The Reading and Leeds Festival, the story so far...

The History of the Reading Festival

Reading is just west of London - you know that place they call the capital - anyway, every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1971 they've held a music festival, not just any music festival no it’s a ROCK festival. From its small beginnings in 1971, with 20,000 happy go luckies, the 30th Anniversary saw around 60,000 people crammed in to the site. It now costs almost 125 quid for the weekend, but is still worth every penny. In 2001 - one of the greatest festivals in recent memory - festy goers witnessed System Of A Down, Greenday, Travis, The Manics, Ash, FLC, Iggy Pop and the highlight, Marilyn Manson exploring all four corners of the main stage.

In 1999 Meanfiddler - the organisers of the Reading Festival - announced a second venue would host an identical line up in Leeds. The bands would, of course, play on different days, but where possible appear in the same order on the bill.

Temple Newsam Park hosted these early events, but the Leeds experience was not a smooth one. In 2002 the festival was almost cancelled due to violence and crime in previous years. However the event licence was eventually granted despite opposition from Police, MP's and local residents at a late Magistrates Court hearing. After increased violence at the 2002 event with toilets burnt down and a number of convictions of festival goers, the 2003 Leeds leg of the event was moved outside the city to Bramham Park - where it remains today. With significantly less crime, the site became the new home and in June 2005, Leeds City Council increased the capacity by 12,500. The Reading festival was also granted an increase of 11,000 people.

It hasn't always been so big, in 1972 there was an attendance of only 5000 on day one, which had the organisers worried in the only the second Reading festival, but 25,000 on the other two days saved the festival thanks to a certain Rod Stewart. Since then the festival has gone from strength to strength - highlights of recent years shown to the right.

1978 - Attendance 25,000 - Punk had to be represented so Sham 69 were booked, the Jam were also there and both sets of fans ended up throwing bottles and cans at each other, some containing urine, hmmm nice!

1988 - After years of success all the festival could conjure up was Bonnie Tyler and Deacon Blue, great it was not, but new younger acts were brought in 1989 with New Order and an increase in popularity gave rise to 1992, The Manics, Smashing Pumpkins, Wonder stuff and they weren't even the headliners

1992 - Attendance 40,000 - Muddy and windy but after many doubts that they would actually appear who was there, who else but Nirvana - Kurt in a white dress wig and wheelchair. The 98 headliners the Beasties were there but in a sea of Nirvana fans it was a matter of come on get on with it.

1998 - 55,000 Attendance - One of the best line ups since the festival began, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant and Ash on the Friday , the Beasties, Prodigy, Supergrass, Foo Fighters on the Saturday. Also on the Saturday Bentley Rhythm Ace on the Melody Maker Stage and on the Sunday, New Order, The Bluetones, Shed seven and the highlight finish to the weekend Garbage.

2000 - The festival has just got better and better in recent years, 2000 was no exception with Slipknot making an impressive debut along with the last appearance of Rage Against The Machine (well with Zack anyway). More Foo Fighters, Limp Bizkit, Elastica back where they belong on the main stage, The Deftones, Beck, Pulp, Blink 182, Placebo, Oasis and rounded off with the Stereophonics who were joined on stage by Tom Jones for "mama told me not to come".

2004 - The rain had bogged the site and car parking offsite had to be made available, but did this dampen the spirits.. not in the slightest.. if anything it boosted the atmosphere. Little wonder thanks to an outstanding array of acts including The White Stripes, Green Day, The Hives, and The Offspring (with an awesome rendition of their most popular song boosting everyones Self Esteem!). Franz Ferdinand found themselves on the main stage having played the Carling Stage last year and this years promotion contenders could also be seen with The Duke Spirit, Kaiser Chiefs, and Kasabian looking favourites to emulate their success. The Rasmus and 50 Cent may not be coming back as quickly having been bottled off the main stage by a rampant crowd - what a year!