Headliners 2023

[gfa]

44 minutes ago, stuie said:

Sure, there’s other / bigger / cheaper and better house and techno events but that’s what they are.  Glasto is the sum of its parts and it’s great to mix things up. I’m 42 and I don’t want just techno for 4 days - mix it up with a headliner or two, some afternoon sets, exploring, circus etc etc.

I go to some other smaller festivals too but it’s the full feast that glasto offers that keeps me coming and I expect it’s the same for a lot of people - it’s not just about the headliners and that’s why glasto sells out all the time. 

Glasto’s stages also go on later than most other comparable electronic festivals! 

bigger acts later on in the night too vs others peaking around midnight for their 2am curfew or so

big thing for me is that the stuff in the day makes everyone of my mates want to go, most aren't that into dance but if its there you bet they'll be giving it a go after headliners!

[scaryclaireyfairy]

28 minutes ago, stuartbert two hats said:

Where were you stood?

Did you not hear Pyramid Song or Myxomatosis? I was only in the field for 2017, so can't really judge, but I prefer 2017 on video far more. However, it's not really a fair fight - 2017 was in HD and I have memories of being there.

I think we were just past the barrier. It sounded fine, screechy but fine, but there was a total disconnect twixt band and crowd. The bullshit art shown on the big screens rather than the band ensured that.

In, at that point, 21 years, I'd never "officially"* heard Let Down live before. How apt.

 

*I won't die on this one but I'll pummel ruddy hard, Let Down was played at TiTp '96 but wasn't on the set list. I didn't dream it.

[thatTFBguy]

1 hour ago, stuartbert two hats said:

Edit: so people who were there seem to prefer AM second time around.  The question should surely be, has any returning headline slot been indisputably worse?

AM 2023. Zero stage presence and a shite setlist stuffed with guff from the new album. 

[clarkete]

8 hours ago, Tranquility of Solitude said:

With all this West Holts love in..... and ever the contrary knobhead..... what’s folks views of that field before the stage opens, on the Wed and Thu? My own view (prepared to be shot down) is that the knobhead ratio in it is far higher than found elsewhere, largely due to the Brothers Bar crowd. West Holts is a lovely bar, and the crowd split between the two types of patrons is pretty obvious by looking at the rubbish strewn around that field. Around Brothers it’s a bombsite, usually pretty ok around West Holts.

Going back to when I still tried to drink pints, the years when I shot out of the starting blocks and peaked too early included on more than one occasion drinking that bloody cider - urgh strawberry  🤒

[clarkete]

8 hours ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

Repeat headliners always come with an element of disappointment for me. 

Question: has a headliner ever returned and been better than their original headline slot? 

@stuartbert two hatsmentioned the cure. There's a couple of us here that were there in 1990 but the most memorable thing was them stopping the set for a helicopter to land near the stage after someone had a heart attack - seems inconceivable that they would try landing there these days, by comparison 2019 was a triumph start to finish.

I found a German cure page with a quote that sums up the 1990 visit

"question: how did you feel playing glastonbury? did you enjoy the show? were you concerned about the number of injuries to cure fans?

robert: glastonbury was ok, but it's organisation does leave an awful lot to be desired. there should have been crush barriers in the main field. - the one particular incident down the front with the girl being given the kiss of life shocked us a bit too much to really get into the set.

question: would you ever play glastonbury again?

robert: no. i don't think so."

https://cure-concerts.de/concerts/1990-06-23.php

[stuartbert two hats]

Just now, clarkete said:

@stuartbert two hatsmentioned the cure. There's a couple of us here that were there in 1990 but the most memorable thing was them stopping the set for a helicopter to land near the stage after someone had a heart attack - seems inconceivable that they would try landing there these days, by comparison 2019 was a triumph start to finish.

I found a German cure page with a quote that sums up the 1990 visit

"question: how did you feel playing glastonbury? did you enjoy the show? were you concerned about the number of injuries to cure fans?

robert: glastonbury was ok, but it's organisation does leave an awful lot to be desired. there should have been crush barriers in the main field. - the one particular incident down the front with the girl being given the kiss of life shocked us a bit too much to really get into the set.

question: would you ever play glastonbury again?

robert: no. i don't think so."

https://cure-concerts.de/concerts/1990-06-23.php

They were back only five years later!

[clarkete]

4 minutes ago, stuartbert two hats said:

They were back only five years later!

