Most important music news of the day - Beyonce to headline Glastonbury 2011

King of what now?

There's no way on earth that this won't be IMMENSE.

lookin so crazy in mud

yeah but glastonbury is shit

i've seen beyoncé live already, and as much as i think the o2 must surely be one of the worst venues ever constructed anywhere, i would unhesitatingly choose to see her there every time over a muddy field in somerset where i have to sleep in a tent

I think the audience's general state of mind may be slightly different at Glastonbury. It's difficult to think of any venue less atmospheric than the O2.

this is incredible news

i would rather have no atmosphere than a gross, unhygienic one

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/139488545_24f09b081a.jpg

Preposterous diva-friendly festival experience. A mere £8,000.

nothing preposterous about FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS FOR LIVING

This will be AWESOME.

(On telly, that is.)

i saw beyonce in jakarta and she put on a hell of a show. she has real, honest to god pipes, + she had this all-girl band that RAWKED

Coldplay.

Something I've never understood: In the mid-90s you had basically two UK music festivals - Reading and Glastonbury. You used to be able to break into Glastonbury pretty much no problem if you had no money or didn't want to buy a ticket. Reading not so much. And I don't remember them selling out usually, or did they?

Then V came along and T in the Park and Phoenix, which was all very well.

But nowadays there are about thirteen million festivals happening all round the year, not to mention all the weekenders, foreign festivals and ATPs to boot. Glastonbury is absolutely ginormous, has a security system tighter than Fort Knox and absolutely always sells out, usually months before the lineup is announced.

I want to know what gives? What's changed? Why are so many people suddenly wanting to go to so many festivals all of a surgeon? Or have I forgotten something?

It's purely down to (ahem) a whole raft of people wanting to go.

Before that, festivals were 'scary' things that people did not do unless they were 'hippies' or something (in people's perceptions), now they are 'full' of girruls celebrating not being in school/college together.

It's a combination of Glastonbury having been on the BBC every year since 97 and a general post-Britpop boom in live music and guitar bands (and more recently a revived British club scene). So yeah, it's something that posh kids can do without frightening their parents.

Anyway, I bet there are fewer festivals in this country than there were three or four years ago, and a lot of those that are running will be cancelled.

Yeah, suddenly the 'big four' were turning over profits, then it seemed that everyone was putting one on.

Forgetting, possibly, the difference between a big prof and a massive los wasn't too far apart.

I remember one 'fail' festival, Joe Strum played both days and Big Audio Dynamite did one day also, Milton Keynes.

The sun was out, lovely, the festival was massively undersold, Greenpeace made a loss, but one of the nicest fests.

You wont find it in the 'rock and roll festivals of note' list (apart from the first time Strum&Jones played 'together' (not at the same time, just the same day))

You used to be able to break into Glastonbury pretty much no problem

And I don't remember them selling out usually, or did they?

Think these may be connected.

Anyway, I bet there are fewer festivals in this country than there were three or four years ago, and a lot of those that are running will be cancelled.

This is true. There was kind of a festival gold rush a few years back (even here in Ireland, which has nowhere near the population required to sustain the amount of them that popped up) and there was a huge increase in things like luxury camping facilities, more family oriented festivals etc. The last two years have seen a huge increase in the amount of cancellations, especially when people realized they could get similar or better lineups at European festivals for half the price.

Plus the weather's been a bit more inclement the past few summer's which has washed away the sun bathed lustre that they had in the early noughties.

also I think there might be some kind of economic downturn or something?

original burgeoning was directly brought on by 40-somethings refusing to grow up imo

also I think there might be some kind of economic downturn or something?

And somehow the festivals are still charging the same price

So yeah, it's something that posh kids can do without frightening their parents.

and that those parents can do themselves!

i mean it's quite simple to me, it's a purely generational thing. middle class parents now see rock music and rock festivals as completely normal, whereas 20 years ago their equivalents wouldn't have.

i'll never understand why people would pay through the nose to go to glastonbury when so many cheaper, better alternatives exist around europe though. ever

The cost of putting a festival on will have gone up as well. It'll be fine for the big boys and the really specialised festivals but the ones in the middle with no real point of difference will struggle. Can't see things like Latitude lasting forever.

