Source: Promo Image
NME/Radio 1 Stage headliners – ???
This is where it gets tricky. Who are big enough to warrant a headline slot on the second stage, over a high billing on the Main Stage. In recent years, we have seen the likes of Alt-J, Skrillex and Limp Bizkit. Who is going to get the job of competing with the headliners, whoever they wind up being?
As mentioned, Brand New could well be a wise choice, as their loyal, if somewhat tortured fans will follow that band to the ends of the Earth, but who else?
One choice could well be You Me At Six who wound up being the surprise guests at 2016’s event, tearing The Pit apart. With their new album Night People in the pipeline for January 2017, could we be treated to a bumped up slot for the boys from Surrey? In a similar vein, Slaves have proven themselves to be one of the hardest working bands on the circuit. They are currently on their small club Back In The Van tour, ahead of their second album Take Control which comes just a year after their debut album Are You Satisfied? Could they be rewarded with a slot heading up the second stage? Possibly, although it may be a long shot.
Another safe bet could well be the return of Sum 41. 13 Voices comes out in October and fans are chomping at the bit to see a triumphant return from Deryck Whibley after his public troubles recently. They certainly have the back catalog to bolster a slot such as this and there will not be a single person on the festival site that doesn’t know those opening chords to ‘Fat Lip‘.
