NBHD Weekender 2025

[sheffinghell]

Looking on the bright side, there's a few names on the undercard I'd be happy to see pop up at other festivals, and I wonder if Stereophonics will be doing more too.

[efcfanwirral]

Loads on there for me, Saturday: OCS,  Royston Club, The K's, The Snuts, Amy Macdonald, Pixey, Overpass. Will also watch The Wombats and James. 

 

Sunday: Stereophonics are the big one of the weekend for me, was either this or book a hotel etc for one of the other tour dates so glad it's worked out this way. Also Sigrid, Wunderhorse, Starsailor, Nieve Ella and Chloe Slater. Hopefully Inhaler, though they could be opposite Stereophonics

[efcfanwirral]

24 minutes ago, sheffinghell said:

Looking on the bright side, there's a few names on the undercard I'd be happy to see pop up at other festivals, and I wonder if Stereophonics will be doing more too.

If they're not playing elsewhere there's no reason they can't do one of the unannounced festivals for sure, Tramlines maybe 

[sheffinghell]

6 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

If they're not playing elsewhere there's no reason they can't do one of the unannounced festivals for sure, Tramlines maybe 

I'm thinking Tramlines or Y Not. Could even be both based upon their double bookings last year.

Edited November 15 by sheffinghell

[thatTFBguy]

21 minutes ago, sheffinghell said:

I'm thinking Tramlines or Y Not

 

If I recall, they did Tramlines in 2018, and Y Not in 2022, Might be too early to return to Y Not, but Tramlines is not a bad shout. 

[DannyEFC]

Incredibly poor.

 

james are not suitable headliners in 2025. From the likes of Catfish and Pulp to James and Phonics. 
 

phonics are good of course, and a few decent bands such as The Snuts on the undercard but after a year off this is the best they could muster? Genuinely must be skint.

 

Theres a slim chance I might get a day ticket closer to the time when they’re going for £40 on twickets but I won’t be buying.

 

Live at Leeds might be the one I choose unless Tramlines pull something out the bag, or if Leeds have a great particular day. 
 

gutted overall

[TipToes14]

At the risk of being shouted at, there’s already 11 repeat artists from 2023. Well from what I can see, I know this is common and they’ve had a year off, just always feels like the bookers have copped out. But, i suppose it’s all down to who’s about and available 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

[sheffinghell]

23 minutes ago, TipToes14 said:

But, i suppose it’s all down to who’s about and available 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

And affordable

[efcfanwirral]

38 minutes ago, DannyEFC said:

Incredibly poor.

 

james are not suitable headliners in 2025. From the likes of Catfish and Pulp to James and Phonics. 
 

phonics are good of course, and a few decent bands such as The Snuts on the undercard but after a year off this is the best they could muster? Genuinely must be skint.

 

Theres a slim chance I might get a day ticket closer to the time when they’re going for £40 on twickets but I won’t be buying.

 

Live at Leeds might be the one I choose unless Tramlines pull something out the bag, or if Leeds have a great particular day. 
 

gutted overall

I think they've spent the money on Stereophonics and taken the gamble that people who like them will be up for James + undercard on the Saturday. Similar to how they clearly spent everything on Pulp then Paul Heaton had a tiny crowd on Saturday night...

 

It works on me, Saturday has a full day of music for me before you even get to the top acts (for example, just saved myself £40 on seeing OCS in April), but I can see how it wouldn't for many others. Reytons seem to be very popular so them headlining the tent will get some extra people in. 

Edited November 15 by efcfanwirral

[Benjsh]

2 hours ago, efcfanwirral said:

Looks like my gamble paid off, saw the gap in their tour and held out 

 

Fair play. Wasn't prepared to take that chance and given Huddersfield has sold out I'm glad I didn't. 

 

Plus they will probably play an extra 5-6 songs on their tour over a festival set so well worth it.

 

Great band though. Kelly and the band are still incredible live.

[DDave]

48 minutes ago, TipToes14 said:

At the risk of being shouted at, there’s already 11 repeat artists from 2023. Well from what I can see, I know this is common and they’ve had a year off, just always feels like the bookers have copped out. But, i suppose it’s all down to who’s about and available 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

The North West is crying out for a medium sized alternative festival, especially now Blue Dot seems to have disappeared. I don't get the 'you can only book what's around' school of thought when there's a whole raft of bands knocking around Europe doing other festivals. 

 

 

Edited November 15 by DDave

[efcfanwirral]

4 minutes ago, DDave said:

The North West is crying out for a medium sized alternative festival, especially now Blue Dot seems to have disappeared. I don't get the 'you can only book what's around' school of thought when there's a whole raft of bands knocking around Europe doing other festivals. 

 

😀

This one does have a specific audience to be fair, and it's generally sold well when it sticks to it. They turned into an extended Pulp gig for a year, with a 6music day, and ended up having to take a year off. 

 

There definitely needs to be something along the Blue Dot lines but I'm not sure turning this into it is the way 

Edited November 15 by efcfanwirral

[Benjsh]

21 minutes ago, sheffinghell said:

And affordable

 

The fees the bands are demanding these days are clearly getting too high for some of these festivals to handle.

 

Phonics won't come cheap. James probably on the more affordable end but also not the same excitement over that one I'm sure and the demand for Saturday tickets will be lower.

 

Judging by the social comments....Gerry Cinnamon was the most requested act and the fact he's not there must mean he's either too expensive or already booked. Can't say I'm overly bothered. He's okay but I'm not a huge fan like some are. 

