The big festivals have announced their headliners and the summer is taking shape but who is going to move to the next level and who's more likely to get hit by rotten tomatoes. I've taken a look at the big headliners and predicted how they'll all do:
Arcade Fire – Reading & Leeds / Oxegen
Timing-wise this performance couldn’t be better. No-one has seen hide nor hare of these Canadians for a while now and with the promise of new material and their usually excellent live displays, The Arcade Fire are surely well set to sweep the summer off its feet.
Chances of success: 5/5
U2 – Glastonbury
Very much a hit or miss performance you suspect. Glastonbury-goers will probably end up loving it but with Bono’s ego and an unfamiliar crowd the opportunity for a Glastonbury sized-fail is mouth watering.
Chances of success: 3/5
Kings of Leon – V Festival
The Kings of Leon were once the UK’s sweethearts, working their socks off for success and always reminding us how special we are. Then came Glastonbury 2008 and an almost stratospheric trip to the top. Suddenly they are asking who’s supporting them as opposed to the other way around. But with what seems like an umpteenth summer appearance the British public might finally lose their patience with the Kings (although possibly not at V…)
Chances of success: 2/5
Kasabian – T in the Park / V Festival
This is very much the proverbial ‘step up’ for the Kasabian lads – their big shot at solidifying themselves at the top of the bill. Judging by their bookings at T and V they will have a sympathetic crowd but also a springboard for the Glastonbury’s and Reading’s of future years. They should nail it.
Chances of success: 4/5
Stevie Wonder – Glastonbury
The script is already written for old Stevie. This should be Jay-Z mark 2. Too old and legendary to be mocked by the whippersnappers and still relevant enough to enthral a giant Glastonbury-throng. As odd as it sounds, Stevie Wonder was as safer bet as Michael Eavis could have made.
Chances of success: 5/5
Guns N' Roses - Reading & Leeds
Let's be honest, rock music's equivalent of the Sugababes (in respect to the lack of original members not attractiveness) are heading up Reading and Leeds on name alone. If Axl Rose makes it to the stage before the curfew he'll either throw a hissy fit, threaten to leave or potentially attack someone in the near vicinity. One way or another this has got horrorshow written all over it.
Chances of success: 0/5
Rage Against the Machine – Download Festival
Surely a master-stroke from the Download organisers bearing in mind metal fans young and old collectively adore Rage. Throw in their Christmas number one success and the ‘fired-up veterans’ tag and you have a sure-fire recipe for success.
Chances of success: 5/5
The Libertines – Reading & Leeds
Truly this is a marmite set. It’ll be either a mess or a masterpiece. Personally I think the band were best suited to sweaty little clubs and DIY gigs rather than Mean Fiddler’s epic stage so this may well prove to disappoint. This may also, of course, result in the biggest cancellation of the summer – lets hope Pete Doherty behaves until the end of August.
Chances of success: Goodness knows…
If you have to pick any headliner this summer I would probably plump for the Arcade Fire – plenty to prove, new material on its way and an effervescent live show. If you want memories though, the old favourite Glastonbury has an intriguing list of headliners. Whatever you do though, just don’t put your mortgage on the Libertines showing up…
The defining moments of the 2009 festival season:
