2025 Headliners

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, wro_lap said:

I thought the Loyle info was for Friday?

There has bee infor both Loyle on Friday and Saturday. It's all very up and open still. The Loyle Saturday isn't as strong but I wouldn't disregard it.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Just now, Quark said:

 

Auntie was always going to be all over it after Neil implied they were they reason

 

Had a couple of push notifications from other news apps too.

[FrogLobster]

3 minutes ago, ac123 said:

To clarify, I don't want them either haha. Olivia Rodrigo probably has the clout for it internationally I just dk if she's that famous over here?

Shes sold out Hyde Park ages in advance and her arena tour last year (including 2 o2 arenas) was sold out too AFAIK. Shes definetly big enough.

Edited Friday at 01:44 PM by FrogLobster

[CaledonianGonzo]

2 minutes ago, ac123 said:

To clarify, I don't want them either haha. Olivia Rodrigo probably has the clout for it internationally I just dk if she's that famous over here?

 

She does, as is reinforced by her headlining BST.

[ac123]

More than fair! I didn't realise.

[CaledonianGonzo]

1 minute ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

She does, as is reinforced by her headlining BST.

 

Same may also probably fo for Neil Young too tbf.

Edited Friday at 01:45 PM by CaledonianGonzo

[northernangel]

4 minutes ago, ac123 said:

The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo are R+L bookings as far as I'm concerned, I don't think it's us that are turning it into anything.

 

I will agree with him to a point, for a festival that sells out regardless and they can book who they want, it isn't the attendee that's turning it in the aspects of R&L that are there, it's the continued booking of more Reading like acts that brings people.

[across97]

2 minutes ago, ac123 said:

The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo are R+L bookings as far as I'm concerned, I don't think it's us that are turning it into anything.

The 1975 possibly agree, but then how many eventual Glastonbury headliners start by headlining R&L? Kasabian, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Stereophonics to name a few. The 1975 have worked hard, done the circuit, and I can undertsand the call up but I won't be in attendance. 

Re Rodrigo, reminds me of Billie Eilish in 2022, think they're booking an act right before she becomes a true international superstar. Providing the next album doesn't flop I think she'll be heading on one of the biggest (money and attendence) tours in recent years. 

[Burritomancer]

Glad people are happy about NY being confirmed. Can’t say I’ve listened much to him (gave Harvest a play) but out of all the older headline-esque acts that are about this year I’d have much preferred Billy Joel, ELO, the Stones etc

[ac123]

1 minute ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Same may also probably fo for Neil Young too tbf.

More impressive to sell those as a touring current artist imo, speaking as a man who's been to many a day festival to catch an aging artist before they croak hahah.

[ac123]

1 minute ago, across97 said:

The 1975 possibly agree, but then how many eventual Glastonbury headliners start by headlining R&L? Kasabian, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Stereophonics to name a few. The 1975 have worked hard, done the circuit, and I can undertsand the call up but I won't be in attendance. 

Re Rodrigo, reminds me of Billie Eilish in 2022, think they're booking an act right before she becomes a true international superstar. Providing the next album doesn't flop I think she'll be heading on one of the biggest (money and attendence) tours in recent years. 

Yeah I think that's a balanced take, just both of them at the same time seems to be causing very polarising reactions among folk on here and those I know. If you like those artists you're golden and think they're deserving, and if you don't you're a bit miffed and could name 400 people you think are more deserving. So is life, see you all on the farm x

[Quark]

7 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Had a couple of push notifications from other news apps too.

 

No doubt, but a Glastonbury headliner announcement (even a comically incompetent one) always generates interest, and news orgs always love seeing other news orgs getting implicated in some nonsense

[wro_lap]

10 minutes ago, northernangel said:

There has bee infor both Loyle on Friday and Saturday. It's all very up and open still. The Loyle Saturday isn't as strong but I wouldn't disregard it.

Fair! Cheers for the intel

[The_Fish]

17 minutes ago, Physical_graffiti said:

But why do all 3 headliners need to be relevant to young people. Glasto would be shite then. It's great cos you can get some old codger who's a legend to the 50+ generation headlining the night before a young pop star who no one over 30 could name a tune by. Both massive and totally opposite ends of the spectrum, deserving to headline for different reasons. Plus there's 100 other stages at the same time. Glastonbury's fantastic because of this spectrum. Let's not try turn it into Reading or Leeds

They don’t need to be relevant to young people, they need crossover appeal. Otherwise you end up with disasters like SZA. 

