In-depth The emergence of new superstars at 2016’s festivals

Where are all the future headliners? It’s the consistent cry coming from festival bookers and music fans alike, non-stop for the last five years or so.

When we spoke to the bookers of Latitude, Bestival and more earlier this year, there was a consideration on the bookers’ behalf that fans like seeing bands return to the same festivals, higher up the bill each time, until they finally crack the headline slot. Summer 2016 saw two of these feats achieved, with The Maccabees topping Latitude, and Foals playing the show the whole world knew was coming since about 2010, on the Friday night of Reading 2016.

Despite this insistence on festivals helping out bands, bringing them up through the ranks, the biggest factor that’s driven bands to a fantastic, revolutionary summer is the bands themselves. In particular, a series of individuals have shone the brightest, stepping up their game immeasurably over twelve weekends of festival after festival, pushing their bands closer and closer to that final headline status.