Reading Festival 2007 News

Reading Festival 2007 News en Live Nation Thu, 06 May 2010 16:30:41 GMT Thu, 06 May 2010 16:30:41 GMT 60 Reading & Leeds Tickets Go On Sale Monday 31st March 7pm Voted Best Live Events at this year's NME Awards, The Reading & Leeds Festivals will be going on sale with tickets on Monday 31st March at 7pm. For more information, make sure you've signed up to the newsletter <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/register">here</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT 2008-03-04T12:00:00 db29c9fd-c036-42ff-b0e2-9b2a8c883bb8 1 Reading & Leeds Festivals Win Best Live Event Thanks for voting! The Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 took place last night (February 28) at the IndigO2 venue in London, where a variety of music stars and industry types picked up awards for their achievements over the past year. The Reading & Leeds Festivals picked up the award for Best Live Event. Thanks to all those that voted! Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:45:00 GMT 2008-02-29T06:45:00 455343f2-06bd-499e-bc09-10122dcc4327 2 Win 2008 tickets Name your Top 3 bands to headline in 2008. Be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the Carling Weekend: Reading Festival 2008. Go to the <a href="http://forums.readingfestival.com/tm.aspx?m=223167&mpage=1&key=&#223167">FORUMS </a>to enter (you must be registered). Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:45:00 GMT 2007-09-10T06:45:00 da69d1e6-0e64-4ca9-8c7b-0d0b996c767f 3 Festival Manifesto - Read All About It..... Less corporate, more eco-friendly, improved transport..... Our Managing Director, Melvin Benn, spoke to The Music Programme on BBC 6Music, about their Festival Manifesto that had been put together with ideas from the fans - to see the Ten-point plan, click <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/music_week/festival_manifesto.shtml">here</a> Hear what he had to say in the podcast <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/musicweek/">here</a> And pay close attention to the news about the Reading & Leeds headliners....there'll be more of where that came from in the coming weeks -  so make sure you've signed up to the <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/register">newsletters</a> Happy listening! Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:30:00 GMT 2008-01-23T01:30:00 f363acbd-a63d-43db-b1b1-416241edb707 4 Happy New Year Who's looking forward to the Summer? Here's to a New Year and New(ish) festivals. Reading & Leeds return in the summer. Look out for the brand new newsletters coming soon with all the latest festival updates. If you can't wait til then, why not join the <a href="http://forums.readingfestival.com">forums</a> if you haven't already and get chatting about your dream line-up or talk about last year's events. Take a look at the <a href="../news/index.htmlgallery/">galleries</a> which have new polaroids of some of the artists that played in 2007. Remember, you can <a href="../news/index.htmlgallery/">upload</a> your own photos or alternatively send them in to <a href="mailto:info@festivalrepublic.com">info@festivalrepublic.com</a> Until then, Happy New Year to you all! Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:30:00 GMT 2008-01-02T00:30:00 a1dbe189-8a26-4a7d-bc07-f9bbfd6840cb 1000000 Reading & Leeds Festivals part company with Carling Reading returns without a headline sponsor. After a nine year partnership Festival Republic announced that Carling will no longer be the headline sponsor or official lager of the Reading and Leeds festivals. Following a successful long-term partnership, it was by mutual agreement that both parties felt the time was right to pursue new opportunities. This marks a happy turning point in the festival’s history with Reading Festival reclaiming its prestigious name after the Carling Weekend association. The festival first arrived in Reading in 1971 and has been hosted on the same site on the banks of the river Thames ever since. Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn took over Reading in 1989, when attendance was at an all time low.  The festival underwent a serious shake up and opened with a stellar line-up including New Order, The Pogues, The Mission, The Wonder Stuff and The Sugarcubes, that would put Reading back on the music fans radar and cement the future of the festival for ever more. Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT 2007-11-29T01:00:00 c7dc2f82-aef5-4423-bb22-ed474d12a393 1000000 Music, Mud and Mayhem: The Official History Online orders: orders@orcabookservices.co.uk. The book is also available online at Amazon, W H Smith, Virgin, Play.com, HMV, Waterstones and available in stores nationwide. A major festival since its inception, Reading is the music fans' favourite and continues to draw the biggest and best in rock from all over the world. This lavishly-illustrated official history covers every event from 1971 to 2007, and will be launched at this year's festival with the support and collaboration of the Festival's promoters, Festival Republic. The bands that have appeared at Reading over the last 36 years are a virtual Who's Who of festival rock, including such diverse acts as: AC/DC, Arthur Brown, Bjork, Black Sabbath, The Buzzcocks, The Chemical Brothers, Eminem, The Faces, Foo Fighters, Hawkwind, Iggy Pop, Iron Maiden, The Libertines, Lou Reed, Manfred Mann, Manic Street Preachers, Marilyn Manson, Motorhead, Neil Young, Nick Cave, Oasis, P.J. Harvey, Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, The Prodigy, Public Enemy, Radiohead and Status Quo. Many of the acts who have appeared over the years have chosen to contribute their memories of the festival to this book, giving it a unique inside perspective. But Ian Carroll's account of the festival is much more than a roll-call of bands and artists. It is also the story of the festival itself, its complex relationship with the media, and with local government, business and the police.  Above all, this is the story of the fans and their annual pilgrimage to the festival site by the Thames. Rain or shine, heatwave or mudslide, they make the Reading Festival what it is, and ensure that its special atmosphere will continue for many years to come.  Online orders: <a href="mailto:orders@orcabookservices.co.uk">orders@orcabookservices.co.uk</a> The book is also available online at Amazon, W H Smith, Virgin, Play.com, HMV, Waterstones and available in stores nationwide Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:15:00 GMT 2007-10-29T04:15:00 48556dc4-1e15-4d70-822b-394164bfe359 1000000 SUBSCRIBE Sign up to get regular updates and latest line-up announcements. We are delighted to announce our new Festival Republic name. As promoters of the best festivals in the world we are extremely proud to list Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals, the critically applauded new kid on the block - Latitude, our involvement in Glastonbury not to mention our annual London festivals including Rise, St Patricks Day, Fleadh. As part of our new focus we have sold the Borderline, Jazz Cafe, The Garage, The Old Fiddler, G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late Club to Mama Group. But have retained ownership of the much celebrated Astoria with the newly renamed Mean Fiddler, The Astoria 2. We will continue to bring to you the greatest festivals on the planet and are looking forward to many exciting new projects on the horizon. You must register with the new Festival Republic site in order to receive our newsletter. <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/register">Click here to register</a> Alternatively, join us on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/meanfiddler">myspace</a> Annie Day General Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:00:00 GMT 2007-10-22T00:00:00 d52ae5bc-e5cd-451d-90c8-6283136d5511 1000000 Festival Merchandise Missed out on a t-shirt....a hoodie, pants, a bag? For all of your festival merchandise needs..... <a href="http://www.bandmad.com/store/page3.asp?suptype=1&t=4&sub_type=413">Click here</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:15:00 GMT 2007-09-03T13:15:00 5c052b3a-ba98-4758-bd87-bc5706ec7ea2 1000000 LOST PROPERTY Lost something in a field? The Lost Property postal and email addresses for queries are: Waves, Carling Weekend: Reading 2007, PO Box 150, Droitwich Spa, WORCS WR9 0WX Email:<a href="mailto:lostproperty@wavesltd.org"> lostproperty@wavesltd.org</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT 2007-08-28T01:00:00 34922383-3edb-427c-9a2e-c975f0e7d39d 1000000 Nine Inch Nails - Main stage Trent Rezor brings Year Zero to Reading After seeing this show, you would be forgiven for thinking that you were witnessing not just a headlining act, but an Orwellian epiphany of the future. After a musical interlude, lulling the audience into a false sense of security, Trent Reznor sprinted onto the stage donned with militaristic apparel, including a fascist-looking armband, and the tone of the performance was set; it was not simply going to be a legendary band playing a number of stirring tracks from a back catalogue spanning over two decades, but Reznor utilising his chance to propagate the ideas behind his latest album, ‘Year Zero’, a masterful critique of where this world is heading. Beginning the set with the forebodingly titled, ‘The Beginning of the End’, NIN showed their ability to put on a show that can’t easily be forgotten –for a multitude of reasons. Sweeping across the stage like a genocide surrounded by the flames of an unwanted regime, the band launched into ‘Survivalism’, a bitter attack on Reznor’s envisaged future with the chanting of armies fighting for an elapsed cause in the background. Their ironclad performance eventually hit the undulating, rhythmic dance, ‘Closer’, a song that inspires crude sexual behaviour in the coyest of us with its intrusively pulsing bass. The classic was easily recognisable, but with bookends either side that made it appropriate within the context of the performance – indeed, all the tracks played that evening were totally in key with the rebelliously inspired theme running through it and of a superb