2024 Festival

[Hart Attack]

On 10/9/2023 at 10:35 PM, RandomEnglishPerson said:

This chat has been dead for a week so here’s an interesting question to restart the chat, what do you think is the best line ups since 2000

From the years I went, 2010 and 2013 were my favourites. From previous years, 2003 and 2007 I wish I'd been there for.

[Chad888]

I went through every act on every line-up for the last 24 years based on hindsight, what I listen to now, or know I enjoyed in the past. I have 2 answers, based on making a full weekend of music I would enjoy listening to, and then for those few acts that are unmissable to me. Surprisingly 2023 was the worst line-up for me, in both views.

 

• 2018 - 36 acts that I could sit and enjoy across the weekend, Fri-Sun completely filled with enjoyable acts.

Having Post Malone, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell was amazing.

Pendulum, Fallout Boy, Panic at the Disco, and Kings of Leon were big for my teen years.

MIST, Wizkid, J Hus, Krept and Konan, Scarlxrd, Brockhampton, Fredo, Steel Banglez, Wretch 32, AJ Tract, Hardy Caprio, Ghetts, Headie One, Boogie wit da Hoodie was my playlist at the time.

Papa Roach, Sum 41, Hollywood Undead, Courteeners, Kooks, Wombats were all throwbacks to those fun songs that made up your playlists as I grew up.

• Followed by 2017 (31), 2019 (31), 2013 (26), 2015 (26)

 

• 2005 - 11 acts that I look at as 'holy s*** they had those playing!'

Pixies, The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, My Chemical Romance, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Biffy Clyro, Razorlight, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden.

Add to that Elbow, Kasabian, Fort Minor (fave band), Kano, M.I.A. and that lineup is crazy

• Followed by 2000 (8), 2007 (7), 2010 (7), 2003 (7).

Compare this to the combined 2021, 2022, 2023 and there are 9 acts total combined which I will look back on and be impressed they were all playing.

 

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by Chad888

[gfa]

15 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

I went through every act on every line-up for the last 24 years based on hindsight, what I listen to now, or know I enjoyed in the past. I have 2 answers, based on making a full weekend of music I would enjoy listening to, and then for those few acts that are unmissable to me. Surprisingly 2023 was the worst line-up for me, in both views.

 

• 2018 - 36 acts that I could sit and enjoy across the weekend, Fri-Sun completely filled with enjoyable acts.

Having Post Malone, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell was amazing.

Pendulum, Fallout Boy, Panic at the Disco, and Kings of Leon were big for my teen years.

MIST, Wizkid, J Hus, Krept and Konan, Scarlxrd, Brockhampton, Fredo, Steel Banglez, Wretch 32, AJ Tract, Hardy Caprio, Ghetts, Headie One, Boogie wit da Hoodie was my playlist at the time.

Papa Roach, Sum 41, Hollywood Undead, Courteeners, Kooks, Wombats were all throwbacks to those fun songs that made up your playlists as I grew up.

• Followed by 2017 (31), 2019 (31), 2013 (26), 2015 (26)

 

• 2005 - 11 acts that I look at as 'holy s*** they had those playing!'

Pixies, The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, My Chemical Romance, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Biffy Clyro, Razorlight, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden.

Add to that Elbow, Kasabian, Fort Minor (fave band), Kano, M.I.A. and that lineup is crazy

• Followed by 2000 (8), 2007 (7), 2010 (7), 2003 (7).

Compare this to the combined 2021, 2022, 2023 and there are 9 acts total combined which I will look back on and be impressed they were all playing.

 

 

Years age

2018 was received very poorly and now you've listed off 36 acts you like

Its too early to judge 2020s fests - I think both 2021 and 2022 will age VERY well personally.

[foolee]

On 10/9/2023 at 10:35 PM, RandomEnglishPerson said:

This chat has been dead for a week so here’s an interesting question to restart the chat, what do you think is the best line ups since 2000

Honestly finding this so hard especially when looking at 2000-2003 headliners/high up acts and my initials thoughts when thinking about lineups that I’ve been too I’d have put 2008 at the top however 2008 loses marks because of Slipknot and A7X pulling out so of the modern area I’d go with 2019, 2010 as the best I’ve attended and then 2005 as the best I’ve not attended. 2003 and 2000 are stacked with some great days too though. 
 

What are yours? 

