal Blood to appeal to those with more alternative tastes - they'll be one of the most popular heavier bands on the lineup. People are just using the fact they don't personally like it to complain that it lacks diversity. Mumford/Royal Blood/Deadmau5 is as diverse as the first announcement.

Only complaint from me would be that those smaller acts were pointless to include; but they always seem to include acts like this.

I'd have said that RTJ/Metllica/Jamie T was more diverse but less popular and I (used) to go on about the LAD and LASS crowd I just meant the indie rock scene in general. I'm just still outraged, don't worry I'll be fine a few days

[justanothername]

I was gonna edit this, but couldn't be bothered.

But they will appease the people who attend and like heavier music (the likes of QOTSA and Foos), AKA Justanothername.

To be fair, if it wasn't for Royal Blood I would have probably killed someone

[Yellow_Fellow]

Bastille - Load of shite, not fitting with where R&L is/should be going

but i thought R&L was always better in the past

[lightning1000]

I'm guessing he thinks they should be going back to lineups of yore....

2004 was still shit

[mrtourette]

People shouldn't get hung up about Rebel Sound not being big enough to headline the tent, they could easily be playing last but as co-headliners or closing the stage as 'special guests'.

[mrtourette]

I love all the bitching, when only about 10% of the lineup has been revealed! Good to see the Efests Reading crowd as it always is, unsated

[Bisque]

Mumfords - Not a perfect R&L, but an ok one nonethless, and a 'strong' booking for a first time headliner

I would say they (& agree with Neil) that they are "a perfect R&L" & the strongest booking yet after their Glastonbury performance.

Edit: except Royal Blood

Edited February 3, 2015 by Couchy

[Muppetmark]

how can reading still have bastille exclusive on the press release?

[cragzy]

I can't see any bands that have been announced as a sub headliner unless royal blood or Bastille could be under metallica ??