2022 Headliners

[Matt42]

My ideal trio would be Billie, Macca, Swift - which I think is still realistic at the moment. Holding out hope 🙂 

[Jakeyboi135]

10 hours ago, Matt42 said:

I think Reg is tricking efestivals like he usually does and setting a lot of people up for disappointment.

imo - Billie, Macca, Swift.

Macca is still in the game unless the Belgium date rumour is bollocks

I want Swift on the Sunday … because.. Swift.

But I feel like there’s a chance it could be something like Billie, Macca, AM if it’s true they are around.

I get he has a history of being free and not playing the fest, but out of him macca and swift, he's the only one we have solid plans with a glasto sized hole in. It could be one final tease, but he's got to be firmly in the running if you're still holding on to Swift just because you want to see it

[Jack.194]

Was supposed to be going Reading, but just tested positive for COVID, so Glasto 2022 will be my next festival!

Obviously gutted, but just hoping the same doesn’t happen at the end of June next year, just spent some time reading through this thread to get myself excited.

[Matt42]

On 8/21/2021 at 9:40 AM, Jakeyboi135 said:

I get he has a history of being free and not playing the fest, but out of him macca and swift, he's the only one we have solid plans with a glasto sized hole in. It could be one final tease, but he's got to be firmly in the running if you're still holding on to Swift just because you want to see it

While that is true Taylor has already agreed to headline Glasto before. It’s more likely IMO than someone who has never played / showed an interest in playing.

His dates make him look likely but anyone who has been on this forum for a long time knows this story well. He’s often around and he doesn’t play. Having a gap isn’t the same as Taylor or Macca having a gap / being around / likely to tour.

[CaledonianGonzo]

But equally what held true 3 or 4 years back doesn't necessarily need to hold true today....

[Matt42]

4 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

But equally what held true 3 or 4 years back doesn't necessarily need to hold true today....

All I’m doing is going with my hunch. Everyone is free to disagree. I just think there is a lot to be read into Elton being silent on Glasto and Glasto being silent on him.

My view as well is that with 2022 they wouldn’t be trying to rope in outsiders to the festival. A reschedule of who they had for 2020, or people who have played before if there is still a ? on the development of the pandemic 

Edited August 22, 2021 by Matt42

[fred quimby]

34 minutes ago, Jack.194 said:

Was supposed to be going Reading, but just tested positive for COVID, so Glasto 2022 will be my next festival!

Obviously gutted, but just hoping the same doesn’t happen at the end of June next year, just spent some time reading through this thread to get myself excited.

Gutting. Will all be good in June. Trust me I know things

Edited August 22, 2021 by fred quimby

[vintagelaureate]

1 hour ago, Jack.194 said:

Was supposed to be going Reading, but just tested positive for COVID, so Glasto 2022 will be my next festival!

Obviously gutted, but just hoping the same doesn’t happen at the end of June next year, just spent some time reading through this thread to get myself excited.

Sorry to hear that, but June will be fantastic for you!

[kalifire]

56 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

My view as well is that with 2022 they wouldn’t be trying to rope in outsiders to the festival. A reschedule of who they had for 2020, or people who have played before if there is still a ? on the development of the pandemic 

Really don't follow the logic on that one. Is a person an "insider" if they've played before at some point in time, or they were on a line up two years ago? To the exclusion of all others? Doesn't make much sense to me.

I think they'll give first refusal to previously scheduled headliners/subs, but they'll be open to whoever plans to be active in 2022, to ensure a line up fit for that event.

Edited August 22, 2021 by kalifire

[Matt42]

1 minute ago, kalifire said:

Really don't follow the logic on that one. Is a person an "insider" if they've played before at some point in time, or they were on a line up two years ago? To the exclusion of all others? Doesn't make much sense to me.

I think they'll give first refusal to previously scheduled headliners/subs, but they'll be open to whoever plans to be active in 2022, to ensure a line up fit for that event.

I do think 2022 is probably locked down now though. Most bookings are fixed around about September. So I don’t think there will be much waiting to see who is around anymore. Hence the fact I think the Billie stuff has surfaced, contracts are being signed. 

[Hugh Jass]

1 hour ago, Matt42 said:

All I’m doing is going with my hunch. Everyone is free to disagree. I just think there is a lot to be read into Elton being silent on Glasto and Glasto being silent on him.