Edited October 12, 2023 by foolee

[Andre91]

2010, 2013, 2015 and 2012 are the standout  lineups for me. 

[Benj]

1 hour ago, gfa said:

Years age

2018 was received very poorly and now you've listed off 36 acts you like

Its too early to judge 2020s fests - I think both 2021 and 2022 will age VERY well personally.

They’ll do well to compete with 30% less acts playing

Reckon 2021 will look alright, less so 2022, there seems to be no one there who’s stepped up to any real extent in the year following (Knucks maybe?).

As you say though need to give it time really, could look very different in 5 years

 

[Chad888]

14 minutes ago, Benj said:

They’ll do well to compete with 30% less acts playing

Reckon 2021 will look alright, less so 2022, there seems to be no one there who’s stepped up to any real extent in the year following (Knucks maybe?).

As you say though need to give it time really, could look very different in 5 years

 

I think the way music is now, its either - you make it immediately, or you will forever be bouncing around the undercard.

With the immediate availability in the palm of your hand the second it is released, bands don't really have the ability to work their way up the festival circuit, grow their sound, reach new audiences, smooth their image, grow more audience, get primetime play on the radio, get friend recommendations.

They reach their entire possible and potential audience immediately, and if they don't appeal straight away then that customer is relatively put off them for good.

This is why recently, there are a lot of one-hit wonders, and 1-2 year old acts being put in high slots and headliner slots, because it is now considered if you haven't made it, you aren't able to grow and reach more people, that is it.

There is no more Biffy Clyro going: 11th R1 stage > 6th R1 stage > 8th Main Stage > 7th Main Stage > 3rd R1 Stage > 5th Main Stage > Secret Set > 3rd Main Stage > Headline > Headline > Headline

[Benj]

8 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

I think the way music is now, its either - you make it immediately, or you will forever be bouncing around the undercard.

With the immediate availability in the palm of your hand the second it is released, bands don't really have the ability to work their way up the festival circuit, grow their sound, reach new audiences, smooth their image, grow more audience, get primetime play on the radio, get friend recommendations.

They reach their entire possible and potential audience immediately, and if they don't appeal straight away then that customer is relatively put off them for good.

This is why recently, there are a lot of one-hit wonders, and 1-2 year old acts being put in high slots and headliner slots, because it is now considered if you haven't made it, you aren't able to grow and reach more people, that is it.

There is no more Biffy Clyro going: 11th R1 stage > 6th R1 stage > 8th Main Stage > 7th Main Stage > 3rd R1 Stage > 5th Main Stage > Secret Set > 3rd Main Stage > Headline > Headline > Headline

I think this has been the case for a fair old while now, there will no doubt be exceptions that prove the rule (esp on the alt’r end of things) …and you never know when TikTok is gonna blow up an otherwise middling artists

[Chad888]

2 hours ago, Benj said:

I think this has been the case for a fair old while now, there will no doubt be exceptions that prove the rule (esp on the alt’r end of things) …and you never know when TikTok is gonna blow up an otherwise middling artists

Its what we've seen with Glass Animals 2 years ago, 2015 and 2017 low in the R1 undercard, they do nothing for a few years, suddenly TikTok blows up Heatwave and they sub.

Subbing one hit wonder Megan The Stallion who was a case of 'your first single will reach your entire potential audience and make or break you'.

 

From 2021 - Wolf Alice, AJ Tracy, Aitch, Youngblud, MGK will head MSW one day. Jack Harlow and Central Cee will sub the MSE one day, but that will be their peaks.

2022 - Wolf Alice and AJ Tracy again, and Little Simz will probably be pushed to a MSW headliner spot. No-one else there.

 

No variety anymore, and no acts that you will look back on and think crazy they played when you went.

[gfa]

13 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

Its what we've seen with Glass Animals 2 years ago, 2015 and 2017 low in the R1 undercard, they do nothing for a few years, suddenly TikTok blows up Heatwave and they sub.

Subbing one hit wonder Megan The Stallion who was a case of 'your first single will reach your entire potential audience and make or break you'.

 

From 2021 - Wolf Alice, AJ Tracy, Aitch, Youngblud, MGK will head MSW one day. Jack Harlow and Central Cee will sub the MSE one day, but that will be their peaks.

2022 - Wolf Alice and AJ Tracy again, and Little Simz will probably be pushed to a MSW headliner spot. No-one else there.

