MusicRadar

Depeche Mode onstage at Wireless 2006 (© Rune Hellestad/Corbis)

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Ever wondered how a festival line-up is put together? Us too! In the first part of an exclusive series, MusicRadar speaks to the curators, directors and bookers from three top UK music festivals to find out, as well as asking them how your band can get on their bill in 2012!

Playing your first ever festival gig is one of the most exciting experiences in a new band's budding career. Yes, you'll probably be playing a stage no bigger than your living room. Yes, you'll have no chance of getting a rider. And yes, your set will be over as soon as you've plugged in, but you will have your collective feet on a ladder that – if you're good enough – will lead you to bigger stages and bigger fees over the years.

Whether you're a dance, electronic or urban pop act; a hardcore, indie or rock band, or something so leftfield and off the wall that you defy classification, between Latitude, Reading and Leeds and Wireless, there's room for everyone.

In this three-part series, MusicRadar speaks to the bookers for each festival to discover how a mammoth festival line-up is crafted, how you can get your band on a bill, and why developing a thick skin is essential when slugging it out with tons of other potential festival newbies.

Wireless

It may be over for this year's Wireless festival, but landing a slot on such a high profile festival bill is a sure-fire ticket to mainstream popularity. Looking towards next year's line-up and just how a new band can mix with some of the most successful acts in the world, we've landed an interview with one of the UK's biggest music promoters, Steve Homer.

Promoting a diverse range of bands from Kings Of Leon to Fleet Foxes, Steve has a pedigree history of making gigs happen. With a keen interest in nurturing smaller bands and helping them progress through the festival line-up over the years, Steve encourages new bands to be unique. Leaning more on the side of dance, electronica and urban pop, Wireless is the festival for all budding Chemical Brothers and Tinie Tempahs.

What is your job in relation to Wireless festival?

"I'm the festival promoter. My job title at Live Nation is Vice President of Music Promotions in the UK. I've been the festival promoter for Wireless since it started in 2005, and my job is to put the bill together for all stages, liaise with all of the bands' booking agents and managers, and deal with all of the artists.

"It sounds like a big job, but once you get the ball rolling and secure the headliners, signing exclusivity agreements and so on, it starts to come together."

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