2025 Headliners

[across97]

23 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Stereophonics headlined Glastonbury?

 

I remember spotting they headlined Reading in 2000 and thinking the acts they played after to be quite a hilarious mix of stuff.

 

2002 I believe. 
 

No idea how it was perceived at the time, but probably that was just as their peak was tailing off 

[charlierc]

10 minutes ago, Rose-Colored Boy said:

Same year as Rod Stewart, bafflingly. Also Coldplay’s first time though so some things never change!! 

Bloody hell 2002 was a different time indeed.

[charlierc]

1 minute ago, across97 said:

2002 I believe. 
 

No idea how it was perceived at the time, but probably that was just as their peak was tailing off 

Described by a contemporaneous Guardian review as "may have the songs but they had the stage presence of nervous roadies" and "never rose above a plod"

 

They seemed to have this as a stereotype at this time, given NME's preview of Glastonbury 2002 that I just saw had the following advice: "Don’t hang around for headliners the Stereophonics – disappear into the night and make your own fun"

 

So make of that what you will I guess. Yet 20+ years on they're doing stadiums so... guess they'll be happy with that.

[wro_lap]

Stereophonics would make a brilliant Pyramid sub.

They did support Pearl Jam at Hyde Park a couple of years ago, so anything is possible...

[NorthernSoul52]

59 minutes ago, Elba said:

Apparently he’s experiencing burnout from his tours and so turned it down (heard from friends who know people in Fred’s team)

Fascinating. His schedule doesn't seem to be absolutely slammed, but that's in no way a dismissal of those reasons - he does appear to be relentlessly active across multiple departments. 

[NorthernSoul52]

As for Stereophonics, it's a pre-Dakota slot too - by some margin their most festival-friendly tune when you look back now. 

[ClementsMike]

The ‘phonics were always slagged off for leaden dad rock , and it was probably fair, but they were absolutely massive for a couple of years. Sort of followed on from Travis. 

[Talcroft]

My pal's 14yo absolutely loves stereophonics. My 15yo niece is appalled I saw Kate Nash before she was born. I believe Natasha Bedingfield has had a resurgence recently. What is going on. 

[nikkic]

5 minutes ago, Talcroft said:

My pal's 14yo absolutely loves stereophonics. My 15yo niece is appalled I saw Kate Nash before she was born. I believe Natasha Bedingfield has had a resurgence recently. What is going on. 

Tiktok

[Talcroft]

1 minute ago, nikkic said:

Tiktok

 

But of all the things it could push, of all the record companies and young artists jostling to make a 60-sec winning clip, how is the algorithm pushing 20yo pop to teens? Baffling. 

 

Anyway. Completely uninspired by the rumours. Not a massive Fred fan but would see him as think it'd be a phenomenal party. If it's true he's pulled out I hope it works out for him... Worry his stock will fall after a disappointing third album and he'll miss his chance.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, wro_lap said:

Stereophonics would make a brilliant Pyramid sub.

They did support Pearl Jam at Hyde Park a couple of years ago, so anything is possible...

The Phonics are one of those that I'd ne more interested in now then say 10 years back when I had no interest. Just a change of likes I guess. I wouldn't go out my way to their own gig though.

[Franky]

It’s the KLF (Saturday) 

[Superscally]

4 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

So, let's just have a handy recap now we've cleared a few more pages.

 

+ Olivia Rodrigo seems to be a lock, and despite some information suggesting she'll close the whole shebang, we're leaning towards the Saturday.

 

+ The 1975 came out of nowhere last week as a reported replacement for Fred again.. and will play on the Friday.

 

+ Sam Fender was previously touted as in the mix, but now seems to be possibly less of a sure thing - or maybe the same.

 

+ We have one source suggesting that it is Stevie Wonder on the Sunday instead.

 

+ Talk about Rihanna appears to have completely died on the vine.

 

Is that about right?

...and Nick Cave is playing Sunday.

[Suprefan]

4 hours ago, Elba said:

Apparently he’s experiencing burnout from his tours and so turned it down (heard from friends who know people in Fred’s team)

 

but strangely is supposed to be headlining Coachella unless he turned that down too at the last second. So yeah, wonder whats up.

