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Glastonbury 2013: The Worst Line-Up Clashes
Indie | Wednesday 19th June 2013 | James
Boy, have we missed it! Glastonbury 2013 is just a week away after the agonising two-year wait (the organisers decided that 2012 should be a 'fallow year' due to the Olympics) and the line-up is fitting of an event so historic. The Rolling Stones, after many years of being on top of the punters' wishlists, have finally bagged the prestigious headline slot on the Saturday night whilst there is a headliner debut in the shape of Mumford & Sons. Arctic Monkeys headline for the second time in their short but superb career and will play new material ahead of the release of their as of yet untitled fifth LP later on this year. There's other treats including Nile Rodgers, Bobby Womack (who will perform with Damon Albarn), Portishead and Nick Cave. The eclectic event has catered for all tastes and demographics but, naturally, there are a few line-up clashes which may cause you a potential headache. If you don't decide to flip a coin to choose who to see, we have studied some of the worst clashes at the festival and made our own judgements:
Arctic Monkeys (Pyramid Stage) vs. The Horrors (The Park) vs. Chic feat. Nile Rodgers (West Holts) vs. Portishead (Other Stage)
Undoubtedly the worst of the lot. Friday evening will no doubt see you swaying, gagging for a sip of water, clinging to a dilated pupiled-teenager declaring you "love him/her" and that "Glastonbury is trippy, man!". Before that, though, you have to choose between these four colossal acts. The Friday night at any festival is always the best with crowds lively and suitably refreshed before Sunday sees them capitulate in a field unable to stand up watching a sub-standard faux-folk band (Mumford & Sons, anyone?). The Horrors are a band who are rising and rising and their third LP Skying was one of the best things about 2011. Portishead, meanwhile, have a new album in the pipeline and the Bristol based band will display masterful stagecraft which has seen them be one of this country's most important groups. Nile Rodgers, who has already had an eventful year by appearing on the majority of Daft Punk's record, will appear with Chic at the same time Arctic Monkeys plough through a range of their hits ahead of their forthcoming fifth LP.
Winner: Arctic Monkeys
The Rolling Stones (Pyramid Stage) vs. Chase & Status (Other Stage) vs. Public Enemy (West Holts)
The Saturday night is an easy decision based on which genre you subscribe to. The Rolling Stones will undoubtedly be one of the most historic sets in festival history but if live music doesn't tickle your fancy you can go and watch Chase & Status click play on their laptops. Public Enemy is a little better, but there still shouldn't be much debate. Jagger and co should walk this by a mile.
Winner: The Rolling Stones
Dizzee Rascal (Pyramid Stage) vs. Foals (Other Stage) vs. The Courteeners (John Peel)
Heavyweights of their genres, grime's figurehead Dizzee Rascal released his seminal debut album ten years ago to a Mercury Prize nomination and glowing reviews. His style and sound has changed three-fold since then and he now crafts blasts of chart-accessible hits. Having supported Muse, The Stone Roses and Red Hot Chili Peppers in the space of a year, Dizzee has shown he can adapt to different audiences and crowd sizes. Foals, meanwhile, will surely bag a Mercury Prize nomination later on this year with the release of Holy Fire which saw the band's sound grow as they began to make more straight-forward bursts of indie pop. 'My Number' is one of the finest tracks of the year and they will perform an atmospheric set as the sun sets on Worthy Farm. The Courteeners are Manchester's finest band and quickly elevated themselves to arena level in their hometown. They were unfairly dubbed descendents of Gallagherism by the press but battled back and matured their sound to create melodic dark disco on sophomore record Falcon before they created an album full of 'industrial Motown' with Anna (released in February this year).
Winner: Foals
Haim (Pyramid Stage) vs. Swim Deep (John Peel)
America's finest young band against Britiain's high hopes. Haim are three sisters from LA who were correctly nominated for the BBC Sound of 2013 poll whilst Swim Deep have burst their way out of the fertile Birmingham music scene in the UK. Both bands have their merits with Haim being branded a modern day Fleetwood Mac whilst Swim Deep's manifesto is "don't just dream in your sleep, it's just lazy". Either band has shown what competent live outfits they are by extensively touring the UK (Haim recently supported Beyonce) and the good news is that both bands are set to play multiple sets across the Glastonbury site throughout the weekend so, should you miss one of them, you can catch them at a later date!
Winner: Haim
Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt (John Peel) vs. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Pyramid Stage) vs. Smashing Pumpkins (Other Stage)
Tyler and Earl's rap collective Odd Future have become as controversial as they are capable and are set to unleash absolute carnage on the John Peel Stage. Their sets have been truly successful at Reading & Leeds over the last couple of years. No such controversy surrounds the other two acts. Nick Cave and Smashing Pumpkins are two of the most accomplished bands on the bill, with Nick Cave edging it in our view due to his career-finest LP released earlier this year (Push the Sky Away). A born frontman, Cave knows how to enthrall and entice his crowd and he recently played triumphant sets at Coachella.
Winner: Nick Cave
Tame Impala (Other Stage) vs. Palma Violets (The Park) vs. The Vaccines (Pyramid Stage)
Australia's finest band Tame Impala grace Glastonbury with their psychedelic-saturated masterpiece of a second album Lonerism. You can expect vivid stage set-ups, lighting and showmanship as Kevin Parker cements himself as one of the most creative men in music. Over on The Park you can find Lambeth's Palma Violets. The band are renowned for their frantic live performances which saw them bag a slot on the presitigious NME Awards Tour before supporting The Rolling Stones this summer. The band won the Best New Band Award at the NME Awards and are seen as Rough Trade's brightest new hopes. The Vaccines, similarly, have had a solid 2013 which saw them recently play a headline show at the colossal O2 Arena in London.
Winner: Tame Impala
By James Rodger @jamesdrodger
