With Reading and Leeds, the last of the big festivals this summer, drawing nearer, it’s that time in which people decide to debate the future headliners.
These future headliners could be acts that have never performed at the festival before but still carry a massive name in the industry (Eminem in 2013) or fresh blood ready to try and make their name as festival mainstays for the future (Foals this year).
Either way, the topic of future headliners is delicate, with many sceptical each year of who is going to get the honours and many more deciding to moan that their favourite act didn’t get the gig from their keyboard.
However, I am willing to brave possible backlash and list five artists I see as potential headliners for one of the biggest rock festivals in the world.
The list itself is a mix between already established artists and some up and comers in the festival scene.
5: Bastille
Bastille emerged on the mainstream scene in 2012 with their album ‘All This Bad Blood’ and despite seemingly disappearing for a little while, returned just as strong with their single ‘Good Grief’ which has a current peak of 13th on the official charts. With them selling over 5 million albums to date and their follow-up expected to have similar success, you wouldn’t bet against them headlining soon.
4: Panic! At the Disco
A band that despite constant lineup changes and obstacles has remained one of the most decorated alternative bands of the past 10 years, Panic! At the Disco have become festival mainstays in recent years, especially over here in the UK. With them performing at the festival mentioned for times already, getting better with each show, the Vegas entertainers certainly wouldn’t be a bad option to headline the festival in the coming years.
3: Imagine Dragons
One of the biggest bands of this decade and sub-headliners at the festival this year, Imagine Dragons are one of the most entertaining live bands around currently and easily ready to headline the festival, so who knows, maybe sooner rather than later the band make that final step up to a headlining role.
2: Twenty One Pilots
One of the biggest alternative bands of 2016, Twenty One Pilots have shot into mainstream success with singles ‘Stressed Out’, ‘Ride’ and ‘Heathens’, the latter giving the Ohio duo their first UK top ten hit. With their strong cult , even when the radio hits dry up, Joseph and Dun still have a loyal clique to guide them to headliner status.
A/N: Make sure you check them out this year at the festival if you have a ticket, they are one of the most entertaining and energetic live bands around.
1: Bring Me the Horizon
Last year’s sub-headliners to Metallica, Sheffield Metal band Bring Me the Horizon look likely to make that step up to festival headliners very soon. With their constant energy, crowd interaction and songs perfect for the festival stage, the five-some are more than ready to headline when called upon.