{xpost Glastonbury's just got a better atmosphere than the others, including the big European ones I've been to. You might not understand it, but it just does.)

Honestly why would anyone consider this to be an attractive proposition? Dodgy AND Sham 69? You really are spoiling us.

Field Day looks good this year:

Actress
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
CockNBullKid
Ducktails
Electrelane
Factory Floor
Gruff Rhys
Hype Williams
Jamie Woon
John Cale
Konono No.1
Mark Kozelek
Matthew Dear
Mount Kimbie
Omar Souleyman
Oneohtrix Point Never
Pearson Sound
Roska
Sun Ra Arkestra
The Coral
The Horrors
Tortoise
Trophy Wife
Twin Shadow
Wild Beasts
Willy Mason

i'll never understand why people would pay through the nose to go to glastonbury when so many cheaper, better alternatives exist around europe though. ever

― lex pretend, Wednesday, 16 February 2011 16:04 (24 seconds ago) Bookmark

^^^^
Glastonbury's turning into a default festival for default people, hence the daytime-radio line-up and exaggerated costs.

I went in 2008 and had a good time, but I can't see myself ever going again. It's a hugely bloated, hugely fatiguing weekend. I just remember what an effort it felt like simply to get from stage to stage in the middle of the day due to mud, sunshine and sheer amount of people.

For roughly the same price (a bit more, but w/e), I get to stay in an apartment or hostel in Barcelona, go to the beach all day, not have to contend with mud or rain, not have to deal with weekender lame-os or screaming kids or twat teenagers or Coldplay; be able to listen to great music until 7am and to be able to hear that music without having to stand at the front getting crushed or craning my neck at the back. Foreign festivals just seem much more enjoyable - all the pleasure without any "Dunkirk spirit" bullshit basically.

Every year without fail, friends of mine go "wow the Field Day line-up is really good, let's go", and then spend the whole day angrily tweeting that they're missing all the acts due to 45-minute beer and toilet queues, or because they've been forced to shut a stage down, or because the stages are too close together and the sounds systems bleed into one another. It must be the worst-organised festival in the country.

For roughly the same price (a bit more, but w/e), I get to stay in an apartment or hostel in Barcelona, go to the beach all day, not have to contend with mud or rain, not have to deal with weekender lame-os or screaming kids or twat teenagers or Coldplay; be able to listen to great music until 7am and to be able to hear that music without having to stand at the front getting crushed or craning my neck at the back. Foreign festivals just seem much more enjoyable - all the pleasure without any "Dunkirk spirit" bullshit basically.

otmfm

Can't see things like Latitude lasting forever.

I definitely can. If the 35-65 contingent is now in the market for summer festivals then it can't fail. Even my girlfriend's parents want to go this year and they're definitely not the Glasto types.

Honestly why would anyone consider this to be an attractive proposition? Dodgy AND Sham 69? You really are spoiling us.

― Matt DC, Wednesday, 16 February 2011 16:09 (2 minutes ago) Bookmark

Spoiling the people of Cockermouth more like. The entire population of Cumbria must be wetting themselves.

I was excited about Field Day when I saw the lineup, put it on Facebook and all I got was people talking about how crap it was last year.

i gave field day a chance the first two years it was put on. not being taken in again. yeah the line-up's great but the logistics are a gigantic fail every year.

The problem with Doglatin's attitude is that everyone has the same idea so you end up with festivals like Benecassim where the crowd is largely comprised of drunk Brits.

There's also the fact that bands just make more of an effort at Glastonbury. I've seen British and American bands churn out some really perfunctory sets at European festivals because it's just another date on the circuit.

i can't remember the last time i wanted to see a "band" at a festival

i was talking to iirc sophie h recently about how every band she's interviewed sees festival dates - all of them - as the worst, most perfunctory things, and generally can't wait to get the hell out of the site

Yet more proof that rock music is wasted on bands.

idk, i do understand it - wouldn't any artist prefer to play to their own specific fans?

rather than a drunken mass of casuals who need to be placated with a hit-heavy set?

Because it's the big opportunity to make new fans and sell more records?