 

No variety anymore, and no acts that you will look back on and think crazy they played when you went.

From 2022 I think Fontaines have just as good a chance as Wolf Alice tbh at this point

Also you've forgotten D Block Europe

Its funny as you note few acts will make it to MSW but I ask do they have to? Acts like Enter Shikari, RTJ are on the 2022 lineup. Sure they won't make it to the top but not every act will, theres only so many headline slots. These acts are received well on here and have made their way slowly up the lineup, just aren't relevant enough to make it to the top due to changing taste - not just at Reading but across the board. Its not like they will ever headline fests the size of reading abroad either - 2000 trees etc is their limit

[Benj]

28 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

Its what we've seen with Glass Animals 2 years ago, 2015 and 2017 low in the R1 undercard, they do nothing for a few years, suddenly TikTok blows up Heatwave and they sub.

Subbing one hit wonder Megan The Stallion who was a case of 'your first single will reach your entire potential audience and make or break you'.

 

From 2021 - Wolf Alice, AJ Tracy, Aitch, Youngblud, MGK will head MSW one day. Jack Harlow and Central Cee will sub the MSE one day, but that will be their peaks.

2022 - Wolf Alice and AJ Tracy again, and Little Simz will probably be pushed to a MSW headliner spot. No-one else there.

 

No variety anymore, and no acts that you will look back on and think crazy they played when you went.

There will no doubt some that surprise us and blow up, as has happened in the past

As said already though the numbers will be much reduced simply because the lineup has

With in effect 20 less slots a day for up and coming bands, there will be less that play Reading before making it massive, it’s just a simple fact in the new world

[FloorFiller]

More new Blink. This one sounds like a One Direction song or something. Might just be the awfully compressed audio on this video but the production sounds terrible. Released properly tomorrow so hopefully it’ll sound a bit better then, but not digging this one all that much:

https://reddit.com/r/Blink182/s/nj7cJtOhJN

[Chad888]

44 minutes ago, gfa said:

From 2022 I think Fontaines have just as good a chance as Wolf Alice tbh at this point

Also you've forgotten D Block Europe

Its funny as you note few acts will make it to MSW but I ask do they have to? Acts like Enter Shikari, RTJ are on the 2022 lineup. Sure they won't make it to the top but not every act will, theres only so many headline slots. These acts are received well on here and have made their way slowly up the lineup, just aren't relevant enough to make it to the top due to changing taste - not just at Reading but across the board. Its not like they will ever headline fests the size of reading abroad either - 2000 trees etc is their limit

Fontaines D.C. have peaked, they are extremely niche, they've been active for 5 years and their 3 albums have declined in sales each time > 60k .. 20k .. 19k

Wolf Alice will be given the Royal Blood, Courteeners, BMTH style step up to MSW because they've slowly drifted their over the years and we just resign ourselves to it.

D-Block Europe, not at his current rate. Headlining rap acts need a different pedigree to headlining rock bands. Eminem, Stormzy, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Dave, Travis Scott etc. D-Block Europe has none of that hype around him and he has been around to long to gain it.

Run the Jewels again, no pedigree to get anywhere higher than they are. They are nobodies favourite, just another one for the fans of underground hip hop groups.

Enter Shikari an act that every scene kid from 2008 liked (2nd best to adjacent bands like AM, FOB, PatD, Paramore etc), now just filling out undercards to give credence to a festival, peaking with Take to the Skies in 2007.  They've gone 4th R1, 6th MS, 2nd R1, 5th MS, 4th MS, 1st Lockup, 3rd MS, 5th MS, 1st Lockup, 6th MS. There is no steadily rising cred for them, they are just a mid-afternoon band.

Edited October 12, 2023 by Chad888

[sacred shape]

47 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

Enter Shikari an act that every scene kid from 2008 liked (2nd best to adjacent bands like AM, FOB, PatD, Paramore etc), now just filling out undercards to give credence to a festival, peaking with Take to the Skies in 2007.  They've gone 4th R1, 6th MS, 2nd R1, 5th MS, 4th MS, 1st Lockup, 3rd MS, 5th MS, 1st Lockup, 6th MS. There is no steadily rising cred for them, they are just a mid-afternoon band.

