As we speak marks essentially the most visceral response I’ve ever needed to a Obtain Competition announcement, and I’ve seen my personal band’s identify on that poster. However even that didn’t examine to the victorious feeling of seeing the Obtain 2026 lineup.
I punched the air, screamed “YES!” on the high of my lungs and texted each girl within the music trade I do know. The large second we’ve been craving for has lastly arrived.
After 22 years of male dominance, we’ll see a band with a lady entrance and centre headlining Obtain in 2026. Emily Armstrong might be commanding that huge Donington stage, making rock historical past with Linkin Park. I effectively up simply imagining it.
This isn’t simply one other headline slot: it’s a tectonic shift. It represents a change in angle towards ladies in rock that claims we’re lastly seen as succesful, we’re valued and we’re worthy of headlining.
Whereas the Obtain lineup has steadily proven extra gender range during the last 5 years, these coveted headline slots have been at all times reserved for the massive boys. There have been far more ladies on the lineup lately, however by no means on the high, closing out the principle stage.
Once you regularly see all-male bands on the high of the invoice, it feels silly to dream that headlining the UK’s largest rock pageant is an achievable objective as a lady. Now Emily Armstrong is ready to show to 80,000 individuals that girls can do it too.
Why does this matter? As a result of illustration adjustments actuality. The presence of Linkin Park headlining the principle stage of Obtain sends a loud, simple message: ladies don’t simply belong in rock, we outline it. We take it to new locations.
What number of women within the viewers will witness Emily’s highly effective vocals dwell and really feel impressed to begin a band themselves? Her presence on that stage proves to each girl within the crowd that something is feasible. The barrier she is breaking will turn out to be one much less impediment for the following technology.
I solely must suppose again to the primary ladies I noticed acting on stage at steel festivals to understand what a life-changing impact their presence had on me. Seeing Kittie, Arch Enemy and My Break blazing a path 20 years in the past was the precise form of encouragement I wanted to kind a band myself.
Their presence on pageant payments stood out, not simply because there have been so few ladies on these phases again then, however as a result of their defiance and energy to exist in a male-dominated sphere was one thing that deeply resonated with me. You possibly can’t think about the goosebumps that hit when a lady lastly strides on stage after ten all-male bands in a row.
These implausible feminine steel musicians confirmed me you can pursue your passions and carve out an area for your self in steel, in opposition to the chances. I’ve by no means been so motivated to play steel than after I’ve seen different ladies doing it dwell.
Again then, you’d perhaps see one or two ladies on a pageant stage like Obtain per day – and so they have been normally acting on the smaller phases. That’s why a female-fronted headliner feels completely momentous to me now.
This isn’t nearly illustration, it’s about revolution. It’s the sound of the gates lastly cracking open, of heavy music dwelling as much as its promise of rise up and unity. It ignites a flame of hope in me that sooner or later, headliners fronted by ladies received’t be an exception at Obtain, however the norm. And that’s a day that I can’t wait to see.
Linkin Park headline Obtain pageant on Sunday June 14, 2026
