Your NON-Pyramid headliners ranked

[wro_lap]

The craft of a headline set on a smaller stage is a very specific art at Glastonbury. Can be a bit sink or swim for sure, but I think no matter what you want to end your day with something iconic.

 

I've seen a lot of Other Stage headliners over the years, and I absolutely love that stage/slot. How do your Other/WH/Park/Woodsies/Acoustic/Avalon/Glade/wherever-you've-fancied-going-at-headliner-hour acts rank against one another? Feel free to add your rationale!

 

For me:

1. Foals 2022 (massive show, felt like a crowning moment for them, packed setlist and great crowd)

2. The National 2024 (first time seeing them, perfect mellow way to bring down the curtain on the festival. Redemption for their 2017 mess)

3. Tame Impala 2019 (once again first time I'd seen them, brilliant light/laser show, proper party)

4. Fontaines DC 2024 (perfect matchup of band and stage, real excitement built around them, although closing with their new songs felt like a strange decision at the time)

5. Lana Del Rey 2023 (don't think I need to justify this one being last. Waited almost an hour for her to come on and she failed to drum up any excitement, then got cut off before playing her biggest songs and creating the inevitable 'Glasto moment')

[Alan_C]

1. Underworld - West Holts (2016)

2. Suede - John Peel (2015)

3. Primal Scream - Other Stage (2011)

4. The Streets - John Peel (2011)

5. Chemical Brothers- Other Stage (2011)

Edited 2 hours ago by Alan_C

[stuartbert two hats]

5 minutes ago, Alan_C said:

1. Underworld - West Holts (2016)

2. Suede - John Peel (2015)

3. Primal Scream - Other Stage (2011)

4. The Streets - John Peel (2011)

5. Chemical Brothers- Other Stage (2011)

I'm a little bit obsessed with Underworld at the moment. So good in 2016, they have to come back next year, it just makes sense.

[westholtschic]

Chic West Holts 2013

The Chemical Brothers 2019

Pet Shop Boys 2023

[paulshane]

Underworld (98? Other, on the barrier 🙂 )

Underworld (2015 Other, on the barrier 🙂 )

Wet Leg (2023 Park, on the barrier 🙂 )

Courtney Barnett (2019? Pyramid, on the barrier 🙂 )

 

^ I don't generally have the enegy to get to the front at the big stages, its hard work! but all those were well worth it, absolute high points, each one.

 

Other winners:

 

Roger Waters

Churnups

ZZ Top

Spinal Tap

Motörhead

Dropkick Murpheys

Doves (several times)

Dot Allison

Any time Hillage plays

 

Honorable mentions:

 

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Phil Orbital, Tow and Hitch

 

no idea how many acts i've seen over the years, even looking at the lineup, there are plenty i would have 100% gone to, but literally no memory of it 😄

Edited 1 hour ago by paulshane

[stuartbert two hats]

15 minutes ago, paulshane said:

Underworld (98? Other, on the barrier 🙂 )

Underworld (2015 Other, on the barrier 🙂 )

Wet Leg (2023 Park, on the barrier 🙂 )

Courtney Barnett (2019? Pyramid, on the barrier 🙂 )

 

^ I don't generally have the enegy to get to the front at the big stages, its hard work! but all those were well worth it, absolute high points, each one.

 

Other winners:

 

Roger Waters

Churnups

ZZ Top

Spinal Tap

Motörhead

Dropkick Murpheys

Doves (several times)

Dot Allison

Any time Hillage plays

 

Honorable mentions:

 

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Unknown DJ - crew bar

Phil Orbital, Tow and Hitch

 

no idea how many acts i've seen over the years, even looking at the lineup, there are plenty i would have 100% gone to, but literally no memory of it 😄

1998 - yes

 

2015 - no, but they did play W Holts the year after.

 

[TheSheriff]

Ok Top 5 Non Pyramid Headliners 

 

1, Kool & The Gang West Holts 2011

2, Iggy & The Stooges Other 2007

3, Chic West Holts 2013

4, Christy Moore Acoustic 2010

5, Damien Rice Acoustic 2007

[Skip997]

26 minutes ago, westholtschic said:

Chic West Holts 2013

The Chemical Brothers 2019

Pet Shop Boys 2023

They’re all in my top non Pyramid headliners Glastonbury sets 

 

Along with: Chase and Status WH, Justice WH (both times), Janelle Monae WH, Public Enemy WH, Estelle WH, New Order The Other Stage, Kelis WH.

 

Can’t remember which years or rank them.

 

There are a few from the 90’s - Jazz/Jazz World, but can’t remember years or even if they were headlining or subs. 

Only once been anywhere else other than Pyramid, WH or The Other for a headliner - Dhol Foundation on Avalon, after running away from The Jackson’s on WH

[Metal Monkey]

Portishead, Other 2013

Pet Shop Boys, Other 2022

Fever Ray, Park 2023

Orbital, Jazz 1999

Faithless, Jazz 1999

Bellowhead, Avalon 2007

Flogging Molly, Avalon 2011

 

 

 

[Sawman]

Queens of the stage age - Other 23

Tame impala - other 2019

Super Furry Animals - park ??

Flaming lips - Other ??

Toots and the maytals - Jazzworld / west holts ??

Bjork - Other ??

[stuartbert two hats]

I'm going to cheat and include some sub sets, because some of the have been blinding 

 

1997 - Primal Scream (Dance Tent)

2000 - Moby (Other)

2004 - Orbital (Other)

2007 - Bjork (Other)

2008 - Groove Armada (Other)

2008 - Battles (Sub Park)

2009 - Dizzee Rascal (Sub Park)

2014 - John Grant (Sub Park)

2016 - Underworld (W Holts)

2016 - LCD Soundsystem (Other)

2017 - the xx (Sub Pyramid)

 

[Skip997]

7 minutes ago, Metal Monkey said:

 

Faithless, Jazz 1999

 

 

 

Of course, I’d forgotten about that, was brilliant 

[paulshane]

12 minutes ago, stuartbert two hats said:

1998 - yes

 

2015 - no, but they did play W Holts the year after.

 

 

ah, totally my typo 🙂

 

got some half decent pics that year:

 

 

absolutly cannot find my pics from 98, I'll have to find the actual printed copies 🙂

[paulshane]

1 hour ago, stuartbert two hats said:

1998 - yes

 

 

 

They were easier to find that I though, need to get these scanned, but for now, a photo of a photo, these would have been taked with one of those 'disposable' cameras, so a miracle anything at all came out at night to be honest 🙂

 

 

[CantWaitForGlasto22]

1. Pet Shop Boys, Other 2022 - so much fun. Right at the front for it. 

2. The National, Other 2024 - first time seeing them, fell in love with their music 

3. Christine and the Queens, Other 2019 - amazing high energy set. But can’t say the same for 2023 Woodsies set which was totally different, and not my bag at all. Should have left but felt bad as so many others did 🫣
4. British Sea Power, Avalon 2009. Kind of blurry memories but enjoyed at the time!