[across97]

1 minute ago, ac123 said:

Yeah I think that's a balanced take, just both of them at the same time seems to be causing very polarising reactions among folk on here and those I know. If you like those artists you're golden and think they're deserving, and if you don't you're a bit miffed and could name 400 people you think are more deserving. So is life, see you all on the farm x

No I do agree, and I think if you are going after those 2 then I have no qualms with that, but do think you need an true multi-generational icon as the 3rd headliner to round it off (Stones, U2, Adele) type act. Throwing Neil Young into that duo, alienates a lot of 25ish-50ish years olds I'd say. I don't think its a catastrophically weak trio, but there's been countless better headliner trios in the last 15 years in my opinion

[parsonjack]

The whole Neil Young thing has got 'something for Michael' written all over it.

[gfa]

The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo are both ready music wise and their previous dates sales are certainly good enough

[CaledonianGonzo]

1 minute ago, parsonjack said:

The whole Neil Young thing has got 'something for Michael' written all over it.

 

It's probably a 'nice to have', but reckon NY would still be on their list even if ME wasn't a fan.

[Quark]

8 minutes ago, ac123 said:

Yeah I think that's a balanced take, just both of them at the same time seems to be causing very polarising reactions among folk on here and those I know. If you like those artists you're golden and think they're deserving, and if you don't you're a bit miffed and could name 400 people you think are more deserving. So is life, see you all on the farm x

Balanced takes have absolutely no place on an internet forum

[K2SO]

I don't know if this shows my age, how uncultured I am or what... But on reflection, I do not think I know a single Neil Young song. Am I being silly or missing something obvious?

 

I actually think I'd be more likely to recognise a SZA song than one of his at this point

[gfa]

While its only Charli and Neil Young really known about at the moment, you do have to wonder who else will be playing at headliner time.

 

If woodsies has a older indie act ala Jamie T or something that could eat a fair bit into the older crowd who may want to see Neil Young (same with an act like Jaxx or Underworld)

[across97]

2 minutes ago, parsonjack said:

The whole Neil Young thing has got 'something for Michael' written all over it.

Yeah, that was my immediate thought and probably why I'm not totally baffled. Probably something/someone he really wanted to see at the farm again and Emily wanted to make it happen for him. 

[MEGABOWL]

49 minutes ago, ac123 said:

I called the festival's booking poor over the course of 2025 and 2024, I never said he was a poor booking. Take your Neil Young hat off for one second and be objective please. I am aware music is subjective and you may love someone I do not, but he is being set up for the "Macca/Elton/Madonna or Stevie (oof)" slot but hasn't got anywhere near the same level of popularity because he doesn't write pop songs. They are seemingly country rock/folk from what I've listened to so far. He has about 700k more monthly streams than KSI, so I think it's safe to say most under a certain age haven't got a scooby who he is. Had the 1975 been a stronger pick, I think he would have been a grand booking for those that love him. But in the greater context, it looks so weak.

There isn’t a “ "Macca/Elton/Madonna or Stevie (oof)" slot”  though. They’ve just booked Neil Young to do Neil Young things. Given the festival has had him play before, had booked him before that, and he’s been around for a very long time I’m pretty sure they know who Neil Young is and that he isn’t going to do what those acts do.

 

 

[foolee]

36 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

The biggest thing is to make sure they don't have someone the Charli XCX fans would want to all see on the Pyramid before Neil Young, as the biggest issue for Avril was the movement of everyone at once.

Get Jack White in the slot below Neil, would be a perfect fit

[Quark]

1 minute ago, K2SO said:

I don't know if this shows my age, how uncultured I am or what... But on reflection, I do not think I know a single Neil Young song. Am I being silly or missing something obvious?

 

I actually think I'd be more likely to recognise a SZA song than one of his at this point

 

Neither.  With the volume of recorded music available and the number of ways to consume it, entirely feasible you'd have missed something!

 

Having said that, I would suggest playing either Heart of Gold or Rocking In The Free World to see if they ring a bell at all.