🎸 Nostalgia Sells, Festivals Fade & 5 Songs That Definitely Don’t Suck
Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, your trusted filter in a sea of sonic mediocrity 🎧. Mark Bradborn is here again, digging through the noise to deliver music that deserves a spot on your playlists—and this week, he’s got thoughts on the changing face of live music.
📉 Are Music Festivals on the Verge of Extinction?
Mark opens with an industry shake-up: nostalgia is dominating streaming and selling out festivals, while newer artists struggle to gain traction. Luminate reports that 72% of album consumption comes from older catalogs. And now, the festival scene is reflecting that same retro obsession.
đź•ş Nostalgia Festival Wins:
- Lovers & Friends (Las Vegas): Snoop, Janet Jackson, Usher, Alicia Keys—sold out fast.
- Just Like Heaven: Indie legends like Postal Service & Death Cab stole the show.
- When We Were Young: Pop punk heroes like MCR and Fall Out Boy packed it in.
🥀 Modern Festival Struggles:
- Coachella 2022: Sold 125,000 tickets in 40 minutes.
- Coachella 2024: Took 27 days to hit the same numbers. And only 80% of tickets were sold by showtime.
Why the drop? Mark points to a few culprits:
- Stadium tours poaching big-name headliners.
- Newer acts lacking stage experience and staying power.
- Fans reluctant to bet on unproven talent at premium prices.
🎶 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
🌅 1. The Beginning – Snow Patrol
The return of a 2000s alt-rock titan. Full of lyrical introspection, lush strings, and signature vocals, this one feels like a throwback in the best way. If Chasing Cars made you feel things, this will too.
💔 2. Mercy – The Glass Hearts
A hidden gem with just 300 monthly Spotify listeners (for now). Retro vocal harmonies, Motown-style rhythm changes, and modern rock energy. From their debut EP Coup De Ville—an artist to watch.
⚔️ 3. Ladies of the Fight – Sløtface
Norwegian post-grunge pop with attitude. A swirling mix of aggression and melody, with throwback stereo panning production that’ll have your ears doing double takes. Not for everyone, but it might just be for you.
🤖 4. Wish I Was a Robot – Lolo
Dubbed “depressed girl auto music,” this quirky, emotionally raw pop track is backed by sharp lyrical concepts and a rock-leaning vocal tone. The whole album (Falling for Robots and Wishing I Was One) is worth a listen if you like your heartbreak catchy.
🦅 5. Sanctuary – The Wild Feathers
Americana-infused modern rock that fans of The Eagles or Tom Petty will adore. Their first new music since 2021’s Alvarado, and it teases a full album dropping this October. Rich harmonies and seasoned songwriting—this is how you evolve without selling out.
🧠Listener Takeaway:
The industry is leaning hard on nostalgia, but that only works for so long. Today’s up-and-comers need time, patience, and stages to evolve. So while you’re vibing to Snow Patrol, make space for someone like The Glass Hearts too.
🔊…and I quote…
âťťUnless new bands grow into headliners, the music festival will go extinct. And there will be no future nostalgia.âťž
— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck
