Well, festival season is still several months away, but with the announcements of Jay-Z and Neil Diamond headlining Saturday and Sunday nights respectively of the Glastonbury festival (and registration for tickets now open), maybe it's time for a little discussion.

I'm still set on going to Glastonbury this year, but I have precisely zilch interest in either announced headliner. I guess that means I won't be so torn on who to see on other stages, and there'll be hundreds of other interesting things to do instead anyway, but it's not exactly got my juices flowing so to speak.

Seeing as I've missed out on festivals due to lack of money/family holidays over the last two years I'm dead set on going to Glastonbury and/or Reading this year. Of the two I'd prefer to go to Glasto more as my first time there was amazing and, whilst Reading was also good, Glasto is the way forward for me. If I get a ticket, that is.

And don't write off Neil Diamond, his last album was pretty good. Admittedly that was more to do with rick Rubin producing it and ''doing a Johnny Cash'' on it, but still.

Just echoing what Ed said...don't write off Diamond. You'd be surprsed how many great tracks he has in his back catalogue. Plus the "old timers" slot at Glasto is almost always the one must-see moment of the weekend. The atmosphere is usually fantastic.

I'll never forget Tom Jones there years ago. One of the best show ever.

It's not that I think Diamond's a poor choice, it's just not a personal must-see that's all. As for old-timers, I agree the atmosphere's pretty special, even if the acts themselves aren't much cop (Brian Wilson anyone?).

Other times, they've announced unmissable headliners, but this time round, the only two acts confirmed aren't my cup of tea. There'll be plenty of other great artists playing, so even if I'm not keen of the headliners, there'll be something else to see.

Coupla years ago, Iggy Pop headlined the Big Day Out in Australia. I'm not a huge fan, but I went and saw him anyway, cause it's Iggy Pop. Shirtloads of people from the crowd ended up on stage, it was mayhem.
I've found that a band's performance at a festival isn't really a fair indication of how good they are. I stopped going to the Big Day Out to see bands I want to see, but instead to experience the atmosphere of so many people appreciating a band/act. Having said that, some bands can tear a festival to shreds with their brilliance (Flaming Lips).

And I missed the BDO this year. Bjork, Arcade Fire, Rage Against The Machine. Fuck.

When I went it was Beastie Boys. Hella fun. This year would have been awesomeness. People quit their jobs to go and RATM, I hear.

Me and Alyssa are considering going to Camp Bestival

http://www.campbestival.net

Chuck Berry and The Flaming Lips are headlining.

I've always wanted to go to Bestival, and this looks even better.

depending on post hong kong finances, i think i might be off to primavera...

Bjork was disappointing and strange, but not strange in any way you could appreciate. Her heart didn't seem in it. Later found out why as she cancelled Sydney BDO due to health problems. So that standing off to one side and mumbling was dicky-tummy-Bjork. RATM were as awesome as you'd expect them to be, the years spent apart looked like they never happened as the energy was just as raw as it had been in their day of hey. A *lot* of arseholes though, man. When they inevitably finished with Killin In The Name, people were taking it in turns to punch each other in the head, willingly. It seems to have become the anthem to let you pretend you're really really angry with how everyone's beatin you down for many people.

Anyone going to Future music? Chemical brothers(!!!!!), Kid Koala(!!!), DJ Yoda(yay), John Digweed(woop), Roger Sanchez(meh).

I'm off to Roskilde for the third year in a row, confirmed so far are:

Radiohead
My Bloody Valentine
Chemical Brothers

+ several smaller Scandi bands

http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/2008/frontpage/

I'm planning on going to Festival Internacional de Benicassim this year. I've never been to a festival before. I don't fancy mud and crap, but this one's next to a beach, and sunny. Some friends went a couple of years ago, and are going again this year, so should be good fun.

Also, if Neil Diamond does some Jazz Singer classics, it'll rock.

i want to go to the greenman festival in wales but i'm poor
it's not for months yet, maybe i can pull a bank job before then

I've been asked to go to this one again this year. My friend goes every year and she can't recommend it enough. Beach all day, festival in the evening. The line-ups are usually very impressive.

So I'm told. I've not been to a festival before, but apparently the difference with this one is that there isn't much in the way of music in the daytime. SO you can go to the beach and not miss anything, then come back in the evening and see all the music. The line up on the website so far isn't exactly my cup of tea, but it's by no means finalised yet.

Jose Gonzales is on there though.

That's what it was like at Primavera, it was just lovely. It feels like a proper holiday as well as a music festival, and the vibe is so relaxed and friendly. I had an awesome time.

