Rumours round up

Who we think will play where this summer

Daniel Fahey - 22 February 2009

[Note - this article will update with more rumours when we have them, so keep checking back!]

Here at Virtual Festivals towers we've used our magnifying glass, Sherlock Holmes hat and Poirot sleuth skills to unfold the rumour mysteries of 2009. Let’s open the files…

Case one:
Glastonbury Festival 2009
Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset – 24-28 June

Suspects:
[Headliners]
Coldplay, Neil Young, Blur

[Also on the bill]
The Specials, Kanye West, Orbital, Lily Allen, Glasvegas, Franz Ferdinand, The Ting Tings, The Travelling Band, Bon Iver, Little Joy, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Fatboy Slim, Razorlight, Rolf Harris, Major Major, Florence And The Machine, Underworld, Klaxons, The View, Jack Penate, Keane, Madness, Sonic Youth, Bloc Party, DJ Yoda

Evidence:
Organiser Michael Eavis has already hinted that there will be four headliners at this year's event, two English and two American. Bruce Springsteen is already booked and he could be joined by Neil Young, after playing Roskilde last year (he is thought to be the second American name, despite actually being Canadian) and Blur, whose singer Damon Albarn has close links with Emily Eavis. Festival, fair trade and Eavis family friends Coldplay look to take the final top slot to promote their latest album.

Elsewhere Michael Eavis said he'd "love" Kanye West to play the Other Stage, Lily Allen couldn’t keep her mouth quiet about performing and Emily Eavis exclusively revealed Bon Iver's appearance. The Specials, Sonic Youth, Razorlight and Keane have all fished for slots recently and Klaxons said they'd be 'playing every festival possible'.

Franz Ferdinand self-confirmed themselves on their website, while The Ting Tings and The Travelling Band are almost certainties for the festival after playing Pilton’s Equinox Party last year, while Rolf Harris told Radio 2 that he'd be performing and Major Major booked a place after winning the Rockstar Bands competition. A newly reformed Orbital could return to the Other Stage to recreate their astounding set from 2004 and Underworld have to be favourites for a dance slot too after Massive Attack and The Chemical Brothers played in recent years.

You can bet your house on Fatboy Slim playing, as he does every year, and performances from Florence And The Machine and Glasvegas look likely after playing smaller stages in 2008. The View, Jack Penate and Madness all have albums to promote and will be looking to play this June, but Madonna, Stevie Wonder and Oasis can be filed under tabloid gossip. Virtual Festivals has also heard from a sources close to Bloc Party and DJ Yoda, that both are set to perform too.

Case two:
T In The Park 2009
Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland – 10-12 July

Suspects:
[Also on the bill]
Bloc Party, The Script, Glasvegas, Lily Allen, The View, Duffy, The King Blues, Doves, Friendly Fires

Evidence:
The View and Glasvegas are rumoured to be returning for homecoming gigs with albums to plug, while Doves could make their way north of the border for the same reason. Friendly Fires and Duffy could also be appearing this time around after missing the boat as new bands in 2008, with The King Blues more than likely to play the Future Sounds Tent or higher.

Case three:
Isle Of Wight Festival 2009
Seaclose Park, Newport, IOW – 12-14 June

Suspects:
[Headliners]
Oasis, Kings Of Leon, U2

[Also on the bill]
Elbow, Paul Weller, Duffy, Seasick Steve, Keane, Girls Aloud

Evidence:
With The Prodigy already set to top the bill and Stereophonics and Razorlight given co-headliner duties, there is only one space left. VF believes that either Oasis or Kings Of Leon will fill the opening, but U2 could also take the slot, according to the Daily Star.

Other names expected the appear on the bill includes Paul Weller and Girls Aloud, both of which played Osborne House gigs on the Isle of Wight last year, put on by IOW festival organiser John Giddings. Duffy looks likely to play after the soul singer left the event off of her previous tour and Mercury Prize winners Elbow could perform due to last year's success. With a new album to promote, Keane could return to the Island for the first time since 2007, while 2008 summer favourite Seasick Steve might overcome his travel sickness to play the event.

Case four:
V Festivals 2009
Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire - 22-23 August

Suspects:
[Headliners]
Coldplay, Blur, Kasabian

[Also On The Bill]
Franz Ferdinand, MGMT, Lightspeed Champion, Bloc Party and Pendulum

Evidence:
Coldplay and Blur have both been approached to headline both V Festivals, industry insiders have confirmed, whether or not the bands actually put pen to paper is yet to be seen. However the, oh so reliable, Daily Star believe that Kasabian will headline the events if Coldplay or Blur don't bite, the band making the step up from the main stage's penultimate act two years ago.

Franz Ferdinand could make an appearance off the back of their third LP, while MGMT, Pendulum, Lightspeed Champion have all come up in speculation talks. A source close to Bloc Party has also confirmed that they will be performing at V Festival too.

Case five:
Download Festival 2009
Donington Park, Castle Donington – 12-14 June

Suspects:

[Also on the bill]
Dream Theater, Manowar

Evidence:
Virtual Festivals caught wind that The Prodigy are set to return to Donington Park for the first time in three years. They  will feature on one of the main stages along with Limp Bizkit, Korn and Def Leppard. Manowar may also set feature as they are one of the bands organiser Andy Copping has been in contact with about playing.

Case six:
Reading And Leeds Festivals 2009
Little Johns Farm, Reading and Branham Park, Leeds – 28-30 August

Suspects:
[Headliners]
Green Day, Kings Of Leon, AC/DC, Arctic Monkeys, Nine Inch Nails

[Also on the bill]
Klaxons, MGMT, Lost Prophets, Pendulum, The Prodigy, White Lies

Evidence:
Virtual Festivals exclusively announced that Kings Of Leon would headline the dual-site event late last year, while other publications have strongly linked Green Day as headliners. The final name to top the bill looks set to be between Nine Inch Nails (strong insider sources say an agreement is close), AC/DC (according to Metal Hammer, Punktastic) or Arctic Monkeys (thanks to the Daily Star).

Elsewhere Klaxons will continue to play 'every festival possible', so the August Bank Holiday weekenders will be in for a shout, while Pendulum, White Lies and MGMT packed out the NME/Radio 1 tents last year and will need an outdoor stage for 2009. Industry insiders have also confirmed that The Prodigy will play Reading and Leeds this summer.

Case seven:
Bestival 2009
Robin Hill Country Park, Newport, Isle of Wight – 11-13 Septemeber

Suspects:
[Also on the bill]
Bon Iver, Passion Pit, Michael Nyman Band, DJ Yoda

Evidence:
Michael Nyman revealed that his band would be playing this year's Bestival during an interview with The Times, while Passion Pit and Bon Iver (also confirmed for Camp Bestival) have both been praised heavily by Rob Da Bank on his Radio 1 show recently, with the DJ calling the latter’s Victoria Theatre show as one of the best performances of 2008. DJ Yoda is set to perform at the festival, a source close to the star revealed.

Case seven:
Guilfest 2009
Stoke Park, Guilford – 10-12 July

Suspects:
[Headliners]
Iggy Pop, The Charlatans

Evidence:
Industry insiders have let slip that The Charlatans and Iggy Pop are set to headline this year's Guilfest, but following the recent death of Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, the latter's performance may not go ahead.

Case eight:
Hard Rock Calling 2009
Hyde Park, London - date TBC

Suspects:
[Headliners]
AC/DC

Evidence:
Live Nation in America are behind the recent AC/DC tour and sources have revealed that they are set to bring the Australian band over to the UK for a double-header appearance alongside The Boss.

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