I’ve had a few days to process the lineup for Victorious in Portsmouth this year and wanted to respond rather than just quickly react to it.
I buy my tickets for this one blind as in before the lineup is announced and based on last year alongside the fact there is no Glastonbury this year I had high hopes. I was also very aware Reading and Leeds are the same weekend.
I, like many I’m sure was banking on big names, IOW Festival headliners are Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure. The Cure would have been great. Boardmasters announced Fatboy Slim and Kasabian which surprised me for that festival. Regarding Victorious, Norman Cook played in 2024 and I’ve seen Kasabian numerous times and they seem to be everywhere right now. Simply put this leaves a host of big names out and about. I basically want a headline act to punch a hole in the sky, they can’t exactly raise the roof but you get the idea. The Prodigy can’t play every night!!
The lineup is not complete but the mainstay is now released as of last Thursday the 27th of November and the headliners are the already teased Richard Ashcroft, The Black Keys and Kasabian. Next on the bill across the weekend are Scissor Sisters, Faithless, Bastille, Nile Rodger’s and Chic, The Streets and Basement Jaxx. So how do I feel about that? Looking further down the bill there are some great live acts like Primal Scream and the Happy Mondays, The Royston Club and Cast alongside Kelis and Jessie J and James Arthur. A lot for me will wait on the stage choices which won’t be known for a while. The smaller Castle Stage can be a great choice instead of the main if they target the demographic right.
Billing is interesting and how you play to the hierarchy. Take the Friday as a perfect example. To start the day off with Rudimental will be great for everyone, that’s what you call a ‘no-brainer’. Take your picks and get some steps in between stages but Richard Ashcroft is a must and clearly the big name hence the headliner, but, would it be wrong / disrespectful to put him on the main stage then finish with Faithless, yes as stated he’s number one on the bill that night but what a crescendo that would be to the night to finish to God is a DJ or similar.
Same with Sunday, after The Streets then Kasabian, the crowd should be buzzing after their set but Basement Jaxx live in overdrive to close out would be a great finish as well.
Saturday is the conundrum, The Black Keys are a must but for in your face fun I am curious when and where they are putting Primal Scream? I’m seeing Happy Mondays in March so that’s not such a linchpin in my thinking.
I think overall the lineup is good but are they targeting a demographic knowing Reading and Leeds are at the same time. It has Gen X and Millennials written all over it, but so does the IOW and Boardmasters most surprisingly as the latter is known for being a much young audience.
It will be interesting to see who announces for Reading and Leeds as I’m now expecting big names there, an enviable list. Twenty One Pilots, Rosalia, Foo Fighters, The Cure, Muse and Fontaines DC all rumoured with apparently two of the three headliners booked.
Well as I said my tickets for Victorious are already booked and i’m not disapointed as with those names I can plan a great weekend of music. That alongside some other big gigs once Christmas is done, all I can say is roll on summer 🙂