That's a wild Shikari take. They've got more popular over the last 15 years - they're about to do their first arena tour. Talk of them subbing at Download or at least 2nd-stage headliners. R&L isn't the festival for them anymore, but if they have one more big album or one of their songs blows up Sleep Token style on Tik Tok, they could potentially be Download headliners. And if R&L does go back to rock, then they could definitely HL MSW too

[gfa]

57 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

Fontaines D.C. have peaked, they are extremely niche, they've been active for 5 years and their 3 albums have declined in sales each time > 60k .. 20k .. 19k

D-Block Europe, not at his current rate. Headlining rap acts need a different pedigree to headlining rock bands. Eminem, Stormzy, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Dave, Travis Scott etc. D-Block Europe has none of that hype around him and he has been around to long to gain it.

 Fontaines are still growing, i don't think they are too ridiculous. defo moving up lineups still, doing larger shows. will probably headline all the superstruct fests next year i think

D block headlined wireless... and theres 3 of them lol clearly have you have no idea about them

[Benj]

2 hours ago, sacred shape said:

That's a wild Shikari take. They've got more popular over the last 15 years - they're about to do their first arena tour. Talk of them subbing at Download or at least 2nd-stage headliners. R&L isn't the festival for them anymore, but if they have one more big album or one of their songs blows up Sleep Token style on Tik Tok, they could potentially be Download headliners. And if R&L does go back to rock, then they could definitely HL MSW too

No chance they’re as big as they were 09, this is one of the all time legendary Reading festival moments, the crowd was at least twice as big as they had in 2022. 

more people go to live events now, Enter Shikari peaked as a musical force in album 2

[panda97]

On 10/9/2023 at 10:35 PM, RandomEnglishPerson said:

This chat has been dead for a week so here’s an interesting question to restart the chat, what do you think is the best line ups since 2000

I went back to 2005 and divided artists between great/good/fine then not bothered about, assigned 5 points for great, 3 for good and 1 for fine

My very scientific method has come out with a top 5 of

2015, 2014, 2013, 2016, 2017

Which is interesting for several reasons, the fact they are all consecutive years right around when I started going to gigs (my first ever gig being 2013), and the fact 2015 is the best despite a pretty crap set of headliners 

[Andre91]

2 hours ago, Benj said:

No chance they’re as big as they were 09, this is one of the all time legendary Reading festival moments, the crowd was at least twice as big as they had in 2022. 

more people go to live events now, Enter Shikari peaked as a musical force in album 2

Shikari are undoubtedly bigger now then they’ve ever been. They sell more tickets now than they ever have. They’ve flitted between huge academy runs and arenas for over half a decade now and are going to be doing their biggest tour ever in Feb. I don’t think they’ll ever get any bigger than they are now but I can’t see them getting massively smaller, they’ll just plateau out and stay around the same size like so many bands do. They’re never going to get anywhere near headlining a main stage at R&L or Download but they’ll always be able to headline a Trees or a Slam Dunk, or sub the main stage at download (which is where I think they’ll play next time they’re there) or play third down or headline second there. They’ll stay a reliable mid afternoon band at R&L because they love the festival but the demand isn’t there for them because the demand isn’t there for heavier music in general. 

The comparison of a crowd from 2009 to a crowd in 2022 is pointless because the kind of music Shikari make isn’t popular at R&L now like it was almost a decade and a half ago. They’re not going to pull a crowd like that now because the heavier music fans just aren’t there to watch them. 

[Chad888]

59 minutes ago, panda97 said:

I went back to 2005 and divided artists between great/good/fine then not bothered about, assigned 5 points for great, 3 for good and 1 for fine

My very scientific method has come out with a top 5 of

2015, 2014, 2013, 2016, 2017

Which is interesting for several reasons, the fact they are all consecutive years right around when I started going to gigs (my first ever gig being 2013), and the fact 2015 is the best despite a pretty crap set of headliners 

I used a relatively similar method.

Did you find in 05 when you were 8, you knew very little about bands aside from the ones it's cool to know (Eminem, Gorillas, Oasis, Blink 182 etc)  so very fee acts actually get the great rating because you missed the hype train but they were probably huge back then?

 

I found that came out on top were when my mainstream music knowledge peaked, single with more clubs and bars exposure every weekend, so the age between 18-25 which is 2010-2017 were when my music tastes aligned most to what the festival put out.

