28 – 30 August - Reading/Leeds, England - Weekend tickets £213
The twinned festivals of Reading & Leeds host the same line-ups in their respective UK cities for a combined audience of more than 150,000 people – making it one of the biggest annual music festivals in the world.
When it started life as the National Jazz Festival in Reading back in 1961 few would have predicted that it would become one of the oldest and most popular music festivals in existence, however, fast forward more than half a century and August Bank Holiday Weekend simply would not be the same without it.
Since its inaugural year, the festival has moved away from its Jazz roots to incorporate the biggest bands in the world of indie, rock, punk and dance, as well as creating future stars by showcasing the very best up-and-coming talent across these genres.
Today, everybody wants a piece of the action; from the BBC (who broadcast performances live on television and radio) to music magazine NME (who host their very own stage), while the annual event has welcomed some of the most significant music performances of all time including Nirvana’s last ever UK show.
The festival features eight stages (some of which share the same tent) including the NME/Radio 1 Stage, the Alternative Tent, the BBC Introducing Stage, and rock and alternative music courtesy of the Lock Up Stage and The Pit.
The Lineup
A number of familiar faces will be gracing the main stage for the loyal Reading & Leeds crowd. Returning to the scene of their triumphant return at the 2010 Reading & Leeds Festival, The Libertines are back with a new record deal and a desperately awaited new album in the pipeline at long last. The record will be the band’s first since their self-titled second album over a decade ago.
Having controversially headlined hippy-rock festival Glastonbury in 2014 thrash metal legends Metallica have announced they will be returning to Reading & Leeds for the first time since 2008. Performing hits such as Enter Sandman and Master of Puppets has ensured James Hetfield and co have become a popular coup on the festival circuit over the years and while this will be the fourth time in 18 years that the band will be headlining the event, this year is set to be extra-special with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s making it a UK exclusive – a feat even Glastonbury failed to achieve.
The third headline spot goes to folk rock band Mumford & Sons who have the ability to polarise the opinion of the typical Reading & Leeds crowd. Having seen their incredible set to a packed NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage at the festival back in 2010 we know there will be a huge demand for the Believe hitmakers. Alternatively, you can catch Knife Party and Limp Bizket on the NME Stage, New Found Glory on the Lock Up, or Django Django at the Festival Republic stage. Other bands performing across the weekend include: Bastille, Frank Turner (solo), Deadmau5 and Wilkinson Live.