You're the one who said lost in the mists of time, you blooming whipper snapper 😛

[stuartbert two hats]

9 minutes ago, clarkete said:

You're the one who said lost in the mists of time, you blooming whipper snapper 😛

I didn't start going until 1997, so anything before that is in the mists of time.

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by stuartbert two hats
Added "in"

[MEGABOWL]

1 hour ago, stuartbert two hats said:

 The question should surely be, has any returning headline slot been indisputably worse?

I wasn’t at either Oasis set and I don’t think they were particularly well received in 1995, but surely it was better than 2004? Most things ever anywhere are better than Oasis 2004.

Muse in 2016 must be the weakest of their 3 (3!) cracks at it.

 

[stuartbert two hats]

1 minute ago, MEGABOWL said:

I wasn’t at either Oasis set and I don’t think they were particularly well received in 1995, but surely it was better than 2004? Most things ever anywhere are better than Oasis 2004.

Muse in 2016 must be the weakest of their 3 (3!) cracks at it.

 

That's a good one. I think their 1995 set went down fairly well. 2004, not so much.

Although I quite enjoyed it, as did my mates. Couldn't quite believe the word on site the day afterwards that they were terrible.

Although to be fair, Noel looked like he really didn't want to be there.

[fred quimby]

18 minutes ago, MEGABOWL said:

I wasn’t at either Oasis set and I don’t think they were particularly well received in 1995, but surely it was better than 2004? Most things ever anywhere are better than Oasis 2004.

Muse in 2016 must be the weakest of their 3 (3!) cracks at it.

 

Went to the 95 set and had a great time and thought it was a great set. Real fucking clash that night mind with Prodigy on the other delivering what mates say was an standout set,  and then Massive Attack in the first Dance tent. Saw the start of that one which was special but decided to leg it to the Oasis set, a win which ever set you saw I think. Didn't go to 2004 as they had gone of the boil for me by then

Edited February 23, 2023 by fred quimby

[Tranquility of Solitude]

I’ve been out for beers tonight, so forgive me....but want to say this....the people who drink at Brothers bar, on the Wednesday and Thursday..... well, I’d rather they didn’t attend. I not only don’t like them (knobheads)... but I sincerely wish they didn’t exist on the planet at all. I love Glastonbury. Seriously. Really love it. Many of the posters on here will get that. There’s a part of me wishes there was some sort of filter on ticket day that excluded them..... I don’t mind missing out to people who feel as I do. But so many knobheads get in..... it’s soul destroying.

[sedra]

2 hours ago, scaryclaireyfairy said:

As a long standing Radiohead fan, Radiohead. '17 was dismal compared to '03. I will die on this hill so be prepared to fight.

I’ll be on that hill with you ! Not sure what is was about that one in 2003 but something special. 1997 and 2017 were ok but definitely would pick 03 as one of my favourite headliners ever. 

[Suprefan]

6 hours ago, scaryclaireyfairy said:

As a long standing Radiohead fan, Radiohead. '17 was dismal compared to '03. I will die on this hill so be prepared to fight.

Different expectations make the difference. I loved 2017 cause I was there. Watching 2003 on video was great and at the time its a diff catalog and such. 6 years ago they were cementing their legacy. 20 years ago they were showing everyone why they were the best live act around and that didnt really change til after the In Rainbows tour.

[nikkic]

6 hours ago, scaryclaireyfairy said:

I think we were just past the barrier. It sounded fine, screechy but fine, but there was a total disconnect twixt band and crowd. The bullshit art shown on the big screens rather than the band ensured that.

In, at that point, 21 years, I'd never "officially"* heard Let Down live before. How apt.

 

*I won't die on this one but I'll pummel ruddy hard, Let Down was played at TiTp '96 but wasn't on the set list. I didn't dream it.

100% this. 

We were to the left of the mixing desk, kinda in line with the screen that side, so sound was great where we were stood, but those damn shitty screens….

That and no Reckoner.

It was my first time seeing Radiohead, I was beyond excited, stood there with my best mate who was as into them as I was.

Should have been a 10/10 experience but was at best a 7/10 for me. 

[CaledonianGonzo]

You should have spent all day on the barrier with an apple and some gum.

[NorthernSoul52]

Glad to see I didn't miss too much.

