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As rumours continue to swirl about who could headline Glastonbury Festival 2027, who better to ask for suggestions than former Pyramid Stage performers?
Between Britpop legends Pulp and Suede, they’ve played Worthy Farm seven times – eight if you count the former’s pre-Common People 1994 small stage set.
Pulp made a triumphant return last year, having disguised themselves as ‘Patchwork’ on the lineup, to mark 30 years since their debut headline slot.
While Suede haven’t been on the billing for a decade, they’re closer than fans think since frontman Brett Anderson, 59, lives ’10 minutes away’ from the farm.
‘I can always hear it from mine and my wife’s bedroom,’ Brett told Metro at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony, having been nominated for their latest album Antidepressants.
When asked who their ideal headliner would be, Simon Gilbert, 61, joked his bandmate would like ‘something quiet’.
‘Yeah, Brian Eno doing Music for Airports would be nice,’ agreed the frontman with a grin. ‘Falling asleep listening to 1/1.’
Also titled Ambient 1, the 1979 album popularised ambient music, which has been described as ‘ignorable but interesting’.
We’re not ruling Brian, 78, out, but Simon’s unexpected headliner suggestion of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds feels a bit more likely.
Nick Cave hasn’t actually headlined Glastonbury before, but he and the Bad Seeds have played the festival previously: in 2009 they took over the Pyramid Stage as the penultimate act on the Sunday night, and repeated this again in 2013.
The alt-rock post-punk Australian band, formed in the early 80s, is known for hits Red Right Hand (now known as the iconic theme tune to Peaky Blinders) and Into My Arms, as well as Nick’s much-loved duet with Kylie Minogue, Where the Wild Roses Grow.
Could we see a Kylie and Nick reunion on the UK’s biggest festival stage next year? She is an official ‘Legend’ after all.
As for Suede themselves, the drummer immediately dismissed the idea that they would be adding their name to those swirling 2027 rumours with an amused ‘no’.
Meanwhile, Pulp’s appearance last year pretty much rules them out from a big set next year, but given how iconic their performances have been, they had some advice for anyone taking on the Pyramid stage for the first time.
Nick Banks, 61, told us: ‘[You’ve] got to give the audience what they want basically, if you’re going to bring out your jazz fusion record that you’re not known for that might be a bad move.
‘You’ve got a big crowd and you’re there to entertain them, aren’t you, so try and do that. If you can.’
Nerves can make or break a performance, so Jarvis Cocker, 63, recommended getting to Worthy Farm a day early to just explore the festival.
‘Walk around and see what it’s like,’ the Disco 2000 singer shared. ‘I think then you realise Glastonbury is bigger than any band that plays.
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‘It’s a phenomenon, and you have to tune into that, then you’ll be alright.’
Current favourites for potential headliners include rock icons Bon Jovi and 2025 Mercury Prize winner Sam Fender, who both announced UK shows recently.
Other names like Harry Styles, Muse, Billie Eilish, and (of course) Madonna are all rumoured, but there’s been no official word from Glasto organisers so far.
Undoubtedly there will be a few Mercury Prize nominees on the lineup, with an obvious Olivia Dean cameo potentially on the cards should Sam Fender be announced as headliner.
Other nominees for the 2026 prize included Sir Paul McCartney, Jade, Nia Archives, Kojey Radical, Florence and the Machine, and Knats.
Suede’s Mat Osman noted the domination of female artists both at the Mercury Prize and in the wider music industry, specifically the rise of female-fronted bands.
‘I think the future of British music has been female for a long time now,’ he shared. ‘That wave of female rock bands in Britain, I think, is really good.
‘It’s just a take on stuff you haven’t heard a million times before.’
Ultimately, it was Raye who took home the crown for her album This Music May Contain Hope which featured hit song Where Is My Husband!
Her performance of I Hate The Way I Look Today had the entire Newcastle Utilita Arena on their feet, dancing away and applauding her always flawless vocals.
In her speech, the 28-year-old singer shared: ‘I made this album not focusing on commercial [success], not focusing on making things cookie-cutter.
‘Some of these songs are seven minutes. They’re indulgent. They’re maximalist.’
Raye added: ‘Hope is a very cheesy word, especially for us British people, we don’t do that deep stuff like that, but hope is something we all need … so I hope that message comes across to anyone who needs it.’