studio-quality, but then again, would we expect anything less than perfect from Trent Reznor? Suddenly Reading Festival had become all about NIN and the stage-show that the fortunate audience were witnessing. Converting milestone tracks, such as ‘Gave Up’, to the Year Zero cause, everything was not quite as it seemed – tracks the audience loved were becoming loud and oppressive, like the authoritarian regime that was being criticised, with a blood-red light being cast across the whole band. This incredible stage show continued, with the band forming a triumvirate in front of green LEDs, so that only their silhouettes were visible, for the track ‘Me, I’m Not’, giving an eerie presence peering over the crowd. This part of the act saw the band using outlandish and unrecognisable instruments, as if we were actually peering into the future, then having our minds contorted with another rendition of a track from the inspirational album ‘Downward Spiral’, ‘I Do Not Want This’. It was a relentless, all-encompassing, brutal sound, with a backdrop of television static and equally distorted, electric sounds – suddenly Orwell’s Big Brother was watching the audience, with what looked like a massive, dysptopian conversion screen - and it worked. The whole crowd were indoctrinated into the cause. Reznor subverted tracks, such as ‘Eraser’ and ‘The Hand That Feeds’, just as his fictional government was subverting the lives of its denizens, at one stage the band being trapped behind the bars of oppression themselves, with a massive cage being lowered in front of them. The first, and only time, Reznor directly addressed the crowd was to announce his classic cover of the Joy Division’s ‘Dead Souls’, which was wholly appreciated by the audience. After performing ‘Head Like a Hole’, Reznor outstretched his arms, as if he were a rock messiah being crucified for spreading the word of NIN, and the audience gladly bowed before him. With an encore of ‘Hurt’ to a background of electric tears falling to the floor - and Reznor crying with sweat - NIN’s set did exactly what the theme’s government did not do – give the masses exactly what they wanted. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:15:00 GMT 2007-08-26T22:15:00 223b4fc2-5601-4477-bacd-0374561e9a6c 1000000 Ignite - Lock Up stage Are You Listening? Crashing thunder was all that could be heard from the Radio One Lock Up stage as punk rock band Ignite ripped through the tent.  Fronted by vocalist Zoli Teglas, the band oozed energy as they launched into an explosive but varied set which gripped the small but intensive crowd. After paying tribute to fellow punk rockers Sick Of It All, the band then leapt into Fear is Our Tradition with a passion revealing the true meaning of the song to the band – an exploration of as Teglas called it: ‘what is happening in our country, America’.  As the set continued the prevalence of Ignite’s viewpoints which stoke the fire of many of their songs became apparent, and at times a little too obvious. But the strength of these convictions, the emotion behind the lyrics, clearly forms the cement between the band. The magnetic onstage energy that became so obvious quickly engulfed the tent.  Teglas showed his impressive vocal range and adaptability as he slid through Better Days before drummer Craig Anderson punched out at the crowd  with an explosive start to Bleeding.  The only disappointment was the sparsity of the crowd gathered, but as the band reached a strong climax with Judgment Day every space was electrified.  Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:15:00 GMT 2007-08-26T21:15:00 5a5a1ceb-0bd5-4bd2-b292-6fe2a6d48229 1000000 Lostprophets - Main stage Wales, Wales, Wales...repeat to fade. Darker, harder and wielding the power to turn an entire field into a thundering mass – as well as make them laugh along the way – they earned their place on the Main Stage for the final day at the Carling Weekend: Reading Festival.  A fever of excitement engulfed the arena with bottles and water screaming through the air as the rammed field eagerly anticipated the arrival of the six from Wales.  And the Lostprophets answered. Launching into an explosive Everyday Combat they continued to throttle the crowd with A Town Called Hypocrisy which left many gasping for more. A succession of their harder songs left noone in doubt that The Lostprophets mean business and have shaken off any trace of the difficulties they have faced recently.  As they tried out a new song it was like watching a band infused with electricity as every single member thrashed around the stage to the fast powerful rhythm. It was an image of a band submerged in making an arena thunder and a crowd bounce in awe.  Vocalist Ian Watkins worried that he talked too much, then he worried that he was talking too little but no one could resist a little bit of Welsh sparkle. As he scolded the audience with a cheeky ‘it’s not my fault you’re s***!’ the field answered and fed off the band’s insatiable energy.  