Reading & Leeds Festival 2017 First Announcement
When I first wrote this article I addressed my issues with Reading and Leeds festival’s first announcement. Now we have seen the festival’s second announcement and we are no better off, here’s why:
One of the most anticipated festival lineup announcements of the year was revealed on the first of December. Reading and Leeds Festival announced the first of their 2017 lineup, including Muse who have never even played the festival before and have definitely never ever headlined…
There is nothing exciting about a band that have appeared at the festival six times since 1999 and headlined on three occasions. We’ve seen it all before. This regurgitation of artists that don’t need the opportunity as much as some of the growing bands we’ve seen coming out of our small local towns, take a chance on them. Regardless of whether you are a Muse fan or their worst enemy, there has to be some accountability and admit there is an issue here that needs changing.
R&L’s lineup after second announcement
Year after year after year, we know what to expect. The most discouraging issue here is the extensive lack of diversity. We’ve all seen the final announcements with men removed from the lineup leaving only women left on the poster; it’s shameful yet not shocking at all. A vast array of music is being overlooked in favour of what’s seen as superior, because of this underlying systematic neglect and suppression of women, people of colour, black artists, and genres that are under-represented in music. The focus in this case is not so much an issue with the amount of people representing these groups, as much as their entry into the industry may be impeded, there are plenty of artists already out there qualified enough to be equally presented with fantastic opportunities.
This is not only an issue with Reading and Leeds Festival but so many other large scale festivals. It gives the impression the lineup choices are set to please the masses, which is an adequate enough reason, but what if that curve-ball band were thrown out there in front of your average audience and happened to leave a lasting impact and make a break.Â