My view as well is that with 2022 they wouldn’t be trying to rope in outsiders to the festival. A reschedule of who they had for 2020, or people who have played before if there is still a ? on the development of the pandemic 

That doesn’t really ring true when Billie “one underwhelming Other stage appearance” Eilish is down to headline.

[Matt42]

12 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

That doesn’t really ring true when Billie “one underwhelming Other stage appearance” Eilish is down to headline.

Erm it does because she / her team have already done and dealt the festival. 

[dentalplan]

Elton’s previous avoidance of the festival does count for something because it shows that he’s not been that arsed about it before or they couldn’t afford him or some other limiting factor.

I don’t think it pours a whole lot of doubt on him though. He might not be ‘nailed on’ as someone else in the same position would be, but the gap in his final tour is undeniably tantalising so he’s still the strongest contender away from Billie Eilish.

[dentalplan]

I can see it being Billie Eilish and Elton John wrapped up, with Paul McCartney on the line for a few more months and a backup waiting in the wings just in case he sacks it off.

[Hugh Jass]

21 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

Erm it does because she / her team have already done and dealt the festival. 

Dealt with the Other stage (or even John Peel originally) bookers for a day time set. World of difference to negotiating a Pyramid headliner set.

[Matt42]

4 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

Dealt with the Other stage (or even John Peel originally) bookers for a day time set. World of difference to negotiating a Pyramid headliner set.

I’m confused by this. Also Billie literally said in an interview with the BBC recently that she’s become aware of how important Glastonbury is after she’s played it. Emily would have had a hand and Billie’s team would be aware of the festival.

 

11 minutes ago, dentalplan said:

Elton’s previous avoidance of the festival does count for something because it shows that he’s not been that arsed about it before or they couldn’t afford him or some other limiting factor.

I don’t think it pours a whole lot of doubt on him though. He might not be ‘nailed on’ as someone else in the same position would be, but the gap in his final tour is undeniably tantalising so he’s still the strongest contender away from Billie Eilish.

This is what I’m trying to say thanks for saying it better - Elton has completely avoided the place his whole career and I think if he had changed his mind you’d at least see some attention from him / comments in the press linking him to it. He’d be getting asked about it interviews but he isn’t.

In Billie’s latest BBC doc Clara straight up asked her what she thought about Glastonbury. The press play this game where they set up who actually is in the pipeline. With Elton it’s nada. Which makes me think a while ago if he was ever on the cards the eavi have received probably a very strong no.

10 minutes ago, dentalplan said:

I can see it being Billie Eilish and Elton John wrapped up, with Paul McCartney on the line for a few more months and a backup waiting in the wings just in case he sacks it off.

I disagree with this tho - I think they will be finalising headliners at this stage. Usually September is a big time for contracts being signed and logistics beginning. 
 

I reckon by now they have three in agreement - and whilst not all of them have done the paperwork it should be locked in by now.

[dentalplan]

8 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

This is what I’m trying to say thanks for saying it better - Elton has completely avoided the place his whole career and I think if he had changed his mind you’d at least see some attention from him / comments in the press linking him to it. He’d be getting asked about it interviews but he isn’t.

In Billie’s latest BBC doc Clara straight up asked her what she thought about Glastonbury. The press play this game where they set up who actually is in the pipeline. With Elton it’s nada. Which makes me think a while ago if he was ever on the cards the eavi have received probably a very strong no.

Has he been doing many interviews this year? I feel like we're yet to see about that. The question will be put to him in the next year or so.

I don't think there's a definitive 'no' from Elton's camp, just that they've probably knocked Glastonbury back before so it could have happened again.

8 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

I disagree with this tho - I think they will be finalising headliners at this stage. Usually September is a big time for contracts being signed and logistics beginning. 
 

I reckon by now they have three in agreement - and whilst not all of them have done the paperwork it should be locked in by now.

Where the hell have you got this from? We've seen loads of times in the past decade where the headliners weren't all locked in by September. They've squeezed in bookings just before the announcements in Spring before.

For McCartney in particular, they've courted him way beyond September for both 2019 and 2020.  What makes you think that for the very next festival they're going to move on before he's finalised his dates?

