The Big Day Out 2014 lineup is bolstering its success on the size of its triple headliners – Pearl Jam, Blur, and Arcade Fire – and to make sure that fans avoid disappointment, they’ve confirmed that there will be zero clashes between the co-headliners, while a drip-feed of info from festival organisers has revealed some more details about set lengths.
Helping clarify festival-goers’ concerns that the major acts of the bill – the triple co-headliners, Snoop Doog, and Major Lazer – would be running simultaneously, organisers officially tweeted that their concerns would be for naught. With the $185 ticket price – a hike of $20 to last year’s edition justified by there being three headliners– organisers are making sure that punters will be able to see all three acts that they’re paying for.
A post on the official Big Day Out Facebook reads: “Orange & Blue Stages will have Major Lazer, Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion, Arcade Fire & Pearl Jam back to back. Then as Pearl Jam are finishing their two hour set, Blur will begin their one hour and twenty minute set on our new LOVE Stage.” Meaning that Big Day Out will retain its revolving Blue and Orange stages, as well as the addition of the Love Stage.
No major headliner clashes for @MAJORLAZER @SnoopDogg @blurofficial @arcadefire @PearlJam as PJ close the Blue, Blur begin on the Love Stage
— Big Day Out (@bigdayout) August 5, 2013
Although the official set times are still some way off from being revealed, Big Day Out CEO Adam Zammit (who seems to have taken juicy twittering cues from Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah) has already openly discussed the playing times and stage set-ups for the one day festival’s 2014 edition.
Performing on the Blue Stage, grunge survivors Pearl Jam will be the penultimate act of the day, performing full two-hour long concert sets, while confirming that they’ll be offering different sets for each of the two Sydney legs of the event. Organisers have also confirmed that Pearl Jam are exclusive to the Big Day Out, meaning no sideshows.
Blur will officially close the Big Day Out following Pearl Jam’s set, but over at the Love Stage, which has been custom-built to accommodate the Britpop icons return to Australia for the first time since 1997. Bassist Alex James has already talked up the band’s excitement of playing Big Day Out, and with sessions for a new album coming along slowly, fans can probably expect a greatest hits set of about 80min in length, as Zammit confirms:
@LiamMinty @blurofficial @bigdayout 1hr and 20 mins
— Adam Zammit (@AdamZammit) August 4, 2013
The Love Stage will also feature sets from Grouplove and The Lumineers before Blur finish the evening. There’s also been no mention as yet as to whether Blur – or Arcade Fire – are exclusives to the festival, so perhaps there may be some sideshows after all.
Over at the Orange Stage, the legendary Snoop Dog (aka Snoop Lion) will be performing ‘back to back’ with Major Lazer, with Big Day Out’s Ken West telling FasterLouder to expect a ‘greatest hits’ set from Snoop immediately following Major Lazer’s set. While Arcade Fire will presumably play the Orange Stage also, likely between Snoop and Pearl Jam (on Blue) to fit the ‘no clashes’ promise.
Nope @mynameisaldo – @SnoopDogg @MAJORLAZER are both playing MAIN stages. It’s gonna be back to back Major Lazer – Snoop #canyoufeelit
— Big Day Out (@bigdayout) August 5, 2013
West has noted his pride of the bill, saying “the lineup is strong” and “pretty magical” for fans. “You wouldn’t be able to get these three (headliners) on the one day anywhere else in the world,” he says. “We had an opportunity to put a gangbuster show together, we’ve got that and we’re going to make sure it’s the best experience.”
A recent poll of the world’s best live acts would seemingly back up West’s claims, with Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Live Bands list featuring Pearl Jam, Tame Impala, and Arcade Fire at a lofty #4 rank (but no love for Britpop icons Blur).
Though West has remarked about landing their ‘White Wales’ for Big Day Out 2014, there are a number of acts that escaped the Big Day Out booker’s net, including the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Arctic Monkeys, but with over 30 bands on the lineup – with the final announcement to reach around 45 acts – West and Zammit have confidently stuck by their claims that next year’s lineup is ‘the biggest and best’ yet.
Big Day Out 2014 Lineup
Pearl Jam * Arcade Fire * Blur
Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion * Major Lazer * Steve Angello (Swedish House Mafia) * Flume * The Lumineers * Tame Impala * Dillon Francis * Mac Miller * Ghost * Grouplove * Flosstradamus * Portugal. The Man * Toro Y Moi * DIIV * The Naked And Famous * Big Gigantic * PEZ * Mudhoney * Cosmic Psychos * Northlane * The 1975 * Loon Lake * Kingswood * Bo Ningen * The Algorithm * DZ Deathrays * Peking Duk * Ben Morris * Rüfüs
and more to be announced…
Big Day Out 2014 Dates & Venues
Friday 17th January ~ Western Springs, Auckland*
Sunday 19th January ~ Metricon Stadium & Carrara Parklands, Gold Coast
Friday 24th January ~ Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Sunday 26th January ~ Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Day One
Monday 27th January ~ Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Day Two
Friday 31st January ~ Bonython Park, Adelaide**
Sunday 2nd February ~ Claremont Showgrounds, Perth**
*For New Zealand Big Day Out 2014 lineup and ticketing details, please refer towww.bigdayout.com and choose AUCKLAND
**Subject to council approval
Big Day Out 2014 Tickets
Genearl Admission tickets: $185 (NO added booking fees and no sneaky surcharges)
Like A Boss Tickets: $285
In 2014 the new and improved Like A Boss will include Boss main stage viewing areas, Boss entryways, Boss amenities, Boss gifts and Boss more. All Boss tickets are souvenir tickets, and include a limited edition Boss Day Out item straight to your real mailbox.
OFFICIAL ON SALE
Gold Coast: 9am (local time) Wednesday 7 August
Sydney (both shows): 9am (local time) Thursday 8 August
Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth: 9am (local time) Friday August 9
