Reading | FESTIVALPHOTO
| Reading The festival duo (Reading and Leeds) over the years have suffered more than their fair share of troubles, having had to move grounds repeatedly since 1961, band bottlings, and rioting on the Leeds event in 2002 almost leading to a loss of license. This only serves to show however, that the two annual events have become ensconced in fans hearts, which show no sign of letting up even during the current financial climate. Over the years, the consistently well chosen line ups (and the inspired idea of giving two parts of the country a chance to attend since 1999) has proven popular. In 2008 with headliners Metallica, The Killers and RATM, tickets for both Reading and Leeds Festivals sold out in record time on March 31st, with all 200,000 tickets being snapped up within an incredible 2 hours. 2009 was a similar story, with tickets at Reading selling out in a matter of days and 2011 continuing the pattern. In 2012, Festival Republic looked further to the needs of the masses, with purses and wallets tighter than ever before, a ticket deposit scheme was introduced giving fans a chance to spread their ticket cost with 4 installments. http://www.readingfestival.com/ |
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With less than 20 days to go, we've got even MORE bands for you.
If Green Day, Biffy Clyro and the unstoppable Eminem weren't enough for you, along with 200 other bands plus comedians, performers and cabaret acts on the Alternative Stage then we can add yet more amazing names across the stages.
Duologue, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Bloody Knees, Waka Flocka Flame, Smiler, Young Fathers, Twisted Wheel and Dolomite Minor have all been added to the line-up.
Sunday tickets at Reading are still on sale, but going fast!
Reading & Leeds are back for 2013. With the festival goers’ appetites well and truly whet, there is now even more to satisfy the hunger with the first of the highly-anticipated headliners to be revealed!
The most successful rapper in history, Eminem is the first headliner to be announced on the Main Stage at Reading & Leeds Festivals in 2013. 11 years after he topped the bill at the festivals, he returns for this performance, his only UK festival appearance in 2013.
Since the release of 1999's 'Slim Shady' LP, Eminem has established himself as a hip-hop god and he is an icon of modern culture. Having sold over 100 million albums worldwide, there's no doubt that he will be one of the most popular headliners in the festivals' history.
Throughout his career, his live shows have been phenomenal. Playing with a mammoth live band, the Eminem show is simply unmissable. With no less than seven UK Number One singles under his belt, this performance is bound to be heavy on hits and one to remember.
Last week two brand new stages and the first names across the festival were announced, promising more music than ever before, with artists from the worlds of rock, indie, dance and grime added to the bill. The mighty Deftones will be playing on the Main Stage, Mercury Music Prize winners Alt-J will headline on the NME/Radio 1 Stage, Sub Focus will headline one day on the all new BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage and Boy Better Know ft. Wiley, JME and Skepta will take to the top of the bill in the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage.
All genres of music fan seem to have their bases covered again in 2012 with indie and dance bands of course being most prevalent due to their popularity with the majority, but don't let that put you Metal and Hard Rock fans off. Us headbangers have a good selection of genres to keep us more happy this year. In keeping with my preference for loud, heavy delights, general marauding and jumping around like a loon, here are my top ten picks to look forward to for the heavier part of Reading & Leeds 2012.
1. Bullet For My Valentine
Whilst not to the taste of hardcore metallers, Melodic riffers and Metal Hammer Golden God award winners BFMV offer up an easily accessible to all stage show, with anthems guaranteed to stay in your head afterwards. It's not for the death or black metal fans, but for people that think all metal is shouty screamy abrasive noise, this will be a pleasant surprise. Go see them and sing along.
2. Mastodon
The Atlanta based progressive metallers latest album 2011’s 'The Hunter' was named album of the year by Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Kerrang!, Rock Sound and The Times. That should really be enough explanation as to why you should be front and centre for these lot. Expect to be pummelled and soothed simultaneously by the intricate technicality and distorted sludgy guitars. Lovely stuff.
