Tuesday 7 April 2009

Reading Festival, this line-up rocks!

Wow! This year’s Reading Festival line-up is one of the best I’ve seen in years.

See below for the line-up so far

Nashville’s Kings of Leon have enjoyed a few penultimate headlining stints on the main stage in the past, but after winning two Brit awards this year the sons of Pentecostal evangelical preacher Leon are hitting the headlining slot.

Arctic Monkeys take their Sheffield social realism to Saturday’s headlining slot, starting life at Reading Festival back in 1995 on what was known as the Carling Stage. Already back then the small tent, reserved mainly for breaking bands, was rammed and spilling out from all sides. And, for once, Sunday’s main stage line-up is one I can’t resist.

Normally the home of the hard rock element to the festival, this year sees Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party and then the mighty Radiohead headline. Last playing in 1994, securing Radiohead highlights that organisers Festival Republic are really pulling out all the stops – perhaps in competition to Glastonbury, or perhaps to encourage punters to fork out £175 in this economic climate. It’s clearly worked, as weekend tickets are sold out.

It’s also good to see White Lies already confirmed on the bill. BBC Radio Berkshire has a bit of a connection with the band as Maggie Philbin’s daughter is dating the lead singer. Glasvegas used to play the tiny Rising Sun Arts Centre as part of Club Velocity, so it’s great to see the Scots billed on the Radio One/NME stage too. Of course the stage I’ll be most excited about is the BBC Introducing one, showcasing the best of the bands who are unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar.

The line-up so far


Main stage

Friday
Saturday
Sunday