[DDave]

5 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

This one does have a specific audience to be fair, and it's generally sold well when it sticks to it. They turned into an extended Pulp gig for a year, with a 6music day, and ended up having to take a year off. 

 

There definitely needs to be something along the Blue Dot lines but I'm not sure turning this into it is the way 

Fair comment. The Pulp day didn't sell out either, I don't think, which surprised me. 

[gfa]

On 11/14/2024 at 10:25 AM, Benjsh said:

The Strokes are more popular over here than they are in the States tbf. Indie music isn't at the heights as it once was but in America it's almost non existent. 

 

They'd be a good choice I think and would definitely help shift tickets. Seen them twice and thoroughly enjoyed both gigs. 

The strokes logic on both sides of the pond is this:

 

Will they pay us to headline? If yes: take it. If no: wait till next year / another fest gives a headline slot or a mega payday.

 

3 hours ago, Jack01825 said:

Phonics, James just confirmed 

wombats and reytons, inhaler, lathums, The ks too 

wombats may get added later, got an arena tour to sell

[Benjsh]

1 minute ago, gfa said:

The strokes logic on both sides of the pond is this:

 

Will they pay us to headline? If yes: take it. If no: wait till next year / another fest gives a headline slot or a mega payday.

 

wombats may get added later, got an arena tour to sell

 

Wombats are already on the poster. 

[sheffinghell]

18 minutes ago, Benjsh said:

The fees the bands are demanding these days are clearly getting too high for some of these festivals to handle.

As an aside, I read this a few days ago from Public Service Broadcasting, a bit of a tongue in cheek explanation of how tour dates are picked, costs of touring, and a bit on festivals... interesting for those of us not in the biz 

 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/uk-tour-2025-faq-114415864

Edited November 15 by sheffinghell

[TipToes14]

34 minutes ago, DDave said:

The North West is crying out for a medium sized alternative festival, especially now Blue Dot seems to have disappeared. I don't get the 'you can only book what's around' school of thought when there's a whole raft of bands knocking around Europe doing other festivals. 

 

 

I totally agree, I’ve always been of the opinion of if you stack the line up with sure hitters then the punters will come. There’s plenty of names I could pluck out the air and in my eyes improve it, I just think line ups in general seem so much weaker just about everywhere. I think they’ve blew most the budget on phonics and then it’s a case of piecing together the rest with what’s left. After a year off it’s a massive disappointment 

[efcfanwirral]

8 minutes ago, Benjsh said:

 

Fair play. Wasn't prepared to take that chance and given Huddersfield has sold out I'm glad I didn't. 

 

Plus they will probably play an extra 5-6 songs on their tour over a festival set so well worth it.

 

Great band though. Kelly and the band are still incredible live.

Yeah the extra songs will be the more interesting, rarer ones too, but Ive seen them so many times, and realistically will see them again when they do the inevitable arena tour for the album so i've gone for proximity. Especially in Glastonbury month (as have volunteering priority so definitely going in one form or other)..

 

I agree they're amazing live, last time was Manchester 2022 and it was one of the best I've seen them, which is saying a lot as i first saw them in 2003!! Will see them every time they tour for as long as they tour I reckon. 

 

Huddersfield will be amazing, Blossoms are a great support act too! 

[efcfanwirral]

54 minutes ago, Benjsh said:

 

The fees the bands are demanding these days are clearly getting too high for some of these festivals to handle.

 

Phonics won't come cheap. James probably on the more affordable end but also not the same excitement over that one I'm sure and the demand for Saturday tickets will be lower.

 

Judging by the social comments....Gerry Cinnamon was the most requested act and the fact he's not there must mean he's either too expensive or already booked. Can't say I'm overly bothered. He's okay but I'm not a huge fan like some are. 

It's interesting that we saw Gerry Cinnamon as realistic in retrospect. Him and Catfish were billed at the same level at Reading/Leeds this year, but we'd probably put Catfish as too big for this festival in part because of their stadium show announcements. In theory it puts Gerry Cinnamon as too big for it as well. 

Edited November 15 by efcfanwirral

[thetime]

Looks a decent lineup.

 

James and stereophonics looks decent. 

[Dales]

I would be more then happy with that line up turning up at Truck or Victorious, although I love James. I guess it all depends on what you like. I would imagine plenty of indie fan's will love it, however I would it willonly attract locals as most of that undercard will appear everywhere next year and so not worth traveling long distances for. Plus James and Stereophoncis already have a number of outdoor show's already announced.

 

I dont know much about Neighbourhood's history but it looks like the sort of line up they always have, so not sure what people where expecting.

[sheffinghell]

22 minutes ago, Dales said:

most of that undercard will appear everywhere next year and so not worth traveling long distances for

Indeed. 7 of the Sunday acts already crossing over with LAL on Saturday. Could be even more after 2nd announcements.

[Kingkev]

Having James and phonics headlining iow fest with lathums also playing is great for myself. And gives more scope for victorious fest as won’t play both

[NorthernSoul52]

Been away much of the week, so only just getting round to picking the bones out of this.

 

As far as I can figure, James haven't topped many bills in recent years, and they do remain an arena-level act with a dedicated fanbase, so you could argue a degree of rarity... were it not for the fact that they were still everywhere this summer and will be again next year.

 

I have a friend who lives in Warrington, who - by some distance - is the most die-hard James fan I know. They will be over the moon with that booking, but I must admit it feels pretty soft.

 

Stereophonics lacking a Manchester show makes more sense now, and given how fast Huddersfield went out the door, I think this can do good numbers for people who haven't caved and opted to travel further afield. Especially given they're also IOW bill-toppers this year, that's looking like a very strong shout.