Lineups at most UK-based music festivals offer a wide assortment of artists as well as a structured timetable of activities. Often it is the location and ambience of the event which attracts media and public attention, but without a well-structured lineup the entire festival experience would likely be greatly diminished. The manner in which each performer is arranged helps to establish an ebb and flow of energy that extends over multiple days.
Organizers of country-side music festivals that take place on working farms or private estates (as opposed to large city events) tend to view the creation of their lineups from a unique angle. In particular they emphasize the need for diversity, discovery and balance between various musical genres.
Therefore, attendees may experience a full spectrum of entertainment ranging from a folk act in the afternoon to an electronic performance at night; all while still being within the boundaries of one event.
How Festival Line-Ups Are Structured
While the public is aware of the organization of each individual artist’s time slot, the actual process of structuring the overall festival lineup can be quite complex.
- Typically the largest (headline) acts will play in the evenings when the largest number of people will be attending the festival.
- Medium-sized acts will usually be scheduled to perform during the late afternoons or early evenings.
- Newer acts will often be scheduled to start off the day with short sets so they can get exposure and help introduce new music to the festival goers.
- Smaller stages will be operating continuously throughout the day, however, they will be having continuous rotations of acts.
As a result of this layered schedule, the festival will generally run from dawn until dusk.
Genre Diversity at Countryside Festivals
A great deal of recognition has been given to many of the smaller, independent and country-side based festivals in the UK for offering a very broad array of musical styles. Organizers of these types of festivals will commonly structure their lineups with numerous musical traditions and contemporary styles. A result of the varied nature of the lineups will encourage the attendees to sample the varying musical styles.
Independent and alternative music are frequent appearances on the larger stages of country-side festivals. Both of these genres have traditionally had strong ties to the independent music scene and to outdoor music festivals. Folk and acoustic music are also regulars at country-side festivals, especially during the daylight hours when smaller crowds tend to congregate in more intimate settings.
British festival lineups are evolving. In this evolution are several key elements that can be seen to be changing.
A few examples of changes to festival lineups are:
- Festivals are developing more stage options; there is an increasing number of stages and thus more options available to the audience at one time.
- More independent and up-and-coming artists are appearing at festivals next to well-established headliners, which creates a more interesting and inclusive experience for the audience.
- There is a growing influence of global music and genres at festivals in Britain, resulting in increased collaboration between different artists from different styles and backgrounds.
- Feedback from audiences, as well as data from online streaming platforms (e.g., Spotify), is being used to help inform decisions regarding which artists will appear at festivals in the years to come.
The evolution of festival lineups, along with other elements of festival production (such as the development of various “curated” stages and themed areas) allows British festivals to stay relevant while supporting emerging artists and creative communities.
Electronic and dance music events commonly occur in the evening. There are sometimes dedicated stages or tents that house DJ’s and producers once the main stage has finished. Some festivals incorporate additional types of artists (e.g., jazz, experimental, cross-genre) into the program, to create a wider variety of musical offerings.
Indie and alternative bands typically headline the large outdoor stages in the evenings. Folk and acoustic artists usually perform in the smaller tents or woodland areas in the daylight hours. Dance and electronic acts perform in late-night tented structures specifically designed for extended DJ sets. Jazz and experimental musicians offer a wide range of influences that add depth to the music offering.
Curated Stages and Themed Areas
Many festivals organize the musical content around curated stages or themes, rather than just a random collection of lineups. The curated stages or themed areas are organized by specific identities created by the festival organizers.
Some common characteristics of curated festival areas are:
- Each curated area has a dedicated stage so that the organizers can concentrate on a specific type of music or music community.
- Many times, guest curators (i.e., a music collective or label) assist with selecting artists to play on the curated stages.
- There are often smaller venues located in the festival where artists and fans can interact closely with each other.
- Often, there is art, theater and/or workshops that complement the musical performance on the curated stages.
Each curated area gives its section of the festival a unique personality while adding to the overall program of the festival.