2024 Festival

[Benj]

3 minutes ago, Muppetmark said:

The only bands on the circuit who are better headliners have stadium tours instead (green day and foos). Fob have done 2 nights at the O2 for the first time. A7x did 2 nights at the O2 last tour (albeit in 2017).

Qotsa still have decent sized tours though as you say they're not at their peak 

Exactly, it’s the problem big festivals have now.

The big bands can clearly make more money doing their own big gigs now and v few other bands are getting big enough to fill those headline slots at the big festivals.

Doing two nights at the o2, esp as a nostalgia act isn’t really huge going these days. 30+ers have disposable income to burn for experiences and like to do so

As we saw with Reading last year acts doing massive tours weakens their sales impact. Anyone desperate to see FOB have seen them…

[Benj]

9 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

If the rumours of Glasto (Madonna, Coldplay and Dua Lipa) and DL (QOTSA, FOB, A7x) are true R&L has for a decent chance at putting on the best set of headliners this summer, even if it’s because the other festivals are looking a bit weak

It’s funny how everyone said 2023 was a sh*t year for booking as there was no one about. 

Turns out 2024 is probably worse!

I think this whole TikTok led the song is the star, not the act thing is really coming home to roost, there seems to be a vacuum of acts big enough to fill even pretty basic slots

[jcarb]

15 hours ago, andywatts1995 said:

Thoughts on the download leak? Few names here that have been mentioned for R+L previously 

Sum 41 being there leaves the second Slam Dunk hosted day at the same site open for someone interesting if this is true. 
 

ADTR headline shows are long long overdue in the UK and they owe SD after cancelling twice now. 
 

FOB is an odd choice but do people not remember the uproar when MCR headlined in 2006 and now it’s looked back on fondly to some extent. 👀

[gfa]

36 minutes ago, Muppetmark said:

Surely if anything r&l will try to not cannibalise download sales as they're owned by the same company?  Like how Macklemore subbed blink last time 

Isn't that more just classic R&L trying to sell weekend tickets. They hardly ever stack the bills to do with the headliner

19 minutes ago, Benj said:

It’s funny how everyone said 2023 was a sh*t year for booking as there was no one about. 

Turns out 2024 is probably worse!

I think this whole TikTok led the song is the star, not the act thing is really coming home to roost, there seems to be a vacuum of acts big enough to fill even pretty basic slots

Its still early doors - acts we think aren't about will pop up. R&L has plenty of choice vs almost all other fests

It was to be expected - so many acts are between album cycles now.

[Guest]

36 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

If the rumours of Glasto (Madonna, Coldplay and Dua Lipa) and DL (QOTSA, FOB, A7x) are true R&L has for a decent chance at putting on the best set of headliners this summer, even if it’s because the other festivals are looking a bit weak

Madonna, Coldplay and Dua Lipa is hardly a weak trio.

[Benj]

57 minutes ago, gfa said:

Its still early doors - acts we think aren't about will pop up. R&L has plenty of choice vs almost all other fests

It was to be expected - so many acts are between album cycles now.

Will it be acts or songs though these days? 

Did many acts properly blow up the last couple of years or was it mainly just people waiting half an hour in the dance tent watching Gayle waiting for her to play ABCDEFU?

…before then going back to their tents before coming in for another 3 minute moment a couple of hours later?

[Benj]

1 hour ago, SomeoneListeningIn said:

Madonna, Coldplay and Dua Lipa is hardly a weak trio.

Does nothing for me whatsoever but will tick a lot of boxes for many

[andyrhodes24]

2 hours ago, SomeoneListeningIn said:

Madonna, Coldplay and Dua Lipa is hardly a weak trio.

Depends how you view it, they’ll all appeal to someone but barring Madonna they’re far from the global ‘once in blue moon’ type headliners. Like Elton, GnR and Paul McCartney in recent years I can’t imagine Madonna’s vocals are still up to the job

Edited November 7, 2023 by andyrhodes24

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Depends how you view it, they’ll all appeal to someone but barring Madonna they’re far from the global ‘once in blue moon’ type headliners. Like Elton, GnR and Paul McCartney in recent years I can’t imagine Madonna’s vocals are still up to the job

So one of them is a once in a blue moon headliner. You can't get three like that each year. When has Glastonbury/any festival ever done that? Crazy bar to set.

It's one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now, one of the biggest bands in the world and Madonna, who you already made the case for. It's an objectively massive trio.

[andyrhodes24]

More often than not you get two global superstars at Glasto. It’s by no means the weakest trio they’ve had (2014’s Arcade Fire, Metallica and Kasabian probably takes it) but it’s not exactly strong.

I refuse to count Coldplay as a second superstar, they’re musical equivalent of a chicken korma.

Edited November 7, 2023 by andyrhodes24

[Gejonimo]

Calling Coldplay, Dua and Madonna weak is the most ridiculous sh*t I've ever read on these forums. And A7X, FOB, and QOTSA are also strong - all arena touring bands. I'd love for anyone to explain how any of those bands are poor bookings. 