Re: the Wireless argument, not sure if I'm wildly out of the loop or if this year's clutch of headliners would be considered bill-topper worthy? Travis Scott is the only one I'd argue for in terms of size. Playboi Carti, D-Block Europe and 50 Cent, less so.

[Zoo Music Girl]

8 hours ago, clasher said:

It's a Yugoslav staple, going back to late 50s I think. Popular so much that you even have reddit posts about calculating which of the five shapes is the biggest 😂
The (now) Croatian company that makes it (and a couple of other legendary sweets) goes back even further. I say "now" - it was founded in what was then Austro-Hungary in *googles quickly* 1911 and survived the monarchy, socialism and the breakup of Yugoslavia.

Thankfully still going strong.

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that the biscuit is not revolutionary, but gets the basics juuuuuust right. It's the Highway to Hell or I love Rock'n'Roll of biscuits, If you will. No pretentious guitar solos, no lavish orchestral parts. A riff, a beat and a catchy chorus, but done just right.

Excellent post. So where can you get them in the UK?

[Superscally]

7 hours ago, scaryclaireyfairy said:

I think we were just past the barrier. It sounded fine, screechy but fine, but there was a total disconnect twixt band and crowd. The bullshit art shown on the big screens rather than the band ensured that.

In, at that point, 21 years, I'd never "officially"* heard Let Down live before. How apt.

 

*I won't die on this one but I'll pummel ruddy hard, Let Down was played at TiTp '96 but wasn't on the set list. I didn't dream it.

I'm like that with Ultraviolet Light and U2 at Glasto. I swear they played it.

[nikkic]

1 hour ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

You should have spent all day on the barrier with an apple and some gum.

Toughest part would have been having to watch Blossoms 

[Superscally]

6 hours ago, Tranquility of Solitude said:

I’ve been out for beers tonight, so forgive me....but want to say this....the people who drink at Brothers bar, on the Wednesday and Thursday..... well, I’d rather they didn’t attend. I not only don’t like them (knobheads)... but I sincerely wish they didn’t exist on the planet at all. I love Glastonbury. Seriously. Really love it. Many of the posters on here will get that. There’s a part of me wishes there was some sort of filter on ticket day that excluded them..... I don’t mind missing out to people who feel as I do. But so many knobheads get in..... it’s soul destroying.

Well that's a bit mean. We do that. We pick up our shite when we leave. There is nothing wrong with choosing to do that, or most of the people there, it's just too busy nowadays.

[NorthernSoul52]

14 minutes ago, Superscally said:

I'm like that with Ultraviolet Light and U2 at Glasto. I swear they played it.

...I've just twigged they didn't. I could have sworn they did too.

That's bizarre.

[CaledonianGonzo]

31 minutes ago, nikkic said:

Toughest part would have been having to watch Blossoms 

The 2017 line up was pretty stale with all the nineties acts.  Blossoms should have been bumped up to headline to keep things fresh.

[The Nal]

9 hours ago, stuartbert two hats said:

Really?

Miles better than 04

[Hugh Jass II]

9 hours ago, stuartbert two hats said:

Coldplay undoubtedly put  on way better shows in their last two outings compared to their first two.

I know Radiohead's 1997 slot is legendary, but if you watch them back, it doesn't hold up compared to the more recent showings with a far deeper back catalogue.

The Cure's early headline slots are lost in the mists of time, but they were very well received in 2019.

The Killers were definitely better second time around, without "unusual atmospheric conditions".

I cannot judge Muse and Van Morrison and Elvis Costello headlining are before my time.

So it's just AM who weren't judged to be as good next time around? But even that might be because of expectations - they did feel a bit like a pub band done good the first time, rather than a headliner with humour that fell flat.

Oh yeah, The Who. Pissing it down so everyone was miserable first time, not very good performance the second time. About a draw.

Who have I forgotten? Basically I'd say that there's probably a better than average chance returning headliners will improve.

Edit: so people who were there seem to prefer AM second time around.  The question should surely be, has any returning headline slot been indisputably worse?

As someone who was at all three of Muse’s headline sets:

04 - Absolutely brilliant performance, that was the night they became the headline band they are now. Probably the best I’ve ever seen them.

10 - Good, this was them arguably at the peak of their stadium topping powers and just before the real nonsense started to kick in.

16 - Flat, too much 2nd Law/Drones garbage. This was them at their worst.