The problem with Doglatin's attitude is that everyone has the same idea so you end up with festivals like Benecassim where the crowd is largely comprised of drunk Brits.

To an extent, yes, but I generally meet a good mix of people from all over the shop at Primavera when I've been. A fair amount of Brits, but not enough to annoy me (and I HATE Brits on holiday, hate em. they can fuck right off), most are decent people and not drunken dicks. Plus who could blame me for wanting a bit of a summer holiday with my festival?

Primavera just looks a bit soulless, isn't it basically like a big car park? That said, spending the day on the beach at the night at the festival is an A+++ way to do festivals. This is the best non-Glastonbury festival I've been to by a country mile.

There's also the fact that bands just make more of an effort at Glastonbury. I've seen British and American bands churn out some really perfunctory sets at European festivals because it's just another date on the circuit.

This is very true but there's not much point arguing about Glastonbury. Either you love it and it's just about the best weekend of the year (as it usually is for me) or you don't want to go. Especially no point in arguing with someone who has never been.

Because it's the big opportunity to make new fans and sell more records?

well that's why they do it, but doesn't preclude enjoying gigs in front your real fans more

it's weird, i grew up really wishing i could go to glastonbury, it being on my doorstep and all, but was never allowed. then as soon as i was old enough to decide for myself, i suddenly found i had no desire whatsoever to go.

Think I'm just bored of festivals that take place in a big purpose-made festival site with nothing to do other than watch bands and drink, regardless of whether they're in Britain or Spain. I'd like to go to Sonar, and Freerotation in Wales, anything with a bit of character, but a lot of the others I just can't be bothered with.

main attraction of many euro festivals is more predictable/better weather

but they're often hampered by lack of choice re food and beer (at least compared to glastonbury where it's also easier to bring stuff in)

the urban/concrete-ness of primavera bugged me too - and even tho it's right by the sea you can't get anywhere near the water or a beach as part of the site. and if you stay in the centre you'll hear noisy lads (not just british) at all hours.

i'd still be v tempted to go again this year as the line-up seems their best yet.

Primavera just looks a bit soulless, isn't it basically like a big car park? That said, spending the day on the beach at the night at the festival is an A+++ way to do festivals. This is the best non-Glastonbury festival I've been to by a country mile.

― Matt DC, Wednesday, 16 February 2011 16:28 (1 minute ago) Bookmark

It's on the Olympic site in Barcelona, so yeah there are concrete walkways from stage to stage and no campsite, but there are large grassy areas to sit on and I've never really noticed a lack of "soul". There might not be any gimps in stilts or stone circles or any of the junk you get at Glasto, but whatever ostensible spiritualness you might lose at Primavera, it's made up for in quality.

I prefer the music at Primavera for one, but that's me. More importantly, because it takes place on a purpose-built site, the stages are perfect for live music. You can sit right at the back and hear everything really clearly. And although the stages are quite close together, there's never any bleed from stage to stage. You don't get sick of traipsing to-and-from, and it's usually quite easy to find your mates. Music starts about 7pm, the festival kicks off properly at about 10 and carries on till about 7am. These times suit me better than everything stopping at 12 like at many UK festivals.

And like you say Matt, spending the day on the beach or in town is IMO nicer than spending it stumbling around in the sun with a kagoul under your arm trying to find a bottle of water for under £4 and getting blisters from your wellies. Now if only they'd do something about the abundance of jellyfish on the BCN coast, it would be pretty much perfect.

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

FULL LINEUP!

thought (or was it hoped) the kaiser chiefs had called it quits.

There's a load of good dance stuff in there. Katy B! Soul Clap! Nicolas Jaar live! TENSNAKE!

Morrissey followed by U2 is going to be the lengthiest display of pomposity the Pyramid Stage has ever seen.

I like how one stage appears to be just 'Bez's Acid House' for the entire weekend. I also like the look of the 'Balearic Folk Ensemble'. Looks hangover-friendly.

.. and of course billy bragg

hah.

I'm going to spend the next couple of months maintaining the unfashionable position that U2 will be spectacular, before being proven right.

