Let me start by admitting that I’m not actually going to any of the UK music festivals this year. In the past I’ve been to them all, but a combination of a lack of cash and being in a state of indifference to the bills this year, needless to say I’m just passing my judgement on what I’ve seen so far.
When Glastonbury announced that it was to skip a year next year there was a moment when I thought I might apply, even though it was so far in advance (as usual) of the event. But the line-up featuring the likes of U2, Coldplay and Beyonce made me glad I didn’t.
The V Festival is as bland and pop-orientated as usual, so no surprise there, but with Muse, Beady Eye, My Chemical Romance and Pulp being the main acts at Leeds/Reading, I was a bit disappointed - especially after recent years when they have carried the flag for rock with the likes of Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age and Guns ‘n’ Roses (well, maybe the last one wasn’t the best example…)
Download couldn’t possibly top last year’s bill of AC/DC, Motorhead, Megadeth and Aerosmith - and so Def Leopard and Thin Lizzy, legends though they may be, are placed alongside the likes of Linkin Park and System of a Down, which aren’t really in the same league.
So this leads me on to T in the Park. I’ve had many a great year at that festival and it looks like 2011 makes it the place to be once again. The Strokes are playing, Slash is there and Pete Doherty is making an appearance too.
As I warned last week, Guns n Roses had been told yet again to respect the curfews put in place at the Reading and Leeds festivals. And lo and behold, they ignored it once again, turning up an hour late at Reading, threatening to boycott Leeds when the power was cut and generally upsetting the other bands there for their lack of professionalism.
It was all a little bit too predictable this time. There is no reason to be bad just for the sake of it, to live up to the rock n roll image and disrespect the organisers. I can’t really defend them this time.
It doesn’t seem like that long ago when it was last year’s festival and once again the roads leading to Branham Park will be chock a block with revellers already. I’m quite envious of those of you that are going to the festival this year.
I’m quite interested to know whether Guns n Roses adhere to the 11pm curfew or not. The festival organisers’ insistence that it’s lights out at 11 on the dot will certainly make things interesting.
I will hopefully get to see some of the acts who are performing by catching up with it on TV over the weekend.
Most Glasto-goers will no doubt enjoy the varied mix of acts that perform at the festival these days. However, many purists still recoil at the thought of urban acts such as Jay-Z and this year’s Snoop Dogg being added to the bill.
The famous festival was renowned for drawing in classic rock artists as well as folk acts, but now the mix seems to be moving away from this, despite rock giants U2 and Muse being added to the line up for the celebratory 40th year of the festival.
The change in emphasis for the type of acts recruited to play the festival has divided those that go to the festival year on year. Many will not stop going because of this, but would still rather see more artists like Vampire Weekend, Willie Nelson and the Flaming Lips than the Scissor Sisters and Dizzee Rascal.
At least rock music lovers have a choice. Maybe this accounts for the rise in popularity of events such as Download.
The V Festival has always offered a strange commercial blend to its music line-ups over the years. While Leeds/Reading and T in the Park have largely (apart from this year at T, surprisingly enough) focused on a core of rock and indie acts, V has always been made up of a diverse mix of artists.
For once, this commercially-orientated festival seems to have more indie acts than T in the Park. Apart from Muse, Kasabian and Stereophonics, the artists at T include rappers Jay-Z, Dizzee Rascal and Eminem. At the V Festival it may still have pop artists like Cheryl Cole and Paolo Nutini, but it also boasts Kasabian and Stereophonics as well as Kings Of Leon, Paul Weller, Skunk Anansie, The Charlatans, Editors and Shed 7.
The event, taking place between the two sites in Chelmsford and Staffordshire between 21st and 22nd August is still devoid of hard rock acts, but for indie music this seems like a viable option…
That is unless you are going to see AC/DC, Them Crooked Vultures and Deftones at Download!
Like many people, I did not actually go to the festival but was happy enough to Sky+ all the BBC highlights so I could watch my favourite acts at my own convenience and fast forward the rest. I must say that although the festival has generally been acclaimed this year, I have certainly seen, and indeed been to, many festivals with a stronger (rock) line up. For example, Download looked particularly inviting this year.
(more…)