Where are Laneway’s big names? They’re playing stadiums now.

It had just passed 11am when Laneway’s 2027 poster splashed across social media feeds. The knives came out, instantly. “None of these are big artists,” was one of the first comments to land. “Where on earth are the A-list acts?” asked another. “Where did their budget go?”

Laneway’s rollout had already been wobbly. Two controversial changes were confirmed for the Western Springs leg, the day moving from the Thursday before Waitangi weekend to a Sunday, and the date pushed to February 21, just five days before its juggernaut rival Electric Avenue kicks off down in Christchurch.

Worse came when the six-date festival pulled its Adelaide and Perth shows, with organisers citing logistical challenges. Then a poster leak suggested Hayley Williams and Fontaines D.C. would perform at a “Laneway Presents” sideshow in Perth – the suggestion being they might also be the festival’s headliners.

Wednesday’s big poster reveal showed that leak was mostly true, with a solo performance by the Paramore frontwoman, billed as “The Hayley Williams Show,” and the broody Irish lads appearing in the biggest fonts. The undercard resembles the festivals of old, with a bevy of rising stars and hyped newcomers, including Slayyyter, surely the must-see wildcard (but not Dave Grohl’s grunge-leaning daughter Violet, who is only playing the Australian dates).

For Aotearoa fans, this is the best line-up of locals in years, with Balu Brigada, the Auckland brothers who are bigger overseas than anyone at home seems to realise, appearing up high, plus a must-see showcase from this year’s breakout Greatsouth. (Our interview is here.) Northland rappers Mokomokai, Dunedin rockers Office Dog and Nelson duo O & the Mo are also on the bill.

To some, this was instantly underwhelming. Those critics may have a point. Laneway’s 2027 poster seems to be missing a big name, something to match the zeitgeist-grabbing domination of Charli xcx and Chappell Roan. Fans had hoped for another big pop star reveal, perhaps Olivia Rodrigo, but she’s confirmed a Brooklyn residency for February, or Sabrina Carpenter, but she has never performed here or shown any sign that she might.

If you’re want to know where the headliners are going, you only have to glance at this coming summer. It heaves with names that could top a Laneway poster, like Olivia Dean, who opens the new Western Springs Bowl later this month, or Zara Larsson, who will soon play two nearly full Spark Arena shows, or Dom Dolla, the Australian DJ who plays to a near-capacity Auckland Domain crowd on Waitangi weekend, Laneway’s old date.

Elsewhere, Faith No More and System of a Down is filling Wellington’s Hnry Stadium, Bruno Mars has sold out three nights at Eden Park, and a sold out Electric Avenue boasts Major Lazer, Calvin Harris, Jungle and Kings of Leon. Those acts might be less likely as Laneway picks, but they’ve already sucked up much of the oxygen – and, more importantly, punters’ ticket-buying dollars.

The good news is that Laneway’s gone back to its roots. That means a poster that will almost certainly improve the closer we get to February. Watch out for the jarring New Jersey rapper Jane Remover, Brooklyn noisemakers DIIV and Horsegiirl, who DJs in the kind of face mask your flatmates used to terrify you with.

The bad news is the same: Laneway’s gone back to its roots. Without an A-lister headliner, this doesn’t feel like a festival that requires the wide open spaces of Western Springs. Instead, it should consider returning to the intimate, tree-lined confines of Albert Park – to many, the festival’s true spiritual home.

Laneway, Western Springs, February 21; pre-sales begin on October 7.