Coldplay named top festival act of 2011 in 6 Music poll
Coldplay have been voted the best festival headliner of 2011, in an online poll conducted by BBC 6 Music.
By Mark SavageBBC News entertainment reporter The band - who headlined Glastonbury and T In The Park - topped the survey with 22.7% of votes cast, breakfast show host Shaun Keaveny announced. US rock band The National came in second with 14.2%, while Muse were third with 13.9%. Coldplay's drummer Will Champion told 6 Music playing festivals gave the band "a chance to win people over". "But there's also a strong possibility that people have already made their mind up about you," he added, "and no matter how well you play they're not going to be happy about it." Glastonbury, which also saw U2 and Beyonce play headline slots in June, is taking a fallow year in 2012. But John Giddings, who runs the Isle Of Wight festival, said he may step in to fill the gap. "I've actually thought about moving the festival to the Glastonbury weekend next year," he said. He said the idea had been sparked by the fact that school half-term holidays fall later in 2012 which could mean fewer ferries are able to take revellers to his event. Meanwhile, Melvin Benn - who currently runs the Latitude and Reading And Leeds Festivals - said he might launch a new event next year, with the focus away from musical acts. "Some people that I'm talking with have a great festival concept," he said. "I feel very excited about it and I've got a very good feeling it will happen." Benn said it was "too early" to reveal the details, but said he believed there is "a market for a festival in a space that doesn't currently exist". 'Anxiety dreams' Coldplay's victory in the 6 Music vote comes after a series of gigs previewing their forthcoming fifth album, Mylo Xyloto. At Glastonbury and T In The Park, they began their sets with two previously unheard tracks from the record before launching into fan favourites Yellow and In My Place. But Champion admitted that playing big shows and music festivals gave him anxiety dreams. "They took the place of the 'I'm late for an exam' dreams," he told Steve Lamacq. "The whole band come on... and then they walk off and I'm left carrying the can, just playing a drum solo. Awful."