We predict the headliners of 2010

This summer bill toppers and some we want to see

United Kingdom | by Ben Parkinson, Yee-Cay Huang, Fehintola Betiku | 27 January 2010

So hands down U2, Jay-Z, The Strokes - you’ve already given the game away - and step up the following, because it looks like festival-goers are going to be seeing a lot more of you.

Muse
The Teignmouth trio decided to give UK festivals a miss last summer plumping instead for their own homecoming show in Devon. But with four European dates already confirmed and Jonathan Ross tweeting that they will ‘probably’ play Glastonbury, it looks like their space spectacular show is set to hit Somerset come June.
Might see them at: Glastonbury Festival, T In The Park

Rage Against The Machine
There is nothing Download Festival fans like more than a band that’s had a Christmas number one, but with Leon Jackson (an X Factor winner) shacked up in the studio it might be down to Zack de la Roche and Co to keep the hoards happy. They demolished Reading and Leeds a few years back and now it’s the turn of Donington to take a beating.
Might see them at: Download Festival

Kasabian
After years of being the burly nearly-men hidden behind the painfully slow demise of lad rock leaders Oasis, 2010 could finally be the year that Kasabian step up from those snagging penultimate slots. T In The Park is already in the bag and rumours suggest that V Festival is finally ready to have Tom Meighan and Co on top of the perch too.
Might see them at: V Festival

Blink 182
The punk rockers have patched things up and have said that they’re looking to carry on where they left off in 2005. With a new album and European summer tour on the horizon for 2010, don’t be surprised to hear some nostalgic sound waves at Reading and Leeds this summer.
Might see them at: Reading and Leeds Festivals

Kings Of Leon
The Kings of Leon’s headline slots are a little like pass the parcel at the moment: they’re getting unwrapped by at least one organiser each year. And for 2010 it looks like it’s going to be the turn of V Festival. The toys seem to be back in the pram after the group argued at Reading Festival last August and it’s full steam ahead for more fiery performances in the summer.
Might see them at: V Festival, Isle of Wight Festival

Soundgarden
In the words of Chris Cornell on Soundgarden’s recent reformation, "school is back in session" and the bell could be well and truly ringing for the Seattle grunge forefathers this summer. Apparently their timely reunion has made them preferable to Green Day for Reading and Leeds bosses, but don’t write of the American Idiots just yet.
Most likely to appear at: Reading and Leeds Festivals

Coldplay
Having shrugged off the UK festival scene in favour of Europe since 2006, Coldplay are due for a big return this year. Glastonbury’s 40th anniversary could be the ideal comeback, especially with singer Chris Martin being bezzie pals with the Eavis’, but with a number of big acts reportedly asking to play the Somerset event, the ‘Yellow’ band may have to top the Isle of Wight or V Festival instead.
Might see them at: Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, V Festival

Radiohead
Following a storming set at last year’s Reading Festival, Radiohead may just be the hot ticket for organisers this summer. The chances are that Thom Yorke will play a number of solo shows at festivals following his confirmation at Coachella, but the full band are also touted for a Glastonbury slot, especially following the success of previous shows in 1997 and 2003. Their return is long overdue.
Might see them at: Glastonbury Festival

Aerosmith
One of America’s greatest rock and roll bands may have lost its cavernous mouth after the split from Steven Tyler but there are still rumblings of an appearance at this year’s Download. With the band officially on the lookout for a new singer, the festival could be their rebirth. You only have to look as far as Society 1’s Matt Zane swinging from his meat hooks to see that stranger things than a band reunion have happened on the Download stage.
Most see them at: Download Festival

Eminem
Not a name usually banded around in the festival world, but sources have suggested that Marshall Mathers could be putting in a stint at Wireless in Hyde Park, making the event an all-American affair with Pink already booked. But this kind of gossip has proved shady in the past, with the rapper rumoured to play Nelson Mandela’s birthday concert a few years ago before it ultimately proved unfounded.
Might see him at: Wireless Festival

The bands that probably won’t play, but really should…

Stevie Wonder
He’s nearly always rumoured for Glastonbury, but through superstition we generally don’t like to mention that Mr Wonder may actually play. But for the 40th anniversary, Michael Eavis said the event is “trying to get the best headliners in the world,” and that would surely include Stevie Wonder, it would truly make the festival season signed, sealed and delivered.
We want to see him at: Glastonbury Festival

Elton John
Yeah, yeah, he’s said he’s never going to play a festival. But if we all wish hard enough, the sparkly spectacled showman could put pen to paper (or should that be skin to ivory) at Glastonbury and blow the rest of the line-up away. U2’s set would be remembered as warmly as a candle in the wind if this rocket man topped the Pyramid Stage.
We want to see him at: Glastonbury Festival

Beyonce
Following in the footsteps of her hubby and rapper Jay-Z, the planet’s biggest female singer at the moment could be set to grace a festival stage this summer. The star’s next album - due out this year - reputedly is going to go in an ‘indie direction’ and where better to showcase a more guitar-driven sound than to a chaotic British field.
We want to see her at: Glastonbury Festival, V Festival

Gorillaz
With the release of their third studio album ‘Plastic Beach’ fast approaching and the news that the band will be headlining Coachella 2010, it only makes sense for the Gorillaz to re-emerge onto the UK festival scene. Damon Albarn has always been friendly with the Eavis’ and after the buzz of Blur’s comeback at the event last year, he may be eager to play Glastonbury’s 40th anniversary as well.
We want to see them at: Glastonbury Festival

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