Imagine you've been put in charge of booking your favourite music festival or, better yet, have been given an enormous pile of cash to start your own. You need to pick at least five musicians or bands to headline that will satisfy the punters and put on a great show. Who do you pick?
Don't just name your five favourite artists! That doesn't make for a great discussion. Here are the rules:
The line-up must be, or have been historically, possible. You can pick five contemporary acts or five great acts that were all active in, say, the '60s, but you can't bend time - no Jimi Hendrix co-headlining with Little Mix.
Justify your choices. Consider their fit with the genre and mood of your festival. Why will fans love your bookings both individually and as a whole? Who would top the bill and why?
Bonus points if you make a mockup promotional poster!
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I would have loved to see my dream female-led symphonic-metal line-up:
Delain (With Charlotte Wessels)
Epica
Evanescene
Within Temptation
Nightwish (With Tarja)
I've seen all of these bands live, some of them even on the same day at a festival, and would have loved to see all of them together (can't quite decide about the order). There are some great duet opportunities here as they either have songs together like Tarja has a guest performance in Within Tempation's Paradise, or have done tours together like the World's Collide tour from a couple of years ago with Evanescene and Within Tempation.
This is a puzzler as it depends what I am listening to and how I feel on any particular day but today I am feeling energetic and rebellious so the list would go:
Operation Ivy
Green Day (pre American Idiot)
Rancid
Fugazi
Beastie Boys (Up to and including Il Communication)
Just to clarify on Green Day and Beastie Boys, I love their later works too but sticking to the earlier, rougher and punkier stuff would make this a more balanced show and keep the energy raw and spiky. I am also aware that Rancid and Operation Ivy are almost the same lineup (but they are not and are two of the most important Gilman Street era bands.
Tomorrow I may feel different and may include Chet Baker, The Chilli Peppers and Beastie Boys (the mix up album so please check for edits)
Another hard one! I grew up with all different kinds of musical influences, but the biggest genre was Rock and all it encompasses. These guys were all all around at the same time, so I'm not breaking any rules (except for bringing some people back from the dead, but it's ROCK, you're supposed to break the rules!) All of these bands have a member that I think would love to come back and put on a heck of a show once again (and I'd die to see them live!) I'd also love the chance to see some of these bands with the loved ones who influenced me, some are here and some have already climbed the Stairway.. So here they are:
QUEEN: Because, Freddie Mercury! The band is amazing, and NOBODY can replace Freddie. Not only did he have the voice, but his showmanship, his passion coming through, I want to breath the air he's singing into! I love all their albums, and I've been singing the songs since before I could walk. They travel time with you, the songs stay with you and can mean different things to you throughout your different stages. I'm ready for Freddie!
Led Zeppelin: All the bands in this line-up are icons. Again, this is a voice that could never come out of anyone else- Robert Plant. Jimmy Page is one of the greatest guitar players of all time. I love the dark mysticism surrounding their music. I love that I can FEEL their songs. I want to feel them live!!
The Rolling Stones: This one's for my Dad! The Stones are his favorite band of all time. Paint it Black is one of my all time favorite songs. Mick Jagger is another iconic frontman that could never be duplicated (no matter how hard others may have tried). They've also been able to stand the test of time, remaining together for decades and staying relevant even today.
David Bowie: He was taken from us too soon and it's not fair! First of all, he's another Legend, there will never be anyone like him. I also want to watch him duet with Freddie and Mick. I need to be able to see Under Pressure performed live in front of my very own eyes! Also, his music collaborations for the movie Labyrinth are carved into my ear canals forever- not long at all!
Black Sabbath: This one's for my Uncle. These guys were his favorite band. Whenever Ironman or War Pigs comes on the radio, I say hello to my Uncle and I rock out a little extra hard for him! I love the band as well, they're just a prime example of what "cool" looks and sounds like to me. Hopefully my Uncle can tag along for this gig!
