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.

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”.

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.

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

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

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

Big Day Out 2014 Lineup

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam (US) - The first of the three 'white whales', Pearl Jam are well overdue for an Australian tour. Their headlining slot at BDO 2014 will be their first stint Down Under since 2009, and couldn't be timed more perfectly with their upcoming album 'Lightning Bolt' set to be released in a matter of weeks.
Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire (Canada) - With a new James Murphy-produced album locked in for an October 2013 release, Arcade Fire are returning to our speakers in a big way. This will be their first show on Aussie stages since 2008.
Blur1

Blur (UK) - Considering the band haven't been in town since 1997, many fans thought Blur had simply forgotten about Australia. With the band recently reforming, keep your fingers crossed that their mysterious new album will be done and dusted by the time they hit BDO!
Snoop Dogg (AKA Snoop Lion)

Snoop Dogg AKA Snoop Lion (US) - As The Lion, Snoop has been hard at it, working with a bevy of high-profile artists for his reggae-infused 'Reincarnated' LP, though the Dogg is said to be making his resurgence. It hasn't been too long between drinks with Snoop's last appearance here dating back only as far as 2011.
Major Lazer

Major Lazer (US) - The last time the Diplo-led duo were in town was 2012, but it doesn't take much to realise how out of control these shows will be. One listen of 'Free The Universe' or last year's smash single 'Get Free' will leave you with the incurable desire to bust moves.
Steve Angello11 1024x929

Steve Angello (Sweden) - On his own, it's been an age since Angello was last in town: his last stint was meant to be 2010 but that never eventuated. 2008 was the last time he was here solo, and he popped his head back in earlier this year with the now-defunct Swedish House Mafia. Expect new tunes!
Flume

Flume (Aus) - Having recently wrapped up a massive headlining Australian tour and a huge Splendour set, Harley Streten will be well and truly ready for a run of shows early next year when he returns from his international touring commitments.
The Lumineers

The Lumineers (US) - Only making their Australian debut in March this year, The Lumineers have clearly found traction amongst their Aussie following and will be returning again in early 2014. Their self-titled 2012 effort should see a follow-up by the time BDO rolls around.
Tame Impala

Tame Impala (Aus) - Do these guys really need a write-up these days? If you haven't heard their latest album 'Lonerism', there's simply no hope for you. The band has kept a regular live presence all over the world this year, though it's safe to say there's no such thing as too much live Tame.
Dillon Francis

Dillon Francis (US) – The Los Angeles-based electronic music producer rose to fame after being noticed by Diplo, and is credited with pioneering moombahton, a fusion genre of house music and reggaeton. The 25-year-old will be dropping his debut album later in 2013.
Mac Miller

Mac Miller (US) – Or Malcolm James McCormick to his mama. He’s a rapper from Pittsburgh with two studio albums under his belt; you’ve probably heard his single 'Donald Trump'. Miller also currently stars in a reality series titled 'Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family' on MTV2. As you do.
Ghost Band

Ghost (Sweden) – Nobody does heavy metal quite like those Scandinavians and Ghost are no exception, with the Swedish 6-piece drawing comparisons to Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. The band members' identities are a secret, and the vocalist dresses as a Roman Catholic cleric while the other five members play in hooded robes. Won’t that be fun in an Aussie summer?!
GroupLove

Grouplove (US) - With sophomore full-length 'Spreading Rumours' expected to drop any moment now, Grouplove were destined to head Down Under at some point and, well, here we are. Big Day Out will be the band's first Australian show since 2012.
Flosstradamus

Flosstradamus (US) - Australian audiences are yet to fully recover from Flosstradamus' run of club shows earlier this year. The last release from the hip hop DJ pair was 2012's 'Jubilation 2.0' EP, so we'll most likely have some new jams to wrap our heads around by 2014.
P. The Man

Portugal. The Man (US) - P.TM are fast becoming festival favourites in Australia, with the psych rockers just in town for Splendour In The Grass. Their 2013 album 'Evil Friends' is a cracker, sure to still be pumping come BDO.
Toro Y Moi

Toro Y Moi (US) – It’s time to get your chillwave on. Chaz Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi, brought his brand of genre-mashing electronic tunes to Australia last March for a killer set at Golden Plains festival, off the back of his latest release Anything In Return. He’s been described as everything from psych pop to tongue-in-cheek electro, with the only guarantee being that your booty will be shaking.
Diiv

