credit: Victorious Festival/Strong Island
The weekend just gone was Victorious Festival, which is based in my home town. As soon as the first announcement was made, I grabbed tickets for Friday and Sunday. I didn't opt for a weekend ticket as there wasn't enough on the Saturday to justify going for the three days. I would have liked to have seen Pixies again, but that was the only sell - there were other things I would have watched but I wasn't fussed about not seeing them.
The festival itself is slightly bigger than when I last attended, with the Common Stage area being bigger. This is also the first year in a couple that the Seaside stage has been open, due to the ongoing sea defence work. The organisation seemed to be fine from what I could tell (ie, I haven't heard any complaints about toilets this year!)
And now to the main reason why I am here, the bands. I have not been consistent in recent years in adding an enjoyment score out of 10 against bands. I have done it for this one. These scores are not how I thought the bands/acts performed, they are how much I enjoyed the sets
Friday
Pacific Avenue - 5
Caught the second half of their set as I was walking towards the Common Stage. Sounded decent enough.
Razorlight - 8
Had a good spot for Razorlight, which was cool. They have a lot more songs that I know than I thought! Their set got the festival off to a very good start for me.
The Murder Capital - 7
I like The Murder Capital, and I am still slightly salty that their Wedgewood Rooms gig sold out before I sorted a ticket (salty at myself, as it's my fault). Had to take this opportunity to see them live, and they were very good.
Emmanuel Sonubi, Suzi Ruffell & Russell Howard - 9
I don't want to rank the comedians individually. The session I was there was great, and could have only been topped if I'd been able to get into the tent instead of on the fringes. Alas, I had to have some sound bleed from The Sherlocks interfere with my trying to listen to Russell Howard. All three comics were great, and I am glad I made time in my day to see them. Hope the people that needed medical attention are doing okay today.
Peace - 6
Due to the second medical incident in the comedy tent, Russell Howard went off slightly early (which is understandable). This meant getting to see a bit more of Peace than I expected, though that still wasn't too much. They were cool.
Lottery Winners - 9
A pal of mine once said I wouldn't like this band. I said “good to know” and didn't really think about them again until they were touring with Frank Turner. Reader, my pal was wrong. Anyhow, this is the third time I've seen them live now and they are always great! I can't tell if the comments about not expecting a crowd (due to clashing with Louis Tomlinson) were genuine or part of the schtick, but they did get a big crowd (from what I could see, I was down the front), so that's cool.
IDLES - 8
Idles are a really good band and the band who basically sold me a Friday ticket. I am pleased to report I really enjoyed their set. Their London headline show earlier in the year for me was noticeably better, but I think that is to be expected. This was still a very good set.
Snow Patrol - 8
I really enjoyed Snow Patrol’s set. I only know 2 or 3 songs, but the rest of it was really good as well. Potentially could have enjoyed more but people around me were chatting throughout.
Fatboy Slim - 9
Southsea Common became a nightclub because of Fatboy Slim and it was so good. I didn't have it in me to stay for the whole shebang, but I stayed for most and it was a lot of fun!
Sunday
Similar to The Futureheads, I didn’t know much of their stuff but it didn’t matter. I thought they were really good. They do play the Wedgewood Rooms here every now and then, and I may well take myself along next time on the basis of this set. Job done I guess!
Absolutely one of the bands of the weekend for me. Without question! I really like their new album, and they played a lot of it. I very much hope there will be a second leg of the Heavy Jelly tour that either comes here or Southampton. That would be a lovely time.
Becky Hill is very good at what she does. I’m not overly a fan of it, but that is okay. I wanted to be down the front to then get a better spot for Biffy Clyro after she had finished (anticipating some of her crowd wouldn’t stay for Biffy), and I was successful. Her set didn’t do anything for me, unfortunately. It wasn’t offensively bad or owt, and the people around me seemed to love it, so that’s good. A pal of mine who watches from his parents flat across the road said she might headline next time she comes back, and it is entirely possible. I won’t be there is she does, and that is okay.
Biffy Clyro are excellent live. One of the many things I’d like to do if I could go back in time is give my 2011 self’s head a wobble (for many reasons, but for not overly caring about Biffy at the time being one). Their set list for this show wasn’t as much to my tastes as the two headline tour shows I’ve been to, which is fine. I still had a lovely time watching them down the front. Admittedly, there was a point where I wondered if three people I was standing near would talk throughout the entire show (why do people do this?!), but thankfully they moved on (and I did smile when I saw one of them getting told off for trying to start a mosh pit with people who were not receptive).