Headliners announced for Glastonbury:

Jay-Z
Kings of Leon
The Verve

+Leonard Cohen, Hot Chip, Neil Diamond, British Sea Power


not especially exciting, but id love to see Cohen...

I'd quite like to see Cohen as well. I'm really not fussed about The Verve, but there's almost always something else worth watching.

the verve are ok, but them and kings of leon arent really that inspiring headliners, and jay-z isnt really my thing

Massive Attack apparently headlining the Other Stage at Glastonbury.

Muse will headline V2008, and Fatboy Slim, Underworld and Bootsy Collins play a day at the 02 Wireless Festival.

I'm attending Soundwave this year. In it for The Offspring and Incubus (despite their last album being shit.)

Bootsy??

I'm so there.

Will be leaving before Fatboy Slim takes the stage, though. I ain't spending all day on my feet to watch a middle aged man push play on a CD deck.

I wish I could find my Bootsy CD... I just can't get my funk on without it!

Stanley Clarke works, to a degree, but it's not the same.

Bootsy Collins narrates a poem at the end of Fatboy Slim's LatNightTales. He is apparently one of Fatboy Slim's idols.

Line-up now announced for T in the Park - I wanna gooooooo!!!

Just need to (a) convince myself it's ok to go on my own and (b) get out of bed early enough tomorrow morning to get a ticket.

I'm GOING!!!! Yay me!!!

I think T in the Park has lost its charm, and no doubt most the people I know who wanna go didn;t manage to get tickets, even though we live 20 minutes away.

Yup, sold out in a hour. Looking at the line up, I am kind of pissed I didn't try. I hope my brother got tickets, he told my Mum he didn't want any, then changed his mind, which I am pretty sure is due to Rage Against the Machine headlining.

I went once before, seven years ago but I was working and managing a team of people so didn't really get to see much. I've tried to get tickets every year since, and this is the first time I've been successful.

Going to a festival is one of the things on my bucket list. T in the Park's the most convenient for me geographically - in some respects I'd rather go to Glastonbury but I can't see that ever happening.

Looking forward to the Kaiser Chiefs (since I missed them in Edinburgh last year coz I was ill), the Fratellis and REM. Miffed that I'll miss Stereophonics, the Verve and KT Tunstall on Friday, but it was my decision not to get a camping ticket.

Latitude's looking pretty good...fine looking music and comedy line-up. Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Interpol, The Go! Team, Grinderman, Elbow... Plus, Bill Bailey, Ross Noble, Rich Hall, Omid Djalili and loads more...

Ooooh, Dave Gorman too!

I wish I could justify spending £130 on that.

You could kneel with your knees in your shoes and try for the child ticket.

Good plan! Stupid really I'd happily pay £130 to go away for the weekend but somehow it jars for a festival

Ahh but this is essentially just a weekend away with special guests.

You should totally go if there are enough people on the line-up you like. Looks like it'll be fun - treat yerself!

or ...you could go for free.

I'll mention it this week to my boyfriend, see if he fancies it.

A few friends and I are seriously considering this. Should be rather entertaining and a jolly good larrrf...and at £60 weekend ticket, not too shabby!


NASS festival - June 13th-15th

NASS is good fun. Or at least was the four times I went a few years back.

I just booked my tickets for Summer Sundae in Leicester. I highly recommend it.

Such a lovely chilled out festival, always loads of good bands on, and my parents live right by it so we don't even need to camp. 3 day of blissful lounging and a warm bed at night.

Is anyone else on here going to The Mighty Boosh Festival?

No, Mighty Boosh fans scare me. Otherwise it looks good.

Indeed, it will be horrific, and I'd probably be the oldest person there if I went.

Come on Adam, not all Boosh fans are 17-year-old goth/Emo kids.

But all 17 year old goth/Emo kids are Boosh fans.

You're right, some of them are in their mid-twenties and should know better.

Benicassim line up has been exapanded somewhat. Not sure about some of the bands on there, but names I recognise that I'm looking forward to:

Gnarls Barkley
Roisin Murphy (Moloko singer gone solo)
Hot Chip
Sigur Ros
Jose Gonzales
Metronome

Just got back from Download and aside from the campsite being a good 20 minute walk away from the stages, a good time was had. Particular highlights were Kiss being fantastically over the top, David Draiman of Disturbed managing the quite astonishing feat of doing an entire set with his head stuck right up his own arse, Pendulum getting even the most hardened leather clad rockers dancing away like loons and The Wildhearts making me feel really, really old.

Did you sell all your vodka jellies or did you have to take the ultimate sacrifice and eat them all?

Managed to sell them all by Friday night. I may do the same again next year.