DIIV (US) – Brooklyn indie rock doesn’t get much hotter than this. DIIV, originally named Dive after the Nirvana song, dropped their debut Oshin last year to critical acclaim, making Pitchfork and Stereogum’s Top 50 records of the year. Originally the solo project of Zachary Cole Smith’s, DIIV are influenced by Krautrock, world music and – oh yeah, Nirvana.
The Naked and Famous

The Naked And Famous (NZ) – What, have you been living under a rock or something? The synth pop outfit from Auckland took over the world with their single Young Blood in 2010 and played the Big Day Out in 2011, as well as a string of sold-out sideshows. The Kiwi quintet have just announced that their sophomore studio album, In Rolling Waves, will be released this September.
Big Gigantic

Big Gigantic (US) – The Colorado-based duo, made up of saxophonist/producer Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken, mix up electronic beats with live saxophone and drums to make tunes that reach all the corners of livetronica, hip-hop and jazz. They’re renowned for their high-energy live show and are festival favourites, bringing their futuristic wall of sound to Lollapalooza in 2012 and getting audiences on their feet.
Pez

PEZ (Aus)- It was just this year that the Aussie hip hop figure broke his live-show drought, announcing a massive set of live shows to shake off the cob webs in time for his upcoming album 'Don’t Look Down', expected to drop early November.
Mudhoney

Mudhoney (USA) - The Sup Pop stalwarts will be returning Down Under to showcase their '90s grunge greatness for yet another festival crowd. After 25 years in the game, the band have their live show and stage presence down pat..
Cosmic Psychos

Cosmic Psychos (Aus) - When Nirvana pump your tracks, it's clear you're onto a good thing. Successfully penetrating the Seattle grunge scene was just the beginning for punk icons Comic Psychos, who have spent 30 years at the top of their game. With a career-spanning doco in the works, and a back catalogue that extends well into the '90s, we're sure to get a good cross section of the band's timeline come BDO.
Northlane

Northlane (Aus) - Since dropping their latest album 'Singularity' Northlane have risen to the top of the pile at a meteoric rate. Bringing the best elements of the djent world into their metalcore sound, the band possess a presence unlike anything else on the scene. The band has found serious traction with the overseas crowds but remain loyal to their homegrown fans, making sure a tour is never too far off.
The 1975

The 1975 (UK) - Known for their genre-bending sensibilities, The 1975 simply refuse to be pigoenholed. "Pop, but not as you know it" is the most accurate description but you'll have to give their self-titled debut album a solid crank to form your own opinion. Their brand-new music video for single 'Sex' is a glorious NSFW affair.
Loon Lake

Loon Lake (Aus) - These guys spent much of 2012 sharpening their live performance skills as they zig-zagged across the country on a national run of tour dates. Demand is at an all-time high for the band after their single 'Cherry Lips' killed it in the Triple J Hottest 100. Their debut album will be released this coming October.
KINGSWOOD

Kingswood (Aus) - From humble beginnings in Melbourne, Kingswood have gone on to see heights very few of their peers will ever witness (like supporting Aerosmith, no biggie). The band killed it in 2012 off the back of a run of hit singles, and kept the indie rock vibes coming with the 2013 EP 'Change Of Heart'.
Bo Ningen

Bo Ningen (Japan/UK) - "Pure music" makers Bo Ningen released their latest album 'Line The Wall' in October 2012, but since then the band have kept heavily active in all sorts of creative areas. They're widely regarded as London's best (and perhaps most freaked-out) live band.
TheAlgorithm

The Algorithm (France) - Focusing on the new breed of sub-genres including IDM, chiptune and breakcore, The Algorithm boasts electronically charged breakdowns with a beefy djent chug all over it. This project from upcoming French DJ/Producer Rémi Gallego has managed to hit all the right buttons - give the 2012 album 'Polymorphic Code' a spin if you feel the need to have everything you once thought about EDM and metal totally flipped.
Dzdeathrays

DZ Deathrays (Aus) - Raucous thrash poppers DZ Deathrays conquered hearts and minds with 2012 debut 'Bloodstreams', and the record is still producing crash hot singles. Their live performances have put them in hot demand on the Australian touring scene.
Peking Duk

Peking Duk (Aus) - These Canberra-bred electro/house upstarts tore up clubs all over the world this year. Recently voted In The Mix’s #5 DJ for 2013, the Duks have promised that studio time is on the cards very soon. Did someone say "smash-hit summer single"?