2025 Headliners

[nikkic]

7 hours ago, incident said:

 

Reportedly a few years back (before the stage was relocated) he used to have a motorhome parked up in the John Peel Stage crew area every year, where he'd hold court with all of the upcoming indie acts of the day who would come to pay their respects. Stories suggested that an acoustic guitar would come out from time to time. No idea whether that still happens, I assume not.

 

Nothing public though.

Just goes to show, every party you go to, there’s always one twat with a guitar singing Wonderwall. 

[Ayrshire Chris]

5 minutes ago, nikkic said:

Just goes to show, every party you go to, there’s always one twat with a guitar singing Wonderwall. 

[NorthernSoul52]

8 hours ago, mufcok said:

Could still be pissed, but, after seeing Fontaines for the fourth time in 8 days last night in Dublin - 2027/28 headliners, as far as I'm concerned (pending another big record and potential burnout).

 

 

On another level right now.

You know, i was having this discussion the other day. I think, commercially, they might top out unless they can keep the hype rolling into 2026 and a new record. 

 

But the slickness of their stagecraft and the commercial access of their tunes has come on in leaps and bounds. 

[Superscally]

2 hours ago, Someoni said:

No.😅😅

🤣

[Havors]

10 hours ago, Jamm said:

I think Bowie is different - again with the UK cultural relevance like Macca or Elton. You can outright dislike those three but still name plenty of their songs.

 

Like the other person mentioned; I think many would struggle to name 5 Cash or Dylan songs despite how legendary their names are. And to be fair to Neil he can put on a much “bigger” performance than those 2, he isn’t just a sing songwriter with an acoustic he has some of the best Rock n’ Roll chops around. 

 

I think it’s fair for people to acknowledge some bookings outside of their taste can still be good bookings! I’ve missed a good chunk of Pyramid headliners, but still get they should definitely be headlining other whomever I’m seeing on West Holts or whatever. I’ve even given some a chance like Sheeran before departing for greener pastures.

There is massive difference. Anyone at the festival would know... ring of fire, blowing in the wind, rolling stone, walk the line etc.. they are songs that transcend the artist. 

 

Show me a song like that of Youngs? Don't get me wrong I think he's great but I don't really know his stuff and he is an artist that would pull a big crowd if that crowd had specifically bought tickets to see him. But they haven't. 

 

Taken it from someone not bias one way or the other it's very underwhelming to the lay person. 

 

I'm not saying he shouldn't headline by the way just that he's not going to be a big draw for anyone under 50ish? Haha 

 

 

 

 

 

[Avalon_Fields]

36 minutes ago, Havors said:

 

Show me a song like that of Youngs?

 

 

Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, written by Neil), a massively important political song written about the police killing 4 in a Vietnam war protest, easily one of the most influential songs of that era and I’m guessing every American would have known of the song. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Speaking of former headliners unlikely to get the call to come back anytime soon, Jay Z is not taking being named as a co-defendant lying down.

[Justcalledtosay]

49 minutes ago, Havors said:

There is massive difference. Anyone at the festival would know... ring of fire, blowing in the wind, rolling stone, walk the line etc.. they are songs that transcend the artist. 

 

Show me a song like that of Youngs? Don't get me wrong I think he's great but I don't really know his stuff and he is an artist that would pull a big crowd if that crowd had specifically bought tickets to see him. But they haven't. 

 

Taken it from someone not bias one way or the other it's very underwhelming to the lay person. 

 

I'm not saying he shouldn't headline by the way just that he's not going to be a big draw for anyone under 50ish? Haha 

 

I wouldn't argue that he isn't a legend. I just don't think he's a mainstream legend that will pull the crowds for a Glastonbury headline slot. He's not in the same category as Elton John or Paul McCartney. I'd place him in a category with the like of Cat Stevens. I think he is perfect for the legends slot but no more.

[NorthernSoul52]

Young in that weird bracket where I think he appeals very much to the older Glastonbury goer - and by that, I mean the demographics of a decade-and-a-half ago, when he last played.

 

He doesn't seem to have broadly cut through to a younger generation, at least on British shores, in the way your McCartneys and your Johns have done so - likely in no small part because he isn't that homegrown superstar.

[Justcalledtosay]

I think its more so the case that he just doesn't have the mainstream commercial hits that the other two do..

[CaledonianGonzo]

He doesn't have the pop hits, but tracks like Cinnamon Girl, Heart of Gold, Hey Hey My My, Needle & The Damage Done etc are still classic rock staples.

[Punksnotdead]

Imagine living in a world where Neil Young is considered unworthy of a headline slot but The 1975 are!

 

It's like living in a world where Trump and Farage get voted in! 😲

[NorthernSoul52]

Heart of Gold an all-timer, but it does depress me how many people younger than me seem to have no clue about it.

[CaledonianGonzo]

5 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Heart of Gold an all-timer, but it does depress me how many people younger than me seem to have no clue about it.

 

NY is more of an album act than a hitmaker.  Harvest, After The Goldrush etc aren't far below the likes of Rumours, Hotel California etc in terms of ubiquitous seventies classics.

[NorthernSoul52]

2 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

NY is more of an album act than a hitmaker.  Harvest, After The Goldrush etc aren't far below the likes of Rumours, Hotel California etc in terms of ubiquitous seventies classics.

Fully concur, but in the digital consumption age, I feel less and less folk are inclined to seek out the full record rather than the greatest hits - and despite his catalogue, you don't tend to see Young's work in the conversation with the way people know Dreams or Hotel California itself.

 

That could just be me, of course.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Well - it certainly didn't help that his music wasn't available on streaming for a period.

[NorthernSoul52]

Absolutely. 

[Brunty9]

I was bought up listening to Neil Young and was lucky enough to see him with my Dad when I was 15 at Sheffield arena in 2001. I couldn't believe my luck when he was announced for Glastonbury 2009. 

Really hoping he's confirmed again but do understand the lack of appeal for some of the younger Glastonbury goers but also isn't Glastonbury all about listening to new music and going to see things you wouldn't normally see.

 

If Neil is announced then there will be plenty of time for those unaware of his work to do some listening and get really excited ahead of seeing a proper legend. 

 

After 30+years of listening to the Weld live album I know I will never get bored of it. I believe the eclectic breadth of his music is pretty unrivalled.

[CaledonianGonzo]

If someone is big enough to headline the G and I'm not really familiar with their music I would usually assume that that's a skill issue on my side and boot up Spotify.

[Gnomicide]

Seeing as she's been discussed here, I've just listened to Chappell Roan for the first time.

 

I like this one...

 

 

[Moobles]

I was 27 when I saw Neil Young headline Glastonbury. Wasn’t too familiar at the time but quickly realised I knew more than I had thought. Really excited at the thought of him possibly headlining again. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Aye, he's headliner for me. I'm more playing devil's advocate to suggest why people may not see him as such.

[NorthernSoul52]

Elsewhere, Banks wants a million from Healy.

 

 

[ClementsMike]

11 hours ago, Superscally said:

Has he EVER done that? 

Even when he did a scheduled Q&A in Williams Green, he got the crowd to sing a few lines of DLBIA, and he genuinely didn't join in or sing a word.

[Avalon_Fields]

33 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

Seeing as she's been discussed here, I've just listened to Chappell Roan for the first time.

 

I like this one...

 

 

I used to love Lene Lovich! 2 great albums.