2025 Headliners

[MrHew]

4 hours ago, Talcroft said:

D

I've gone on about this before on here so I won't rant at length, but I think it's more nuanced than that.. For a long time in the UK, festivals were a haven for alternative communities and when they go "mainstream" I think some of those communities feel threatened - their safe space is being taken away. 

Chappelle Roan is the obvious exception to this identity wise, but the music remains mainstream pop. 

I'm not gonna debate this any more because it's not something I have a clear feeling on - I get mad that the people who bullied me for being alternative now hang out at the same festivals, but equally I'm glad the things I love get a world stage and are accessible to all, rather than falling by the wayside. 

 

(And obviously I haven't even mentioned the faux community construct of modern capitalism anyway, like certain major festivals or artists actually ever cared about identity over profits.) 

This sums up my thoughts more articulately than I possibly could. 

 

That alternative side is still very much present at Glastonbury but much more in the background, away from the main stages whereas in 'the good old days' it was was front and centre. That's fine though, I just don't spend a lot of time at the main stages these days.

 

And it's why I love Beautiful Days because I feel at home with all the other old crusties and hippies. 

[charlierc]

16 hours ago, SwallowOrSleepOnTheWetSpot said:

 

Why not, Avril did fine there.

Isn't that where Miley Cyrus played in 2019?

[charlierc]

5 hours ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

 

Certainly appears to be a shift in music policy, although some might argue that they've been edging closer to this every year, post-COVID. 

 

People still can't get their heads around the fact that festivals evolve. It's like they want to freeze time to suit their taste.

It's kinda something tbf that we talked about whether Primavera would book big acts in terms of booking Green Day, then they go out and book arguably the 3 biggest pop stars of last year.

[Mardy]

5 hours ago, Talcroft said:

D

I've gone on about this before on here so I won't rant at length, but I think it's more nuanced than that.. For a long time in the UK, festivals were a haven for alternative communities and when they go "mainstream" I think some of those communities feel threatened - their safe space is being taken away. 

Chappelle Roan is the obvious exception to this identity wise, but the music remains mainstream pop. 

I'm not gonna debate this any more because it's not something I have a clear feeling on - I get mad that the people who bullied me for being alternative now hang out at the same festivals, but equally I'm glad the things I love get a world stage and are accessible to all, rather than falling by the wayside. 

 

(And obviously I haven't even mentioned the faux community construct of modern capitalism anyway, like certain major festivals or artists actually ever cared about identity over profits.) 

 

 

Excellent post.

 

It's something I really struggle with. This was my big problem with Guns & Roses when they were booked. The kind of people who were listening to G&R in the late 80s/early 90s absolutely despised those of us who were going to Glastonbury. That band for me personified the kind of mulleted prick in the only rock pub in town who would threaten to glass you if you put anything on the jukebox that wasn't straight ahead meat and potatoes rock and sneered at you for being stinking f**king hippies or whatever.The lads who thought the coppers did 'a f**king good job' at the Battle of the Beanfield.

 

I can't really forgive and forget and the idea that there's now tens of thousands of people in the Pyramid field watching them as a headliner makes me intensely uncomfortable. We were the f**king enemy, we were bullied in the workplace and threatened with a glassing by people wearing G&R T-shirts, and now that band is on a Glastonbury T-shirt? Man, I just don't know.

[NorthernSoul52]

I like that Glastonbury can, at its very best, represent a wide church of tastes, particularly across the top of its stages.

 

But there's always going to be elements overcooked  or underlooked. Take Primavera and its trio of pop headliners for next year - arguably all different facets, but still broadly "pop" as they say.

[FKA SOSOTWS]

5 hours ago, Talcroft said:

D

I've gone on about this before on here so I won't rant at length, but I think it's more nuanced than that.. For a long time in the UK, festivals were a haven for alternative communities and when they go "mainstream" I think some of those communities feel threatened - their safe space is being taken away. 

Chappelle Roan is the obvious exception to this identity wise, but the music remains mainstream pop. 