Rooftops saw an arena scream every word while Watkins got more than a little excited as Last Train Home created a teeming bouncing mass. And as a testament to the harder metal direction the band is taking Lostprophets proved they can really grip a crowd. As Watkins demanded a circle pit ‘so big it will suck up every tent in here’ the crowd answered his call. A fast writhing throng formed as the band reached its booming and powerful climax, leaving a trail of destruction worthy of any headline act.  Definitely a highlight - and one of the most powerful audience reactions of the entire weekend. Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:15:00 GMT 2007-08-26T19:15:00 e1a18414-992a-4e80-b1ce-8e91b57a4ff4 1000000 Kate Nash - Carling stage Laying the foundations for what is set to be a stellar career It must have been difficult to gauge the kind of reception Kate Nash would receive from a Reading crowd this year, which can only explain why the 20-year-old singer and songwriter was not placed on the Main Stage with other mainstream acts. Performing in a packed Carling tent, Nash succeeded in entertaining her audience, at some points sending them wild –quite literally. Only a couple of songs in and Nash’s performance was interrupted by an announcement warning that she would have to stop if those climbing up tent poles continued to do so. Desperate to catch a glimpse of one of the rising song writers of this year, Nash’s repertoire requires her to largely remain seated at her keyboard throughout.  Frustrating for those gathered outside, the only sign that Nash was on stage was the sight of a redhead bobbing along in the distance to the hip hop sound her tracks produce. Dressed for the occasion and arriving on stage with a bunch of helium balloons, Nash’s straight talking, narrative approach to her song writing, provided tracks packed with emotive and sentimental lyrics. Singing along to Birds, emotion could be seen on some of the faces in the crowd, many relating to the pertinence Nash’s lyrics present. Inevitably, some had only come to hear Nash perform her amazingly successful Foundations single but her true fans hung around until the end of her set where they were treated to the highly catchy and melodic Merry Happy. Flags outside promoting Kate’s debut album, Made of Bricks, carried the words ‘Kate Nash advises…Get Drunk, Get Dancing.’  Whether this was through alcohol or emotion, this was advice the crowd who gathered to see her had no problem heeding to.   David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:45:00 GMT 2007-08-26T18:45:00 7e25440e-43b5-45ea-933f-3202bbd1e731 1000000 Fall Out Boy - Main stage FOB cover up Quickly becoming the emotive voice for the collective teenage conscience, Fall Out Boy deliver a stunning and polished live performance. Beginning their set with ‘Thriller’, the first track from their latest album, ‘Infinity On high’, the clap-happy group demonstrated the clear atomic chemistry between lead singer, Patrick Stump, and bassist, Pete Wentz. Stump’s vocals were on perfect form, with his range shifting from dulcet tenor to on-pitch falsetto, and it was clear that combined with the almost acrobatic pirouettes of Wentz, the band were radiating something incredible. With cameos from various performers, including Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, it was a stage show not to be missed, especially when they covered their favourite “Emo” song, Akon’s ‘Don’t Matter’, there was an understated humour that wasn’t lost on anyone, as is was played to ironically appreciative applause. It was closely followed by the Fallout Boy classic, ‘Sugar We’re Going Down’, to a choir of voices from the audience, but I still couldn’t make out quite what the lyrics were… At one point Wentz pleaded with the audience not to scream until they recognized the next track, and when people realised that it was a cover on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’, scream they did. After this, the band expressed their gratitude at having no bottle thrown at them during the performance so far, and demonstrated their gratitude by bringing a friend on to stage who proceeded to smash a real glass bottle over his head, instantly being followed by one of the stand-out performances, ‘This ‘ain’t a scene…” with it’s throbbing disco beat. There was an anecdotal twist the song ‘Thnks fr th mmrs’ (‘Thanks for the memories’) with Wentz recalling a female French acquaintance of his. Following this was the ultimate crowd pleaser, ‘Dance, Dance’ where the crowd lost all inhibitions, and even members of the audience who had been skeptical about Fallout Boy fell under their gamma-ray power. After a brief extract of ‘The Power of Love’, the band finished with ‘Saturday’, a knock-out track from their second full-length album ‘Take This to your Grave’. One of the lyrics being woven through the crowd was “Good to go”, but I can confidently assert that nobody at all wanted them to.   James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:45:00 GMT 2007-08-26T17:45:00 cc33ad21-8bf2-4efa-8028-1203dd9a65e7 1000000 The Cancer Bats - Lock Up stage The Spirit of the Apocalypse? This ground-pounding hardcore quartet, fronted by Liam Cormier, were relentlessly aggressive, leaping from side-to-side on the stage and roaring directly at the audience.  