[Gejonimo]

1 minute ago, andyrhodes24 said:

More often than not you get two global superstars. It’s by no means the weakest trio they’ve had (2014’s Arcade Fire, Metallica and Kasabian) but it’s not exactly strong.

I refuse to count Coldplay as a second superstar, they’re musical equivalent of a chicken korma.

Coldplay sell out stadiums across the world. They crash websites on every continent, they sell out national stadiums, they top the charts with every album - what more do you want? Just because you don't like the music does not mean they aren't massive, it just means your taste isn't similar to the majority of people in the world. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, andyrhodes24 said:

More often than not you get two global superstars at Glasto. It’s by no means the weakest trio they’ve had (2014’s Arcade Fire, Metallica and Kasabian probably takes it) but it’s not exactly strong.

I refuse to count Coldplay as a second superstar, they’re musical equivalent of a chicken korma.

Dua Lipa and Madonna are global superstars. Coldplay are global superstars.

It's okay if you don't like their music, as you've said. Objectively it's a massive trio.

[gfa]

27 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Depends how you view it, they’ll all appeal to someone but barring Madonna they’re far from the global ‘once in blue moon’ type headliners. Like Elton, GnR and Paul McCartney in recent years I can’t imagine Madonna’s vocals are still up to the job

Nothing says global superstar like being unable to sell out British Summer Time as their only show 😂

can't just get 3 eltons / maccas every year lol

Edited November 7, 2023 by gfa

[Benj]

17 minutes ago, Gejonimo said:

Calling Coldplay, Dua and Madonna weak is the most ridiculous sh*t I've ever read on these forums. And A7X, FOB, and QOTSA are also strong - all arena touring bands. I'd love for anyone to explain how any of those bands are poor bookings. 

Pretty much everyone is an arena band these days…

That said none are particularly ‘weak’ they’re just utterly uninspiring.

Madonna is the only one that slightly gets you excited in reality and then probably not for anyone under 25. Guess they have Dua Lipa though…

So it’s just the other 4 that are sh*t!

 

[Guest]

People get so blinded by their personal opinions and aren't able to view headline booking for what they are. Would love to hear some realistic alternatives that would be bigger than Dua/Coldplay/Madonna.

[CG31]

4 minutes ago, SomeoneListeningIn said:

People get so blinded by their personal opinions and aren't able to view headline booking for what they are. Would love to hear some realistic alternatives that would be bigger than Dua/Coldplay/Madonna.

Kate Bush/Oasis/Rick Astley 

[Benj]

6 minutes ago, SomeoneListeningIn said:

People get so blinded by their personal opinions and aren't able to view headline booking for what they are. Would love to hear some realistic alternatives that would be bigger than Dua/Coldplay/Madonna.

I think this is the problem, there is no one better

For Glastonbury (ignoring the fact they’ve toured everywhere under the sun for 3 years), I think the 1975 would’ve been a more exciting option than Coldplay, maybe even Post Malone.

Eminem another…

As you say though so much is based on own opinion. I suspect the average Glastonbury goer is licking their lips at a Coldplay headline set

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Benj said:

I think this is the problem, there is no one better

For Glastonbury (ignoring the fact they’ve toured everywhere under the sun for 3 years), I think the 1975 would’ve been a more exciting option than Coldplay, maybe even Post Malone.

Eminem another…

As you say though so much is based on own opinion. I suspect the average Glastonbury goer is licking their lips at a Coldplay headline set

The 1975 should have been booked instead of AM this year. Post Malone would be so dead at Glastonbury, especially at this point in his career.

[gfa]

9 minutes ago, Benj said:

As you say though so much is based on own opinion. I suspect the average Glastonbury goer is licking their lips at a Coldplay headline set

Just as the average Reading goer would be licking their lips at another 1975 / Post Malone set mind you

thankfully glasto provides some choice of headliners (hey look, set you up for another tent rant!)

Edited November 7, 2023 by gfa

[Benj]

1 minute ago, gfa said:

Just as the average Reading goer would be licking their lips at another 1975 / Post Malone set mind you

thankfully glasto provides some choice of headliners (hey look, set you up for another tent rant!)

Haha, exactly I’d take Coldplay, Maddonna and Dua Lipa at Reading

 

#BRINGBACKTHEBIGTENT

[DarthSaul]

Fred again confirmed for a couple of Scandinavian festivals in August next year so very much on the potential list for Reading. 

[Benj]

17 minutes ago, DarthSaul said:

Fred again confirmed for a couple of Scandinavian festivals in August next year so very much on the potential list for Reading. 

Nailed on for Creamfields or an MSW Reading slot then, possibly both? Has that happened before?

[charlierc]

I don't care for Coldplay but I'm not going to pretend that they are a big band who draw big crowds, and that as next year will be 8 years since their last Glastonbury, it's not that unreasonable a booking.

[wghennessy]

20 minutes ago, Benj said:

Nailed on for Creamfields or an MSW Reading slot then, possibly both? Has that happened before?

It would have to be someone huge to follow Fred, hard to top that.