I'm not gonna debate this any more because it's not something I have a clear feeling on - I get mad that the people who bullied me for being alternative now hang out at the same festivals, but equally I'm glad the things I love get a world stage and are accessible to all, rather than falling by the wayside. 

 

(And obviously I haven't even mentioned the faux community construct of modern capitalism anyway, like certain major festivals or artists actually ever cared about identity over profits.) 

 

It's not out of the ordinary or transgressive anymore to be a queer act, so definitely not alternative in any shape or form.

 

 

Edited October 24 by SwallowOrSleepOnTheWetSpot

[Glasto96]

Any reason why someone would want to put money on Rod Stewart to move him up the betting? 

[Avalon_Fields]

5 minutes ago, Glasto96 said:

Any reason why someone would want to put money on Rod Stewart to move him up the betting? 

Beyond all reason I’d say. Unless they’re getting mixed up with the Legend slot 

[Gnomicide]

4 hours ago, Mardy said:

 

 

Excellent post.

 

It's something I really struggle with. This was my big problem with Guns & Roses when they were booked. The kind of people who were listening to G&R in the late 80s/early 90s absolutely despised those of us who were going to Glastonbury. That band for me personified the kind of mulleted prick in the only rock pub in town who would threaten to glass you if you put anything on the jukebox that wasn't straight ahead meat and potatoes rock and sneered at you for being stinking f**king hippies or whatever.The lads who thought the coppers did 'a f**king good job' at the Battle of the Beanfield.

 

I can't really forgive and forget and the idea that there's now tens of thousands of people in the Pyramid field watching them as a headliner makes me intensely uncomfortable. We were the f**king enemy, we were bullied in the workplace and threatened with a glassing by people wearing G&R T-shirts, and now that band is on a Glastonbury T-shirt? Man, I just don't know.

 

I'm hurt.

 

As someone who was very much listening to GnR in the late 80s, early 90s (plus 00s, 10s and 20s come to think of it), we were also going to festivals, just different ones.

 

We may not have been going to Glastonbury but very much saw people who did as comrades is arms. It was the people who spent Saturday night in Cinderella's who were the enemy.

 

Maybe it was different where you lived, or you just went to the wrong pubs.

 

 

Edited October 24 by Gnomicide

[CaledonianGonzo]

I do agree that rock pubs on the whole are / were generally relaxed anything goes spaces with tolerant and open-minded punters - and though I never went to any my assumption is that would translate to the festivals.  Never heard of folk getting in done in at Donnington.

 

Though where I grew up the pubs to avoid were covered in Union Jacks and pictures of the Queen so ymmv.

 

Can't help but think it's a good thing that musics leas tribal these days. Imagine getting your head kicked in by some c**t dressed like they should be in Showaddywaddy.

 

 

[Mardy]

7 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

 

I'm hurt.

 

As someone who was very much listening to GnR in the late 80s, early 90s (plus 00s, 10s and 20s come to think of it), we were also going to festivals, just different ones.

 

We may not have been going to Glastonbury but very much saw people who did as comrades is arms. It was the people who spent Saturday night in Cinderella's who were the enemy.

 

Maybe it was different where you lived, or you just went to the wrong pubs.

 

 

 

G-man, you know I love you, and a red wine fuelled chat with you is one of the highlights of any trip to the farm.

 

I can only speak about small towns, maybe it's different in big cities, but there was an absolute tribalism here, and it really was always arseholes in G&R shirts who gave the weirdos/outsiders grief.

[henry bear]

7 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

 

I'm hurt.

 

As someone who was very much listening to GnR in the late 80s, early 90s (plus 00s, 10s and 20s come to think of it), we were also going to festivals, just different ones.

 

We may not have been going to Glastonbury but very much saw people who did as comrades is arms. It was the people who spent Saturday night in Cinderella's who were the enemy.

 

Maybe it was different where you lived, or you just went to the wrong pubs.

 

 

I agree. As someone who went to Glasto in the 80's I never felt that metal-heads were the enemy, indeed used to see quite a few on the farm - even though hard rock was always in short supply there. Back then attending festivals was much more of a minority thing, and there was an affinity amongst us all. Nowadays everyone goes to festivals

[GrumpyRaver]

15 hours ago, Acid_Haze said:

Brittany Howard killed it, was one of my highlights of the weekend.