I'm not musically inclined at all, and I don't know a lot about the technical side of it.. I just know how it makes me feel, how it makes me think, and how it makes me move. I tend to also lean towards bands with songs with amazing lyrics to go with the notes. OMG honorable mention to The Doors and Pink Floyd, if I can have more, they'd be there too. I'm leaving so many great bands out- it's cruel and unusual punishment to limit to 5! lol
I’ve been thinking about this for a little while and it’a been so tricky. So here goes:
Die Ärzte - German punk rock band that’s still active and in my opinion always a great headliner. Great songs, crowd interaction and some humour.
Beatsteaks - another great live band from Germany. Always fun to watch, the singer will crowd surf or get someone from the stage to crowd surf on a surf board.
Paramore - energy energy energy. Great fun to watch and they will get the crowd ready for the evening performances.
Billie Eilish - selfish addition - I’ve never seen her play live but I think the music is interesting and different enough to add something to he line up.
Seeed - another German band (you wouldn’t know that I’ve lived 2/3rds of my life in the UK). This would be more hip hop with reggae vibes. Great for the evening but also a sunny day with good vibes.
This is so hard especially as I tried to think about music I know and like and but not just favourites as it could get a bit tiring to just have similar guitar music after guitar music.
Interestingly I also found myself initially not including any female led bands but once I realised I quickly thought of some of my favourites and more interesting artists to watch.
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
My favourite band of all time. Probably most famous for Haruka Kanata (Naruto's second opening). Really fast and raw rifts, the singer's range from screaming rock to more mellow tunes. I love seeing them every single damn time they head over to UK.
the pillows
Two words: Fooly Cooly. That anime put these guys on the map and there is a reason why they are so closely associated with that show. Guitar driven songs with a melodic vocal track. A perfect contrast to AKFG
SCANDAL
The real world K-On. Unlike BABY METAL, where the sight of cute Japanese girls performing hardcore metal, Scandal is more poppy rock music that raises spirits and have you clapping along.
Last Dinosaurs
A little bit of a tangent as this Aussie band still has those Japanese roots as the lead singer and guitarist being half Japanese. Taking cues from J Rock, their sound sometimes skews towards ska and pop rather than rock or metal.
GO!GO!7188
A rock trio that specialise in surf rock. Again a really chilled band with great riffs and licks on guitar and harmonised vocals
All my favourite bands in one festival. Lots of crossovers as well musically, Matt Skiba from Alk3 stepped in when Tom left Blink and features on two Blink albums. A dream would be to hear some of the Skiba-era songs live, with Matt would just be magical. Then there's the crossover between The Flatliners and Hot Water Music too and even a small crossover between Alk3 and Hot Water Music who done an album together, so the potential for guest appearances from Chuck Ragen during Alkaline Trio's set, or Matt Skiba jumping in to sing a Blink song. That's the dream for me.
Blink and Green Day have been the soundtrack to my life since I was 8, Alk3 coming during my teens, but Hot Water Music and The Flatliners are fairly recent additions to my music tastes but not loved any less than the others. Fans of Alk3 should instantly fall in love with Hot Water Music, alt kids and elder emos would feel at home.
As for who the ultimate headliner is... That's such a hard question, based off numbers alone I'd say Blink 182.
This is easy! Music in 1993 was at a peak:
Nirvana - Just released In Utero and Nevermind 2 years previous. All their songs live!
Smashing Pumpkins - Just released Siamese Dream. Billy Corgan still had hair.
Rage Against the Machine - released their self titled debut at the end of 1992
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Still touring Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Pearl Jam - just released vs and had 10
So many iconic bands touring their best albums and what would eventually become the greatest albums of all time.
Special shout out to Radiohead being on the bill playing and actually enjoying Creep for the last time, and the Breeders debuting Cannonball.
I think that's a good mix of both modern and iconic rock bands for the average rock fan. I'm biased but Bring Me put on one hell of a show and I hope will go down as one of the greats of my generation. Heavy, thrashy songs perfect for headbanging.
Royal Blood are just quality live, with big headbanging riffs and a great stage presence. If you're a rock fan I highly recommend watching them if they're playing near you. Very stompy fast tempo tracks to get the crowd moving.
Foo Fighters have always been a staple of rock and are already at the legendary status, nothing more really needs to be said on them. Great ballads and great high tempo riffs, a good mixture of highs and sort of but not reall lows.
Much the same with RHCP except I would argue more people know their songs compared to the Foo's, some great singalongs would be had at that set for sure!
My final choice would be Green Day, a little different to the others but stellar all the same. Big well known tracks of both high and low tempo, a crowd please (imo) for sure.
Gimme some soulful folk and a little bit of Red Dirt, please.
Kick it off with Uncle Lucius. Just about any of their songs are the perfect way to start a shindig and set a mood. Nothing but good vibes, happy times and love for your fellow man.
Follow with Nathanial Rareliff and the Night Sweats. Robust vocals, brass instruments, dancin' music.
Slow it down and let people recover with Colter Wall. Simple instrumentals, moody and contemplative vocals.
Ramp it back up with Shawn James. Out of this world unique vocals and powerful, evocative lyrics. Folksy and mesmerizing.
Burn the candle at both ends and close with Delta Rae. These are the songs you can't stop yourself from singing along to. From dancing like you're possessed to swaying with a lighter in your hand, Delta Rae can be nothing but my headliner. A focus on group vocals and harmonizing; angelic and energetic.
Right so this is completely subjective but I would pick;
5 Seconds of Summer
OneRepublic
Fall Out Boy
All Time Low
Panic At the Disco
these bands are truly there with some of the greats. 5SOS are absolutely unbelievable right now, they have come so far and moved entirely away from that boy band image you saw of them 10+ years ago. OneRepublic, ICONIC. They always just get better and better. With a lyricist like Ryan Tedder at their realm there is not stopping them. FOB would be the save rock and roll album as that just was such a good album!! ATL wow amazing back amazing vocals and amazing lyrics. Panic. WHAT A VOICE!!
korn but only doing the dubstep album path to totality
and the wurzels
so i have picked these bands due to them all being bands i love the most apart from the wurzels thats the comedy act that every one needs between each set
Best festival lineup for people who like sad music that makes you feel empty inside :P However, the Strokes could provide some happier songs as a cheerer upper perhaps - also could reach a wider audience who would then listen to the other great bands!
Either way these bands go hand in hand with each other I think!
All are fictional Bands from Movies.
And the Blue Brothers just got old :)
Also the Wyld Stallyns have the ability to perform time travel.
(Just in case there was an “Nah” somewhere)
There are legends on their own.
We would start smoothly with the Blue Brothers, take your time to relax. From there we head into “Infant Sorrow” which just keeps cooking the people. Three Arm Sally takes over to give 20 minute medley through their 6 year portfolio.
The Stage goes black… a “kill-the-cat” guitar solo starts and 2 red glowing eyes appear over the stage. Big Explosions, the light gets on and the floating devils are fully present over the stage.
As the gig continues, Spinal Tap uses his super power!
All the AMPs go to 11 but they started with 10. So if you need to get this little push over the hill you go 11.
It's one louder!
They hypometer is already exploded… but hold one my friends.
The Master run on the Stage Headliner of this Evening of the Evenings.
Wyld Stallyns aka Theodore „Ted“ Logan and William „Bill“ S. Preston.
Featuring their authentic Time Travel Madley.
Rufus is performing the best keyboard solo the world has deserved.
To the end, the area looks like the end scene of “Perfume”
For me, I would want to re-live my childhood of hearing the songs of College/Uni
Limp Bizcuit
Linking Park
Sum 41
Stereophoics
Stained
Each of these bands had songs that where deep, meaningful and really cool to listen to, especially when drunk :P However, they also had cracking dance numbers and fun summer-type music to listen to when in the garden having a BBQ.
