Future Festival Headliners

This summer has been a special one for live music. After a tumultuous period with a global pandemic halting all music performances, 2021 has slowly seen the return of concerts and festivals with fans attending at full capacity in a safe environment. The UK has seen a huge success for reinstated festivals with the likes of Latitude, Bloodstock, Reading & Leeds and more recently Slam Dunk Festival all taking place without a hitch.

With festival season reaching its annual climatic close, speculation can begin about potential acts we can expect to see give show-stopping headline performances in the future. Across the spectrum, there are bundles of budding acts which haven't quite reached their full potential in terms of headline status, however they are fully deserving of peak position. Here is my list of the acts I think will top the bills of the biggest festivals in the coming years.

1. Nothing But Thieves

The Southend based five-piece have been on my radar since their Graveyard Whistling EP back in 2014 and have always shown musical maturity beyond their years. Their undeniable talent blended with their electrifying, note perfect live performances has constantly seen the band rightly earn a place at multiple festivals over the years. They have donned the main stage at Reading & Leeds on more than one occasion but it is common knowledge that Nothing But Thieves deserve to see their logo in the largest font on the festival poster. Completely armed with anthems such as Amsterdam, Real Love Song, Itch and countless more, the Indie Rock group already have the songs from their blossoming discography to put on a phenomenal show with adoring fans singing along throughout. The most exciting aspect is that Nothing But Thieves are getting better with every album release so their ceiling is unlimited and a future headline slot at a major festival is inevitable.

2. Billie Eilish

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last couple of years then you would understand why pop megastar Billie Eilish is deservedly on the list. The Happier Than Ever singer is by far one of the most exciting and desirable acts in recent times and Billie knows how to put on a hell of a show. Raw vocal talent is just one many strings to the 19-year-old's bow. Billie Eilish's live shows often consist of eccentric visuals which make for a captivating experience. Having performed at UK festivals previously, she is no stranger to the main stage and is a dead cert for many headliner slots to come.

3. Joyner Lucas

One act which deserves more notoriety than he currently receives is Massachusetts rapper Joyner Lucas. The 33-year-old, who rose to fame in 2015 and has since been blowing up, has yet to massively feature at major UK festivals which is a criminal statement in itself. With his mesmerising performance as well as countless hits including ADHD and I Love, Joyner has it in his locker to take over the main stages with full force. What is also an alluring prospect is the rapper's many collaborations with other major stars could be seen to come to life at a festival. Imagine Eminem popping out to perform Lucky You. Imagine.

4. Bring Me The Horizon

One act which are primed for a headline slot and haven't quite been given their opportunity are Sheffield rockers Bring Me The Horizon. Transitioning over the years from a ravenous deathcore outfit to an experimental rock band, BMTH have kicked the door down into the mainstream and their changes of sound throughout the years makes them the perfect candidate to headline any genre of festival. They have come close in the past, fitting into the higher positions of Reading & Leeds and Download Festival, however it is time to witness the allure of BMTH under the festival lights. Frontman Oli Sykes is a true showman and he puts his entire being into making sure the crowd are participating, from singalong moments to multiple circle pits. The band has something for everyone, whether they delve into their rip-roaring material from seminal albums There is a Hell... and Sempiternal or the more accessible anthems like Drown and Mantra. One guarantee is that Bring Me The Horizon will put on a performance to remember and once they are in a headliner position, they are there to stay.

5. KSI

This is a name nobody would have expected to see on a future headliner list in recent years but after absolutely annihilating everything in his path, YouTuber-turned-everything KSI has been making rippling waves with his music. The media sensation would once admit his music was below par but after putting in years of effort, it has improved tenfold - to the point where he his latest project All Over The Place found itself topping the UK album charts. With the aid of collaborating with musical mentors such as Craig David, Lil Wayne and Anne-Marie, KSI is now making his best music and is now taken extremely seriously as a musician. His Reading & Leeds performances this year saw some of the largest crowds of the weekend who were all going mental to the likes of The Moment and Down Like That. Whilst I think KSI may be a few years off of a headline performance, he is showing all the signs of an artist who is passionate about his craft and will work tirelessly until he reaches the pinnacle of his music career.