Same for Janelle. Stunning show, was right up there with Dua and LCD as not just weekend highlights, but all time Glastonbury highlights for me

[Mardy]

2 hours ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

 

Though where I grew up the pubs to avoid were covered in Union Jacks and pictures of the Queen so ymmv.

 

 

 

this was the rock pub! 

[4AssedMonkey]

18 hours ago, incident said:

 

Seven UK top 10s, and several more in the top fourty. With most of that coming when the chart positions still meant something.

 

I've not checked this, but I'd presume that outside of (two of) the headliners and the legends slot, there weren't many (if any) acts on the lineup that could match that reach.

 

Really?  I honestly could only name 4 Avril Lavigne songs from memory.  Maybe it passed me by at the time.

 

13 hours ago, Mardy said:

Excellent post.

 

It's something I really struggle with. This was my big problem with Guns & Roses when they were booked. The kind of people who were listening to G&R in the late 80s/early 90s absolutely despised those of us who were going to Glastonbury. That band for me personified the kind of mulleted prick in the only rock pub in town who would threaten to glass you if you put anything on the jukebox that wasn't straight ahead meat and potatoes rock and sneered at you for being stinking f**king hippies or whatever.The lads who thought the coppers did 'a f**king good job' at the Battle of the Beanfield.

 

I can't really forgive and forget and the idea that there's now tens of thousands of people in the Pyramid field watching them as a headliner makes me intensely uncomfortable. We were the f**king enemy, we were bullied in the workplace and threatened with a glassing by people wearing G&R T-shirts, and now that band is on a Glastonbury T-shirt? Man, I just don't know.

 

As others have echoed, I was a teenage metalhead in the 80's/90's in Sheffield and the rock pubs/clubs were a lot more friendly and inclusive than all the smart pubs and wine bars full of posey Tory w*nkers looking down their nose at everyone.

 

Easier access to music via MTV, then streaming etc. has made everything much less tribal than it used to be and I think Glastonbury's evolution to what it is now is just a reflection of that.  My taste has broadened massively over the years and whilst I will never, ever wilfully listen to Jazz, there isn't much else I wouldn't give a go and probably find something I enjoy.

[Suprefan]

19 hours ago, Talcroft said:

D

I've gone on about this before on here so I won't rant at length, but I think it's more nuanced than that.. For a long time in the UK, festivals were a haven for alternative communities and when they go "mainstream" I think some of those communities feel threatened - their safe space is being taken away. 

Chappelle Roan is the obvious exception to this identity wise, but the music remains mainstream pop. 

I'm not gonna debate this any more because it's not something I have a clear feeling on - I get mad that the people who bullied me for being alternative now hang out at the same festivals, but equally I'm glad the things I love get a world stage and are accessible to all, rather than falling by the wayside. 

 

(And obviously I haven't even mentioned the faux community construct of modern capitalism anyway, like certain major festivals or artists actually ever cared about identity over profits.) 

Who is Chapelle. Fix your auto correct

[fraybentos1]

8 minutes ago, Suprefan said:

Who is Chapelle. Fix your auto correct

shut up

[stuie]

14 minutes ago, Suprefan said:

Who is Chapelle. Fix your auto correct

Fix your attitude. 

[MrZigster]

 

18 hours ago, Talcroft said:

D

I've gone on about this before on here so I won't rant at length, but I think it's more nuanced than that.. For a long time in the UK, festivals were a haven for alternative communities and when they go "mainstream" I think some of those communities feel threatened - their safe space is being taken away. 

Chappelle Roan is the obvious exception to this identity wise, but the music remains mainstream pop. 

I'm not gonna debate this any more because it's not something I have a clear feeling on - I get mad that the people who bullied me for being alternative now hang out at the same festivals, but equally I'm glad the things I love get a world stage and are accessible to all, rather than falling by the wayside. 

