The anticipation for Reading and Leeds’ Festival to follow up on the seemingly frowned-upon headliner choice of Metallica (a once great 80’s thrash metal band/current mundane heavy metal outfit) has been growing and growing. Festival goers had high hopes of the announcement confirming an act who are a little more fitting/exciting/relevant.
Sadly, though, with Mumford and Sons filling the second headliner slot, I don’t feel as though any of those previously mentioned criteria were successfully entertained. But whilst it’s easy to dwell on the negatives, in this case blatantly widespread disappointment regarding Mumford and Sons, the announcement wasn’t all that terrible thanks to a few smaller bands which saved the day.
A couple of brilliant and highly sought after newer acts, such as Catfish and the Bottlemen and Royal Blood were confirmed to play the main stage, and rightly so. Along with these two acts who enjoyed explosive success in 2014, there are also a few diamonds in the rough this year in reference to Years & Years (a London based synth pop band) and Wolf Alice (a London based alt rock band)
Irrespective of how you may feel about these announcements – love them or hate them – you must remember that there is still a final headliner slot to fill. Speculation about who will fill this slot mainly revolves around great bands with new albums in the works, such as Kasabian, The Libertines, and even The Strokes, and debate about which – if any – of these it will be continues to fuel the rumour mill.
My money has been on The Libertines making an appearance, given the likely lads reunion last year, along with a confirmed third studio album being brought out later on in 2015. And besides, it’d seem unfair for them to play T in the Park in Scotland and not a festival in their home country, right?
Though in saying that it’s gonna take a lot more than one decent headliner to convince me to spend £200+ on ticket fees/travel expenses… the R&L team are gonna need to seriously up their game because I haven’t written this festival off as “having the proverbial off-year” just yet.
Hopefully, you won’t ever see that article.
Words by Edward Daniell