Old boys network

As the lineups start to emerge for this summer's festivals, Nigel Williamson investigates where the problem lies for the continuing dearth of female headliners

- Nigel Williamson

With the summer festival and tour season almost upon us, the old gods are getting ready to leave the stage. Elton John and Kiss are playing their final farewell jaunts in 2023 and as the Rolling Stones’ celebrate their 60th anniversary, this really could be the last time.

Younger deities are already taking their place. Among the biggest ticket sellers in 2023 are Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles, and the passing of the old guard has clearly not lessened the demand for live music. Yet it seems some things never change. Before the pandemic shut down live music, I wrote in these pages about the ‘Keychange pledge’, in which 72 UK festivals signed up to achieve gender parity across their lineups by 2022.

To their credit, some have achieved it, although it has largely been done by packing the lower echelons of the bill on smaller stages with female acts. When it comes to the headliners, it is still predominantly an all-boy’s club.

Glastonbury, which committed to gender equality, will be headlined this year by a bloke-fest of Arctic Monkeys on Friday night, Guns N’ Roses on Saturday and Elton on Sunday in his final UK date before he retires.