Big Day Out 2014: Lineup Rumours & All The Latest Info

UPDATE: Big Day Out 2014 lineup is finally here, and it sure is a big ‘un!

We’re just under two weeks out from the official Big Day Out 2014 lineup announcement and, despite all the hubbub, there’s not actually a lot to sink our teeth into. The dates leaked last week, but there’s been nothing even close to a solid confirm as far as the BDO 2014 lineup is concerned. What we do have is a bunch of rumours, a LOT of hype, plus dates, venues and ticketing details.

Check out everything we know about Big Day Out 2014 below, and stay tuned to this page for the latest updates.

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THE HYPE

Big Day Out have been touting next year’s bill as the “lineup to end all lineups” – you’d hope that they’d know better than to build us up only for a massive let-down, so we can be pretty sure that we’re in for something truly special come January next year.

BDO CEO Adam Zammit revealed on Twitter that there was to be “an extra headliner” this year, for a total of three, and that two of those three “have never played an Australian festival” – not just never headlined, never PLAYED. That already rules out hundreds of bands, and we think that there’s a good chance these headliners haven’t played Australian festivals because they’re so big that they just don’t need to.

This seems to confirm promoter Ken West‘s claims that the festival’s “white whale” hunt has been particularly fruitful, telling The Music that he “managed to get two and ended up with three”. Presumably you’re not putting your white whales somewhere in the middle of your lineup, so we can be sure that there’s going to be three massive names at the top of the bill.

There’s potentially a fourth big name at the head of the poster as well, after New Zealand Big Day Out promoter Campbell Smith jumped on board the hype train, promising NZ radio’s The Rock yesterday that “the second slot, third slot and fourth slot are probably all festival headliners,” bolstering his claims that next year’s lineup will be “the best and biggest lineup we’ve ever had”.

Even rival festival promoters are getting into the spirit of Big Day Out, with Soundwave and Warped Tour Australia‘s AJ Maddah the first external source to espouse the merits of next year’s BDO. Maddah described the lineup as “truly epic”, saying that the headliners are “superb”.

Announcing

THE LINEUP

Just who those headliners are, though, is anyone’s guess until the official lineup announcement at 8pm on Wednesday, 31st July. As we said, there’s been nothing in the way of solid leads as to who is heading to the festival next year – apart from a lot of industry chatter and speculation, that is – and it seems that the best way to get any idea of who’s coming is by elimination. No easy feat.

That said, a couple of weeks ago Triple M music reporter Nui Te Koha sent the rumour mill into overdrive, declaring that “Pearl Jam is back on the tour radar for early next year” with “several promoters trying to lure them down here”. An early 2014 tour puts them in the country at the right time for Big Day Out, and they certainly fit the previously stated criteria, though Nui’s been known to get it wrong more than once in the past. Last year AJ Maddah ruled out bringing Pearl Jam down for Soundwave, saying that “once a band can sell 60,000 tickets by themselves, they don’t need a festival”. With the band already booking a couple of festival appearances this year, including one at Lollapalooza Chile (run by Big Day Out partners C3 Presents), we’re not sure if Maddah means ANY festival, or specifically his.

Another name that’s been thrown around is Blur, with Simon Collins of the West Australian using the old “industry sources” disclaimer way back in April to speculate that the band were firming up as Big Day Out headliners. Not seen on our shores since 1997, representatives of the band have previously stated that Blur would be including Australia in their reformation world tour plans but so far we’ve heard nought about a visit from Albarn’s #1 clan – time will tell whether those industry sources ring true.

The Cure and Kings Of Leon are also worthy contenders, despite playing Australian festivals previously. Both are headlining at this year’s Austin City Limits – another C3 Presents festival – and The Cure are also sitting atop the US Lollapalooza bill.

The rest is anyone’s guess though. We know Queens Of The Stone Age won’t be attending, after confirming they would return in 2014 but ruling themselves out of the summer festival circuit. Although The National are also reportedly returning for an Australian festival next year, it’s said to be in a headlining capacity. Ken West confirmed to The Music that neither Kanye West, Jay-Z nor Neil Young will be playing. Nine Inch Nails are playing Lollapalooza, though we’re expecting them for Soundwave. Depeche Mode are playing Austin City Limits but tours elsewhere keep them out of the running. And Muse seem unlikely, given that Matt Bellamy has already confirmed the band are touring here in December.

Other headliners at Lollapalooza this year include The Black Keys and The Killers, while ACL will see the likes of Phoenix and Atoms For Peace play, though any appearance from these bands at the top of a Big Day Out lineup could depend on the combination of those three main headliners.

West has said that both Sydney shows will be virtually identical, “apart from local bands” though a few bands have said that their sets might differ across the two days.

Roll on, 31st July.

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THE DATES AND VENUES

This year, Big Day Out has said that there are three new venues on their tour. The first two have already been confirmed, with Auckland moving to Western Springs Stadium and Gold Coast finding a new permanent home at Metricon Stadium after being booted from the Parklands. Big Day Out has also confirmed a move from Adelaide Showgrounds is on the cards, with the festival applying for permits to use Bonython Park in 2014.

This year Sydney will be playing host to two Big Day Outs, on Australia Day and the day following, a tactic not tried since 2011 when Tool and Rammstein headlined. Melbourne will be seeing the festival on 24th January, the Friday preceding the Australia Day long weekend.

Friday, 17th January

Western Springs Stadium, Auckland

Sunday, 19th January

Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast

Friday, 24th January

Melbourne, venue TBC

Sunday, 26th January & Monday 27th January

Sydney, venue TBC

Friday, 31st January

Adelaide, venue TBC (expected to be Bonython Park)

Sunday, 2nd February

Perth, venue TBC

Barcode

THE TICKETS

Tickets for Big Day Out 2014 have been priced at $185 + booking fee, a $20 increase on last year, but we’ve been assured the price bump is worth it. Presales begin the day after the lineup announcement on Thursday, 1st August through General Pants Co stores, with Big Day Out member presales kicking off the day after.

General release tickets are available on the following dates via the Big Day Out website:

Gold Coast: 9am local time, Wednesday 7th August

Sydney x 2: 9am local time, Thursday 8th August

Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth: 9am local time, Friday 10th August

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THE LATEST

Here’s where you’ll find any extra info that we post, right up until that lineup announcement date – remember, 8pm, Thursday, 31st July.

THE FULL LINEUP AND DETAILS

Tickets:

Single day tickets – $185 + bf

Presale starts Thursday, 1st August through General Pants Co

Big Day Our Members Presale starts Friday, 2nd August through Big Day Out

General release tix on sale at the following times –

Gold Coast: 9am local time, Wednesday 7th August

Sydney x 2: 9am local time, Thursday 8th August

Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth: 9am local time, Friday 9th August

Dates and venues:

Friday, 17th January

Western Springs Stadium, Auckland

Sunday, 19th January

Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast

Friday, 24th January

Melbourne, Flemington Racecourse

Sunday, 26th January

Sydney, Sydney Showgrounds

Monday, 27th January

Sydney, Sydney Showgrounds

Friday, 31st January

Adelaide, Bonython Park

Sunday, 2nd February

Perth, Claremont Showgrounds

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