Only thing that may undermine my case: the presence of BB King on the bill indicates severe risk of When Love Comes to Town.

lol @ "azari & 111"

is that neneh cherry's name i see tucked away in one of the minor tents there?

CUBEHENGE

Bobby Friction, Craig Charles DJ Set, Crazy P Soundsystem, Wiley, Oh
Land , Kraak and Smaak DJ Set, DUFFSTEP, Stinkahbell, Little Miss DJ, Example & DJ Wire, DJ Vadim presents The Electric, Dub Pistols Sound System, Brandt Brauer Frick, Gold Panda, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Dirtyphonics, Not Squares,
Orphan 101 & Bloodman, Jah Shaka Soundsystem

is that neneh cherry's name i see tucked away in one of the minor tents there?

Ooh, good spot. It's actually an outdoor rave soundsystem/stage in one of the southernmost fields that go on all night.

Netsky, Maya Jane Coles, Julio Bashmore, Ms Dynamite, Trolley Snatcha, Ke$ha, Subb-an ft Beckfod, Futureboogie, SOUL CLAP, Tensnake (Live), Greg Wilson, Eglo Records Ft.
Floating Points, Alexander Nut, Fatima and Funkineven, Maxxi Soundsystem, Dead Rose Music Company, Starsmith, Feel The Real Soundsystem, Nero, Roller Express, Digital Soundboy
Soundsystem, Neneh Cherry, Danny Byrd, Maverick Sabre, Flux Pavilion, Diafrix, True Tiger, Interface, Lewah, Rebel Rave ft Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones and Damian Lazarus, Bonobo (DJ Set), Mount Kimbie, Electric Wire Hustle, Hyetal, Space Dimension
Controller, Lone, Applepips ft
Appleblim & Al Tourettes

That lot would be a decent dance festival lineup in its own right.

'DUFFSTEP' is going to be the worst music ever made, right?

Roughly speaking Duffstep (Jeremy Duffy) is about 2-Steps short of a Dubstep and often moves in disguise to avoid detection. Until now Duffstep has hidden in the seedy undergrowth of London, ever plotting his imminent escape.

He’s a highly talented producer who combines a wide range of influences from Hip-Hop, Techno, House and of course Dubstep. His first batch of tunes were heavily supported by Mary Anne Hobb’s on her Radio 1 show and those tunes are lined up to come out on his own label Join The Dots as a precursor to his debut LP.

He has been recruited by Saigon Recordings for the label’s second release, a follow up to the successful debut from Orphan101. There’s much more of a house music influence this time with beats akin to the sounds of Joy Orbison and George Fitzgerald. This is uplifting bass heavy dance music at its’ finest.

iirc neither the best nor the worst, indeed somewhere in the middle

Don't know if this has been posted yet: http://www.sabotagetimes.com/music/the-veteran%E2%80%99s-guide-to-glastonbury-goers/

Guardian Guiders - acceptable if they're not meticulously planning every aspect of their day. "Getting lost in the green fields" is probably the most overrated thing about the modern Glastonbury experience, especially during the day. (Translation - there are no naked people or mad hippies any more).

Chairy Marys - disgusting savages

London Bastards - you're only aware of these people if you hang out backstage, I'm calling bullshit on this writer's claim to authenticity

Chill'n'Charge Chumps - fucking idiots. Why does anyone do this when spare phones/batteries are so readily available in the wider world?

The Unexpectedly Unprepared - quite sweet really

Gazebo Goons - THE WORST PEOPLE AT THE FESTIVAL

the bands are the single least important aspect of the festival

Yeah, this is always overstated, or maybe I've been going too long. Once you've had your years of gobbling tons of drugs and scoping out all the fields, enjoying the actual music becomes quite a crucial factor. Check out the stuffed shirt over here with his live music.

It really pisses me off when people say the music doesn't matter. I mean i enjoy getting pissed and all the rest but at the prices you pay for festival tickets in these isles i better be getting to see some decent bands as well

What pisses me off are when the "music doesn't matter" people ruin the enjoyment of the people that actually do want to hear the music.

Glastonbury boss Michael Eavis regrets Wombles booking

Oh, I thought he meant the Wombats