Biffy Clyro - Probably too big to headline Victorious, but they would be a good booking I think. They are a popular band who fill arenas up and down the country.
...well, I got that wrong!
Pixies - See above (referring to Wolf Alice), but I don't see this happening. I'd just like it to.
I got that wrong as well!
IDLES - This one seems unlikely, but I think they'd go over really well. They're so good live. I'd love to see them get 45 minutes or longer on the Common Stage.
They got 50 minutes this year on the Common Stage, so that was nice.
Anyway, below are a list of bands who I think could headline either Common or Castle Stage, or otherwise have a significant slot at the festival. Maybe for 2025, but my guesses for 2023 had bands who appeared in 2024, so maybe who I write here could appear in 2026?
Dance DJs - Tiësto, Sub Focus, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Pete Tong. Annie Mac. Fatboy Slim went over very well this year, and they've had DJs in major slots. Maybe this will open the door for more main stage headliner DJs. I am out of my depth knowing who could do this, so I listed some names I've heard of.
Queen with Adam Lambert - They are still touring, and I think they'd go over really well with the Victorious crowd. The only potential issue is headliners at Victorious only tend to get 90 minutes tops, and they play for longer than that.
Olivia Rodrigo - She is soon going to be selling out stadiums on her own, so get her headlining the Common Stage here before she does! It would be a huge draw for a younger crowd.
Blur - They did a lot of tickets at Wembley Stadium, and it isn't likely they are going to tour again any time soon. If they do, they should headline festivals here and Victorious should at least try and book them (thougj I suspect IOW would win that battle)
The National - I don't know anything by The National, but I know that people seem to love them and they are big enough I think to headline (headlined All Points East twice).
Gorillaz - Damon Albarn's other project. They headlined All Points East the other year - I couldn't tell you how well it sold but I reckon they could go down well. Could they headline? Maybe. They would be a strong Castle Stage headliner if not a Common Stage headliner.
Fontaines D.C - They've announced their first big show in Finsbury Park for 2025, so a Victorious appearance seems unlikely. That said, the first announcement tends to be towards the end of the calendar year, which would give Fontaines the chance to sell a bunch more tickets before being announced.
Pet Shop Boys - A classic band who relatively recently did a best of tour. They could easily headline Victorious, best of tour ideally but probably even without.
Muse - Unlikely as they do their own big outdoor shows, but it would be a new festival for them to play and I suspect would be a popular booking
The Strokes - Don't play the UK too much, so probably would play a bigger festival than Victorious, but I guess it could happen if they weren't exclusive so could play others.
Raye - Raye has moved up the bill over the years and sub-headlined the Common Stage in 2023. Since then, I think she won 6 Brit awards last time. If she comes back, she would headline.
The Prodigy - The Prodigy headlined in 2018, and I think this was one of the last shows with Keith Flint before he sadly passed away. They still headline festivals up and down the country, so why not?
Pulp - I backed them for 2023 as there were rumblings they would be doing a reunion tour. Within weeks, they were announced for the Isle of Wight festival. I still think they could do Victorious.
Stormzy - This is probably one of the more unlikely choices for Victorious, but he has done a bunch of festivals recently, and I am sure this would go over really well.
Two Door Cinema Club - They've headlined before, and could do it again. Maybe Castle now, or sub-headline Common? One of them.
Beebadoobee - I am not overly familiar with this act, but they are frequently high up on festival bills. If this ascent continues, a headline slot is not out of the question.
The Last Dinner Party - Released an album earlier this year and sold a lot of tickets. A lot. If they play Victorious, it is either headline or sub-headline Common I think.
Pendulum - Potentially a Castle stage headliner, would be good fun. It would be even better if they played Slam and Fasten Your Seatbelts!
The Wombats - They sub-headlined in 2022 and were very good. A step up might be a big ask, but who knows.
Lionel Richie - A legend who plays big outdoor shows but has never played Victorious. Maybe it isn't a good fit, but I suspect he would go over well.
Wolf Alice - They also sold a lot of tickets after their last album. I could see them in a significant slot if not headlining one of the main stages.
