We predict the headliners of 2009

The ten bill-topping bands for 2009

Alex Fahey - 05 January 2009

2009 sees Virtual Festivals celebrate its tenth birthday and to mark the occasion we're bringing you a series of top tens throughout the year, including our best moments, photos and memories of the past decade, as well as a few surprises.

But for now, here's a look at the big names set to rock the fields this summer, starting with the ten big headline acts we expect to see in the coming months…

Bruce Springsteen
Its official: middle of the road rock is back - in a huge stadium filling way. Our sources tell us that The Boss, a target of Glastonbury's for some time, will play the festival this term to promote his new album, which is out this month. If he could get several thousand people to watch him at Arsenal's football ground last year, the Pied Piper of cock rock can surely fill the Pilton fields. U-S-A! U-S-A!

Last festival: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2006
Might see him at: Glastonbury, T In The Park

Kings Of Leon
Slowly creeping up festival bills for several years now, these Tennessee boys have gone from Glastonbury's New Bands stage to Pyramid Stage headliners in just five years and they don’t look like they're done yet. Their fourth album has proved to be their most successful yet and with its stadium-filling sound, festivals should be no problem…

Last festival: V Festival 2008
Might see them at: Reading and Leeds

Oasis

Already set for the self-proclaimed, "biggest gigs of the year, if not the decade," in 2009, with support from Kasabian and The Enemy, the Gallagher brothers are likely to head up a festival or two as well. The Isle Of Wight looks their most likely stop off, with swaggering fans ready to 'Av it! and gleefully throw £4 lagers around in enjoyment.

Last festival: BBC Electric Proms 2008
Might see them at: Isle Of Wight Festival

Blur

Just when Oasis thought they were the hot ticket of the summer, their ol' Britpop rivals Blur decide to kiss and make up in the name of money, err… music. A two-day Hyde Park residency is booked, but rumours of a Glastonbury slot are rife and, especially in these uncertain financial times, it looks better to hedge your bets seeing them at a festival rather than forking out a hefty £45 for a single gig! Though if you fancy it Hyde Park tickets are still available HERE.

Last festival: Reading 2003
Might see them at: Glastonbury, V Festival, T In The Park

Coldplay
Q Magazine's Biggest Band In The World Today (well, it was only ever going to be them or Keane) are now more global than an atlas, notching up over 30 million album sales. With a new LP to plug and without a festival appearance for two years, expect them to be back big in 2009 along with another Fair Trade speech from Saint Chris.

Last festival: Isle Of Wight Festival 2006
Might see them at: V Festival, Glastonbury, T In The Park

Radiohead

A year ago we predicted that Thom Yorke and Co would be hitting the festival circuit, but it seems our knock-off crystal ball was merely an old VCR replaying a video of V Festival in 2006. This year however, we're adamant they'll be making an appearance at some festival or another, though knowing Radiohead's unpredictability it will probably be Shepley Spring Festival - not necessarily a bad thing!

Last festival: V Festival 2006
Might see them at: Glastonbury, T In The Park, O2 Wireless

AC/DC
Dressing up can be fun (see HERE), but surely its only promiscuous frequenters of Yates wine lodges and the like, that still find it fun to be over 18 and dressed up in school uniform? No one's told AC/DC guitarist Angus Young though and he should be back in blazer and shorts this year with the band, especially since thier latest album, 'Black Ice' hit the number one slot worldwide. Expect more heavy riffs, pounding drums and pompous rock n roll grandeur.

Might see them at: O2 Wireless, Reading and Leeds

The Killers

This band deemed themselves too small to headline Glastonbury in place of Kylie back in 2005, but sure made up for lost time when they topped the bill in 2007. After a sticky second album, the Las Vegas boys are back with a body of catchy pop tunes looking to make amends for their under-par Reading performance last year.

Last festival: Reading Festival 2008
Might see them at: O2 Wireless, Isle Of Wight Festival
 
Metallica
Triumphant sets at Reading and Leeds last year should have pricked a few organisers' ears, leaving the Master Of Puppets likely candidates to headline the heavier events in 2009. A Download appearance may be likely, but VF headquarters are expecting the four-piece to top the bill at a new festival to be held at Knebworth. You heard it here first.

Last festival: Reading and Leeds Festivals 2008
Might see them at: Download Festival, Knebworth

Green Day

America's top socio-political punk group look to be returning to the UK in 2009 after their secret sub-project Foxboro Hot Tubs was unveiled a year ago. We haven’t seen the lads since they drowned in The Simpsons Movie or since T In The Park in 2005, but with new material on the horizon, their impending world tour is bound to take a break in the UK this summer.

Last festival: T In The Park 2005
Might see them at: Reading and Leeds, T In The Park

And this year's wild card…

Madonna
The first Lady Of Pop owes the festival world a huge performance after her disappointingly short, radio-friendly set at Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2008. Rumours already have her pinned to Glastonbury but moneybags V Festival may want the 'Like A Virgin' star all for themselves. If she decides to play a festival and wherever she appears fans can expect a sell-out.

Last festival: Radio 1's One Big Weekend Maidstone 2008
Might see her at: Glastonbury, V Festival

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