 

(And obviously I haven't even mentioned the faux community construct of modern capitalism anyway, like certain major festivals or artists actually ever cared about identity over profits.) 

 Agree with @Mardybelow. Great post. One of the big things that stood out for me from my first Glastonbury ('95) was a whole, "It's a gathering of the tribes", vibe. Like a pow wow from an old western movie. Despite our various affiliations we're all camped next to each other for this weekend, letting each other be, having fun and not fighting. 

13 hours ago, Mardy said:

 

 

Excellent post.

 

It's something I really struggle with. This was my big problem with Guns & Roses when they were booked. The kind of people who were listening to G&R in the late 80s/early 90s absolutely despised those of us who were going to Glastonbury. That band for me personified the kind of mulleted prick in the only rock pub in town who would threaten to glass you if you put anything on the jukebox that wasn't straight ahead meat and potatoes rock and sneered at you for being stinking f**king hippies or whatever.The lads who thought the coppers did 'a f**king good job' at the Battle of the Beanfield.

 

I can't really forgive and forget and the idea that there's now tens of thousands of people in the Pyramid field watching them as a headliner makes me intensely uncomfortable. We were the f**king enemy, we were bullied in the workplace and threatened with a glassing by people wearing G&R T-shirts, and now that band is on a Glastonbury T-shirt? Man, I just don't know.

 

8 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

 

I'm hurt.

 

As someone who was very much listening to GnR in the late 80s, early 90s (plus 00s, 10s and 20s come to think of it), we were also going to festivals, just different ones.

 

We may not have been going to Glastonbury but very much saw people who did as comrades is arms. It was the people who spent Saturday night in Cinderella's who were the enemy.

 

Maybe it was different where you lived, or you just went to the wrong pubs.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Mardy said:

 

G-man, you know I love you, and a red wine fuelled chat with you is one of the highlights of any trip to the farm.

 

I can only speak about small towns, maybe it's different in big cities, but there was an absolute tribalism here, and it really was always arseholes in G&R shirts who gave the weirdos/outsiders grief.

I'm with @Gnomicidehere. I introduced so many people to GnR 'round our way (and well before Jonathan King broke them nationally (the f**king nonce)).

 

Us rock fans were very much the bullied rather than the bullies iirc and we had quite a cross over with the older hippies when I was a teen/young lad. Seem to recall we were both wary of a certain type of skinhead (and I still am tbh). I can only speak from my small town experience of course.

 

So glad things are less tribal these days (despite certain powers that be trying to persuade us that our neighbours are the issue).

[rwoo]

15 hours ago, mufcok said:

 

Who says I have info! 😂 just merely asking a question 👀

Who are you betting on? 

[NorthernSoul52]

Green Day being billed as one word is triggering me, I must admit.

 

Spaces, Sky Bet, spaces.

[efcfanwirral]

21 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

I stood right side of the Pyramid for Shania and as soon as she went I didn't hang about. Strange thing was...NBT was on and I went back to my tent for 10 minutes or so first to fill up on drinks then headed down. 

 

My positions for both acts:

 

 

We did the same - ran between the two. We were about in line with you in front of the screen on the left as you look at the stage for Avril

[efcfanwirral]

20 hours ago, 4AssedMonkey said:

 

I get this and expected Sugababes to be mad busy, but I was genuinely - am still genuinely - baffled by the size of the crowd for Avril Lavigne.  I would never have predicted that.  I just didn't think that she had enough big UK hits to be such a draw.

 

Its how little she tours or plays festivals I think. There are loads of similar sized acts from the 00s that people had plenty of chance to see at the time and since, at V Festival, or in some circumstances Reading, or even the smaller ones like Kendal etc, but Avril never played that sort of thing and only did limited tours once every 5+ years. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Yeah, sometimes rarity plays a factor into it - which will likely help these reported stadium shows for LDR. She's not a prolific UK touring artist - only festival shows in the past six years - but that demand can pay off if the moment meets you and vice versa.

 

With the pop-punk revival and people like Olivia Rodrigo namechecking, it was probably a perfect storm for Avril.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Alanis will get a big crowd too, in similar fashion.