3. Eagles Of Death Metal
Tongue in cheek appearance but strewn with big names and genuinely heavy as f*ck. EODM will light Readings fuse for sure. They are not a death metal band however. Formed by Josh Homme and Jessie Hughes, the hard rockin live team won’t disappoint, although infamously, Axel Rose (like he can talk) claimed the band were “pigeons of shit metal” and kicked them off of his tour in 2006. Personally I think he was jealous. Fans will delight at Hughes well known interaction with the crowd, and the non pretentious, pun filled raunchy rock will keep grins in place.
4. Cancer Bats
Whilst not heavy metal per se, their hardcore punk and blistering guitar work will have you moshing in no time, at a small gig at The Old Blue Last in London's East End in 2009 just as they were coming to the metal crowds attention, the small 80 strong crowd created a circle pit which left them battered, bleeding and grinning from ear to ear. Non metal fans would be best advised to stay out of the pit area during their main stage show, you've been warned. And I can't wait!
5. Enter Shikari
This is a heavy hitting post hardcore band that is undeniably unique. Combining heavy metal, electronica and often infused with teeth rattling drum and bass rhythms, Enter Shikari will keep both moshers and Dubsteppers enthralled. The 2007 debut album entered the uk charts at number 4, whilst latest release ‘A Flash Flood of Colour’ is taking them on a full world tour. With multiple major festival appearances under their belts and nine Kerrang! Awards spanning 6 years, Enter Shikari are at reading to blow your socks off.
6. Pulled Apart By Horses
The guys were a revelation when they blew me away with their pit inducing performance at Reading in 2010. Metal and rock fans might be put off because they are usually described as 'indie' (or an 'alternative rock band') and LOOK like the aforementioned, but trust me, these are ear melting in a live setting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF-TI-6JAxM
7. The Cure
What is not to like about legendary Robert Smith? The 80’s rock/post punk icon has had hits spanning 4 decades, has and frankly this is one of those bands that you have to have on your bucket list. Everyone knows their most upbeat track, ‘Love Cats’, even if you were born last week. Probably even before you were born. The Cure is uncategorisable (yes, that is now a word) alt rock music that has easily influenced some of the finest bands today.
8. Feeder
With a career spanning 21 years, 5 Gold and 3 Platinum records, and 15 years of album chart positions the hard rocking Feeder boys are back with a vengeance after a seemingly quiet few years taking time out to write and record at their own pace. With a little promoted tour under the moniker ‘Renegades’ (which just so happened to sell out every show)The band not only re-ignited their loyal fanbase, but opened the eyes of those that thought Feeder were just a light hearted alt pop rock outfit. Offering up a plethora of heavier, darker tunes whilst still retaining their distinct Feeder sound. New album Generation Freakshow is testament to the boy’s versatility, and their live shows never fail to satisfy. Do not miss.
9. Coheed & Cambria
With surely the biggest hair in rock and the most distinctive voice, Coheed & Cambria embedded itself into the rock and metal scene with their roots firmly in Led Zeppelins back garden. Add to that melodic progressive breakdowns, science fiction lyric themes and huge dollops of originality then you have a band that will remain in your brain for all the right reasons. Expect heavy, expect an electric live show, expect to have your eyes out on stalks.
10. Foo Fighters.
Do I really need to explain why? Really? I could write fifty pages on why you should NEVER miss a Foo Fighters gig. Seriously. Once seen, you will compare every other gig you ever go to with the pure passion and command that Grohl and Co exert on stage. At Milton Keynes back in 2011 60,000+ people sang every word, to every song and the air you breathed was full of awesome. Their 7th album, ‘Wasting Light’ was released in 2011 to worldwide critical acclaim. Their heaviest and rawest album to date which won 5 out of the 6 Grammy Awards it was nominated for and entered the US Billboard 200 chart at Number 1. Says it all. There really is no other way to describe Foo Fighters other than 'Demi Gods' . (Plus Dave has fantastic hair) Your future children will look upon you with disdain for not being there at their headline Sunday slot.