Headliners 2015

[eFestivals]

IIRC Neil's Metallica info came out of the blue and was much later than mid-January.

sort of, but not really.

It was given a gossip-y mention in last xmas's Q Mag, and if I'd been less xmas-pissed I might have given it better attention.

Then there were the likes of Gigwise who ran a story claiming they were playing, tho which also included wrong info.

And then someone I listen to said something to me, and while I don't trust their word implicitly (they do get things wrong) it woke me up enough to know there was probably something to it. But it still wasn't until April that I was as sure as I get.

Info comes and goes, tho it's worth noting that it's still fairly early. And the year Jay-Z played, from what I can remember I was struggling for headliner info well into March.

[eFestivals]

What stage where we at at this point with the 3 main headliners last year? Arcade Fire confirmed, Kasabian all but in name confirmed and lengthy debates about Metallica credentials as headliners? Or where Kasabian and Metallica swapped about? Or was there still some doubt as to who the other two headliners would be?

Cant quite remember.

I can't remember when I became sure of Kasabian, tho it was probably a little later than now. It was April before I was sure about Metallica.

From what I heard (tho it might not be right), Metallica were only firmly placed in the Saturday headliner slot sometime in mid to late March, tho them 100% playing was agreed much earlier.

[neil999]

it definitely feels v late to not have at least one headliner by now

[ghostdancer1]

i guess they're all just better at keeping schtum this year!

[Matt42]

Neil is there anything you'e chasing? or are you completely in the dark?

[The Nal]

I can't remember when I became sure of Kasabian, tho it was probably a little later than now. It was April before I was sure about Metallica.

From what I heard (tho it might not be right), Metallica were only firmly placed in the Saturday headliner slot sometime in mid to late March, tho them 100% playing was agreed much earlier.

It was mid Feb when you mentioned Metallica first I think. Prince and Fleetwood Mac were being touted around at the time too.

Arcade Fire we rumoured well before XMas, as below

we've heard a fair bit of gossip (that we've been sat on for a while) saying that Arcade Fire will headline the Friday night.

The gossip is very consistent, tho nothing can be solidly traced back to anything which is good enough for us to bet the house on.

Don't know/care about Kasabian.

Edited January 20, 2015 by The Nal

[Mouseboy11]

Arcade Fire we rumoured well before XMas

They'd been confirmed by then I think?

[Winslow Leach]

Arcade Fire let slip that they'd been booked themselves though, so that doesn't really count.

[JoeyT]

Hope they release the line up without much fuss again like they did last year. Wasn't it 6music that were the first to hint there was glasto information imminent?

Not a fan for having to listen to Zane Lowe drop it.

[Mouseboy11]

Hope they release the line up without much fuss again like they did last year. Wasn't it 6music that were the first to hint there was glasto information imminent?

Not a fan for having to listen to Zane Lowe drop it.

Yeah, just appeared in the morning on the site followed by the 6music thing. Zane announced Metallica though didn't he?

[dentalplan]

The small purple man who we mustn't speak of is doing a gig at the start of next month in London for Autism Rocks. We'll no doubt be swamped with rumours of him meeting up with Glastonbury staff.

[Amy Lawn]

I might make some up myself to aggravate him

[Wooderson]

what are you talking about you aching simpleton?

*cackle*

[eFestivals]

Neil is there anything you'e chasing? or are you completely in the dark?

I'm always chasing things, but that doesn't mean I find anything.

[Matt42]

I'm always chasing things, but that doesn't mean I find anything.

are you able to say anything

discussion is dying here, and it's nearly feb so it's okay for us to know some things by now

[FuzzyDunlop]

We will know in about 10 weeks.... not THAT long to wait

[Mezhyp1]

The less we know the more anticipation and discussion their is flying about, it's more exciting this way coming up to announcement time

[LondonTom]

Mmm. Everyone has to have a 'first major headline slot' somewhere of course. Sometimes Glasto being someone's first 'go' at a headline slot is well recieved (Beyoncé) and sometimes it doesn't work (Arctic Monkeys). It's a risk but in the absence of an obvious third headliner for this year other than Flo I can very much see them taking it. And she has of course done the 'groundwork' in headlining at Bestival and Latitude (which I don't think AM had??)

Well yeah obviously, but it makes alot more clear cut where an act play if they have already headlined a couple of the big festivals. I was just making the point its not entirely indisputable that she isn't quite headline material and nothing to do with liking her or not.

Its a grey area, like most acts and speculation tbh, To many have these black and white ideas (or phrase it like that at least ) of certain acts.

[FloorFiller]

she was definitely on her way to being headline status (headlining Bestival in 2012 etc) but the large gap between albums has definitely made it harder to judge if she'll have the same popularity on her return, although if she takes anything less than headliner now then christ knows when she'll finally get the leg up. think it's same to assume the new album will be huge - she definitely has enough previous 'hits' to fill a setlist with - it's just whether Glastonbury / any festival want to chance it (as is always the case with smaller acts)

[brettredmayne]

I can't remember when I became sure of Kasabian, tho it was probably a little later than now. It was April before I was sure about Metallica.

From what I heard (tho it might not be right), Metallica were only firmly placed in the Saturday headliner slot sometime in mid to late March, tho them 100% playing was agreed much earlier.

January 14th I think http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/14/140114a.shtml Edited January 20, 2015 by brettredmayne

[ghandi]

Its an easy sell fro Glastonbury though seeing as though it's practically sold out other than re sales. It's the other festivals that announce early and rely on ticket sales from their headliners that might have to worry about promoting the smaller bands like Flo to headline status, not something Glastonbury have to worry about. I am sure they think she's popular enough still to do the Sunday even. I guess proof is in the eating of the pudding as they say, if she did it and the field was half empty they know not to go the in the future, anyway I'm sure it's been done before.

[FloorFiller]

the field definitely wouldn't be half empty though - Sunday night more than any other night is when a lot of the festival are happy to camp out at the Pyramid and watch whatever is shoved in their faces. Florence is perfect Sunday night at the Pyramid fodder - big brash sing alongs that everybody, whether you like it or not, knows. couple that with Lionel Richie and a suitable sub / third act and you're golden - headliner status cemented for a good few years. the only thing giving people doubts at the moment is the lack of album announcement / single to judge her popularity off - Mumfords etc had albums released at the end of the previous years whereas from the looks of it Flo's won't be out until much nearer the festival

[michael eavis' beard]

Mmm. Everyone has to have a 'first major headline slot' somewhere of course. Sometimes Glasto being someone's first 'go' at a headline slot is well recieved (Beyoncé) and sometimes it doesn't work (Arctic Monkeys). It's a risk but in the absence of an obvious third headliner for this year other than Flo I can very much see them taking it. And she has of course done the 'groundwork' in headlining at Bestival and Latitude (which I don't think AM had??)

Really?! That was the worst recent headliner you could think of? From what I remember that set was well received. I was at Hot Chip which was class but I don't remember hearing the Arctic Monkeys getting slated.

[FloorFiller]

Really?! That was the worst recent headliner you could think of? From what I remember that set was well received. I was at Hot Chip which was class but I don't remember hearing the Arctic Monkeys getting slated.

it wasn't a disaster but from what i've heard it didn't go smoothly - long gaps between songs etc that kind of spoilt the mood. think the band themselves said that they saw 2013 as a chance to make up for it

[michael eavis' beard]

it wasn't a disaster but from what i've heard it didn't go smoothly - long gaps between songs etc that kind of spoilt the mood. think the band themselves said that they saw 2013 as a chance to make up for it

Fair enough - just thought that there were other acts since then that would've better backed up his point - Springsteen or Gorillaz for example.