Edited 9 hours ago by Suprefan

[Rose-Colored Boy]

7 hours ago, Talcroft said:

My pal's 14yo absolutely loves stereophonics. My 15yo niece is appalled I saw Kate Nash before she was born. I believe Natasha Bedingfield has had a resurgence recently. What is going on. 

the Natasha Bedingfield thing is because of a Sydney Sweeney romcom. Happy for her, she’s always seemed like a good egg. 

[Dg_vic]

8 hours ago, charlierc said:

Described by a contemporaneous Guardian review as "may have the songs but they had the stage presence of nervous roadies" and "never rose above a plod"

 

They seemed to have this as a stereotype at this time, given NME's preview of Glastonbury 2002 that I just saw had the following advice: "Don’t hang around for headliners the Stereophonics – disappear into the night and make your own fun"

 

So make of that what you will I guess. Yet 20+ years on they're doing stadiums so... guess they'll be happy with that.

Most accurate review of stereophonics I have read.  They are one of the misy joyless live acts I have seen with no stage presence or charisma. 
 

Some decent tunes from back in the day. 

[Euphoricape]

8 hours ago, across97 said:

2002 I believe. 
 

No idea how it was perceived at the time, but probably that was just as their peak was tailing off 

What a line up that is though

[WhoOdyssey]

9 hours ago, Talcroft said:

 

But of all the things it could push, of all the record companies and young artists jostling to make a 60-sec winning clip, how is the algorithm pushing 20yo pop to teens? Baffling. 

It happened after being prominently featured in the film Anyone But You earlier this year.

[NorthernSoul52]

Stereophonics arguably a far better Radio 2 band than they were at being anything else back in the day, and I mean that as a compliment. 

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

As for Stereophonics, it's a pre-Dakota slot too - by some margin their most festival-friendly tune when you look back now. 

Interesting. 2005 release so yeah.

 

The fact it hits with the dad-rock crowd on my local pub's cover band circuit also lends itself to the theory of it being a big festival song.

[charlierc]

6 hours ago, Suprefan said:

 

but strangely is supposed to be headlining Coachella unless he turned that down too at the last second. So yeah, wonder whats up.

We seem to be seeing this a lot more where I think acts are just falling out of love with the idea of touring everywhere all the time and are doing shorter legs or taking more breaks. If Fred's had a chance of heart and decided he needs 2025 off after some intense scheduling in recent years, then that's fair enough.

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, ClementsMike said:

The ‘phonics were always slagged off for leaden dad rock , and it was probably fair, but they were absolutely massive for a couple of years. Sort of followed on from Travis. 

I saw Travis support The Killers in July and was kinda surprised by them tbf. I hadn't expected much because of reputation and being meh on a song or two I'd heard but their frontman was charming and had more crowd interaction than some headliners I've seen, and the songs translated very well live. Think they won quite a lot of fans from that run.

 

It is still kinda funny in retrospect that in 2001, they headlined Reading with Green Day as the sub-headliner.

[NorthernSoul52]

Travis could do with a few meatier support slots. Were they not potentially too similar for vintage, I could have seen them on the Stereophonics stadium run next year.

 

Stereophonics, personally, have enough material to smash a ninety-minute slot atop the Pyramid with very little problem, and their continued live sales certainly suggest they are still sizable enough to do it. But I also fully concur that they won't have been booked to return to headline for a reason - they've certainly been around when acts have been needed in a pinch - and so their time has clearly gone.

[Ben7amin_]

I always liked Travis first album - Good Feeling,  It did not make much of an impact but I think its potentially there best work (IMO) though in terms of putting them on a big stage its not the well know content. 

 

I think basically all Travis - Well known songs came of the 2nd and 3rd albums -  Maybe one or 2 of the 4th. 

 

I would not bother getting tickets for them - but I recon Id catch them at Glastonbury. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Ben7amin_

[NorthernSoul52]

Yeah, The Man Who delivered the obvious ones.

 

Not a bad shout to open the Other Stage on the Friday.