[Chad888]

11 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Shikari are undoubtedly bigger now then they’ve ever been. They sell more tickets now than they ever have. They’ve flitted between huge academy runs and arenas for over half a decade now and are going to be doing their biggest tour ever in Feb. I don’t think they’ll ever get any bigger than they are now but I can’t see them getting massively smaller, they’ll just plateau out and stay around the same size like so many bands do. They’re never going to get anywhere near headlining a main stage at R&L or Download but they’ll always be able to headline a Trees or a Slam Dunk, or sub the main stage at download (which is where I think they’ll play next time they’re there) or play third down or headline second there. They’ll stay a reliable mid afternoon band at R&L because they love the festival but the demand isn’t there for them because the demand isn’t there for heavier music in general. 

The comparison of a crowd from 2009 to a crowd in 2022 is pointless because the kind of music Shikari make isn’t popular at R&L now like it was almost a decade and a half ago. They’re not going to pull a crowd like that now because the heavier music fans just aren’t there to watch them. 

Are they big because they've always been around, and a name banded around with the Emo scene bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Paramore, Blink-182, All Time Low etc.

Now there is a minor resurgence with the likes of Yungblood, MGK and the new wave of youngers are picking up Enter Shikari without the stigma that they were what Courteeners are to Arctic Monkeys.

They are the Wombats of the emo scene to me, ever present, good, nobodies favourite.

[panda97]

8 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

I used a relatively similar method.

Did you find in 05 when you were 8, you knew very little about bands aside from the ones it's cool to know (Eminem, Gorillas, Oasis, Blink 182 etc)  so very fee acts actually get the great rating because you missed the hype train but they were probably huge back then?

 

I found that came out on top were when my mainstream music knowledge peaked, single with more clubs and bars exposure every weekend, so the age between 18-25 which is 2010-2017 were when my music tastes aligned most to what the festival put out.

05 actually scored okay, 2006 was dire though for me, ended on 20 points, next lowest was on 31, definitely a noticeable shift though 2012-2023 were all 48+ apart from one, 2005-2011 were all 46 or lower 

[Benj]

17 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

The comparison of a crowd from 2009 to a crowd in 2022 is pointless because the kind of music Shikari make isn’t popular at R&L now like it was almost a decade and a half ago. They’re not going to pull a crowd like that now because the heavier music fans just aren’t there to watch them. 

Hence them not being as big now. 

An arena tour is nothing these days. Loads more people go to live music than they did in 2007-09

They’re playing some of the same arenas Blur played in 1998, it’s not the same thing…

5,000 in Cardiff. 3,500x2 in Manchester, 3,000 in Edinburgh

7 nights in total…it’s not a MASSIVE tour

next time they play it will more, smaller venues, as is the life of a mid tier band in 2023

 

[Andre91]

24 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

Are they big because they've always been around, and a name banded around with the Emo scene bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Paramore, Blink-182, All Time Low etc.

Now there is a minor resurgence with the likes of Yungblood, MGK and the new wave of youngers are picking up Enter Shikari without the stigma that they were what Courteeners are to Arctic Monkeys.

They are the Wombats of the emo scene to me, ever present, good, nobodies favourite.

They’re my favourite 🤣

[Andre91]

14 minutes ago, Benj said:

Hence them not being as big now. 

An arena tour is nothing these days. Loads more people go to live music than they did in 2007-09

They’re playing some of the same arenas Blur played in 1998, it’s not the same thing…

5,000 in Cardiff. 3,500x2 in Manchester, 3,000 in Edinburgh

7 nights in total…it’s not a MASSIVE tour

next time they play it will more, smaller venues, as is the life of a mid tier band in 2023

 

You’re really reaching here, man. An arena tour is a great thing for any band. You can’t be comparing the size of bands and stuff now to 20/30 years ago. 

[Benj]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

You’re really reaching here, man. An arena tour is a great thing for any band. You can’t be comparing the size of bands and stuff now to 20/30 years ago. 

Of course you can, It’s like the whole “number 1 album thing”.

Way more people go to live music these days than they did 15 years ago

From Google Bard, so pinch of salt needed but it reckons live music attendance in the UK is up 40% since 2010…

Pretty much all middling bands do Arena tours these days, didn’t Don Broco do one the other day?

Im not saying they’re sh*t or small or anything but selling (note it’s not sold out) a 7 night arena tour with an average capacity of 5k a night is 35,000 tickets…

If they do 15 nights at 2,000 sized capacity venues next tour are they suddenly much smaller?

Talk of them headlining Download is mad. They headlined the 3rd stage there in 2019…