Edited August 22, 2021 by dentalplan

[dentalplan]

Chris Martin was at Paul McCartney's party the other night. Bet he talked Macca's ear off about Glastonbury.

[Jakeyboi135]

8 hours ago, Matt42 said:

All I’m doing is going with my hunch. Everyone is free to disagree. I just think there is a lot to be read into Elton being silent on Glasto and Glasto being silent on him.

My view as well is that with 2022 they wouldn’t be trying to rope in outsiders to the festival. A reschedule of who they had for 2020, or people who have played before if there is still a ? on the development of the pandemic 

I get the logic of Eltons lack of history with the festival being a concern, but bit weird to say the festival wouldn't go for outsiders as you put it. The last scheduled festival would have had 2 outsiders headline, I don't think 2 enforced years off would really change much. If anything the early cancellation/plenty of acts rolling over, gives them more time than usual to get difficult deals done. 

[Matt42]

13 minutes ago, Jakeyboi135 said:

I get the logic of Eltons lack of history with the festival being a concern, but bit weird to say the festival wouldn't go for outsiders as you put it. The last scheduled festival would have had 2 outsiders headline, I don't think 2 enforced years off would really change much. If anything the early cancellation/plenty of acts rolling over, gives them more time than usual to get difficult deals done. 

What I envisage in my head is that the next glasto which goes ahead is going to be carrying an element of event risk (until Covid really fades away). The planning behind this festival has to factor in now another variant or something going drastically wrong. Maybe underwriting from the government helps but who knows?

I just don’t think they will be in a position to dedicate all their energy to convincing someone who has never wanted to do it before to do it. That’s just how I see it. We’ve seen it where they’ve chased acts like Prince, the Stone etc for months and months and put a lot of risk around them getting cold feet and deciding against it. (Like Prince did in 2015).

I just can’t see 2022 being a year that they go for any kind of risky headline option. Billie is someone that was probably in the pipeline to headline eventually anyway, and as far as we know they are chasing the 2020 set first.

If AM etc are around that’s an easier replacement than Elton John - someone who would probably need a good pitch and a hard sell to do it. (It’s a harder sell because the others know there is a benefit to doing the festival).

Tldr - my hunch that if Reg thought he was a second option / a backup he’d probably back out. He’s a first choice not a second. Same way that I can never imagine them ringing up Madonna as a backup.

Edited August 22, 2021 by Matt42

[dentalplan]

Are you suggesting that they are going for easier headline options they've dealt with before because they need to dedicate their time to watching the news and finding out if any new strains emerge that will threaten the festival?

[Matt42]

Just now, dentalplan said:

Are you suggesting that they are going for easier headline options they've dealt with before because they need to dedicate their time to watching the news and finding out if any new strains emerge that will threaten the festival?

I know you’re joking but event health and safety is much more than watching the news. Working out insurance and risk is a big thing.

[dentalplan]

2 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

I know you’re joking but event health and safety is much more than watching the news. Working out insurance and risk is a big thing.

They've probably worked it out already tbf. Given that they planned for and cancelled this year.

At any rate, I think the people involved with estimating the risk are different people to those who negotiate with headline acts.

[incident]

7 hours ago, Hugh Jass said:

Dealt with the Other stage (or even John Peel originally) bookers for a day time set. World of difference to negotiating a Pyramid headliner set.

To be fair, the Pyramid, Other, and JP are all booked centrally with I believe Nick leading the charge so it could well be the same people involved. It's not like she was on say West Holts which does have it's own booker.

[Mattymooz]

42 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

I just can’t see 2022 being a year that they go for any kind of risky headline option. Billie is someone that was probably in the pipeline to headline eventually anyway, and as far as we know they are chasing the 2020 set first.

Couldnt that also be the case with Elton? Seems like the tour would have been rebooked around Glasto if he is playing which would mean he has already been signed up for a while...

And I'm not sure we can say confidently that they are chasing the 2020 set first. In fact I'd say that looks fairly unlikely, with other euro festivals dropping Taylor & Kendrick off their bills and rumours that they are both not touring next year. I wouldnt be surprised if the Elton set had been agreed a fair while ago for 21/22 as a big finale to this goodbye tour, and it happens that COVID has caused the tour to slip to fall around the Glasto set instead.