They’re a straight edge group, but with the blade of a knife, taking the crowd hostage whilst they slowly develop Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with the aural onslaught. Cormier announced that they were the “spirit of apocalypse”, and they certainly unleashed a hellishly brilliant show – so good that you may just have to repent. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:00:00 GMT 2007-08-26T17:00:00 db0760e1-64f8-4a09-a4e1-891f8633f16d 1000000 The Casualties - Lock Up stage Punk Rock Love The Casualties strode onstage and established themselves against everything that was previously established by announcing themselves as “the enemy”, but there was a lighter side to their performance that was about having good times with old school punk rock. Starting off with tracks like ‘Fight for your life, Freddy’, and instantly getting the audience to join in, the band presented a classic punk-rock sound, but with brilliantly discordant melodies and equally disconcerting shouting. Bashing out chords against Capitalism, ‘The System Failed Us Again’ prompted a unison of risen fists of anger. With increasing tempos reaching cacophonous climaxes mixed with Kalashnikov drums, The Casualties coerced the crown into a violent frenzy, encouraging them with some raspy, revolutionary rhetoric. They continued the pogo-punk feel with, what some may have deemed trite, but was perfectly done, a cover of the Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’, which naturally cooked-up the anarchic flames in the hearts of the mob.  They weren’t totally about shallow anti-authority, for with tracks such as ‘Under Attack’ they showed a deeper understanding of how a government can oppress its own people, and how we can become victims of the system that we help to support – but they were clearly positive, with further chant inducing stabs at all forms of control, with ‘Tomorrow belongs to us’. They finished with a song that summed up what the band had established at the beginning of their show, with ‘Punk Rock Love’. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:15:00 GMT 2007-08-26T16:15:00 de6b278a-dbb5-4cbf-88a6-f6c5d1365a93 1000000 Municipal Waste Project - Lock Up stage Municipal Waste were clear from the outset what they were aiming to achieve, stating that they were going to “f**k you up” with a tongue-in-cheek take on Thrash Metal, and even a little bit of grindcore thrown into the mix for good measure – their performance appeared to be centered around the consumption and effects of alcoholic beverages. With song titles like ‘Beer Pressure’ and ‘Head Banger Face Rip’, the audience were under no illusions as to what they were about to witness and Municipal Waste didn’t fail to deliver.  "Thrash is my business, and business is good” was their manifesto, and with tracks that were no more than one minute long in some instances and fiendishly furious it was natural that the crowd was going to get fairly violent; in fact, the band actively encouraged this, asking the audience to form a ‘Wall of Death’. I felt almost biblical as I watched the sea of predominantly half-naked, sun burnt men part, only to come crashing together as the band performed more of their chaotically inspired pieces. The wall soon became a circle, and people were flowing around a pillar taking jabs at one another and really getting into the ethos that the band was presenting. Municipal Waste are undoubtedly one of the most entertaining acts that I’ve seen at Reading this year, and I would recommend their raucous humour to anyone. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:45:00 GMT 2007-08-26T15:45:00 0c9a80ef-7fc7-4a10-a87f-af8287ac039c 1000000 Hadouken! - NME/Radio1 stage QCT+P This time last year Hadouken! hadn’t even played their first gig.  Hard to believe then that this Leeds based band have already made it to the NME/Radio 1 stage at this early stage in their career.  But judging by the size of the crowd, already spilling over into the main arena when they stepped on stage, this is a band who have proved to be one of the major crowd pullers so far over the weekend. Grimy yet fused with a fast, trance-like backing throughout some tracks, this band produces a truly distinct hardcore sound, with singer James Smith describing their creations as ‘f**king sick.’ With band members originating from both Leeds and Reading, this was undoubtedly a festival close to the hearts of all four band members. Providing punters with tracks which sent shock waves towards the back of the tent and out into the main arena, Tuning In and Dance Lesson provided the perfect backing for those wanting to get down and dirty on the final day of their festival experience. Named after the fist-surging move made famous by the video game Street Fighter, this was a band whose music pack the punch needed in order to leave those listening truly blown away. David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:00:00 GMT 2007-08-26T15:00:00 0e59b2ee-e9a7-4385-8d1a-67b8359e2a57 1000000 Hellogoodbye - Main stage Baby, It's fact...these boys know how to wear a cardigan. The closing day of any festival can often leave crowds wandering from stage to stage desperately seeking something unique, a sound they haven’t already heard replicated over the last few days. Appearing on the Main Stage earlier today, complete with a warning to ‘expect the unexpected,’ Hellogoodbye have, amongst other things, dressed up as different pieces of fruit while they’ve performed on stage. The crowd who gathered to witness what was meant to be a unique spectacle, may have been left slightly disappointed when a kumquat or passion fruit failed to appear on stage at the start of their act. For despite their relatively ordinary appearance, the sound this band produces is something quite extraordinary. At times, the high pitched vocals produced by lead singer Forrest Kline during Baby It’s Fact, would have sounded quite at home with Muse and Matt Bellamy’s infamous falsetto tones.  Switching from vocals to keys, Kline appeared alone on stage during the slow Oh, It’s Love, instructing the men in the crowd to grab their girlfriends and sway, while the energetic chorus gave everyone else a chance to avoid remaining still and looking, well, a bit of a lemon. Touchdown Turnaround from the band’s Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! album demonstrated why this is the kind of band perfect for a final day’s bill at Reading. The heavy, key thumping techno beat along with vocals similar to the style employed by Daft Punk, meant this appearance which was to end a two week tour for the band, also went some way to providing a spectacular end for those fortunate enough to witness something completely different. David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:30:00 GMT 2007-08-26T14:30:00 1bd8b771-7ec6-4919-ae71-90be805f8bd3 1000000 Operator Please - Carling stage Hello....Operator...connect me to the freshest talent around.... Also thankfully under the cover of the Carling Tent are Aussie teen sensations Operator Please. Having been mentioned as one of the buzz bands for 2008, the band draw a huge crowd to the tent and are clearly buoyed by this. New single “Just A Song About Ping Pong” is served up early on to huge applause, with it’s furious pace driven by jagged guitar lines and the searing use of violins. Throughout the half an hour the band never let the intensity drop and prove themselves a must see live band. Having been already confirmed for the NME Freshers Tour and the Kaiser Chiefs arena tour Operator Please can look forward to many more big crowds in the coming months. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:15:00 GMT 2007-08-26T14:15:00 222dbb4c-6df0-436d-ba43-cfbb286d8448 1000000 New Young Pony Club - Carling stage NYPC are The Bomb.... Surely it’s too hot to dance?  With the sun absolutely hammering down it appears that any wannabe ravers are only heading the way of sunstroke, rather than reaching for the stars.  Fortunately then the 2pm set from London’s New Young Pony Club is in the undercover refuge of the Radio 1 Tent, leaving sunstroke to the make up coated metallers!  Having toured non – stop since debut “Fantastic Playroom” came out in May the quintet are an extremely well honed live band, all the crisp guitar licks and bouncy pop hooks are delivered with great aplomb as “The Bomb”, “Ice Cream” and an outstanding “Jerk Me” give fresh energy to tired legs and make the whole tent dance their arses off. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:00:00 GMT 2007-08-26T14:00:00 db16a34e-7d8b-4393-8139-74238699532e 1000000 Gym Class Heroes - Main stage "Leave school and start a band..." KICKING off the final day at Reading festival, Geneva-based foursome, Gym Class Heroes, bounced onto the stage with all the energy demanded from the opening act on the Main Stage.  As they catapulted into a set of hip hop – rather than the bouncy Cupid’s Chokehold which they are best known for – everyone was on their feet. Drawing a younger crowd than many of the other bands, Gym Class Heroes can boast a dedicated following in the large amount of early risers which turned out to rap along with lead singer Travis McCoy. Impressive also was a cover of The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations, the band working a unique twist on this bouncy pop number to turn it into a curious harder beat.  While their energy was captivating, Viva La White Girl – which according to McCoy was a testament to ‘a love of music’, was disappointing. The song laboured, especially for the first act of the day, and you would think from a band which had proved they could do so much more this was a poor example of their passion.  But punchy On My Own Time quickly reignited the set as McCoy advised fans to ‘leave school and start a band’ to a raucous response. Clothes Off was by far the highlight of the set, which saw a carpet of fans lassoing various articles of clothing around their heads and summed up the meaning of Gym Class Heroes – to simply ‘have a good time’. Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:45:00 GMT 2007-08-26T12:45:00 ea4d03f5-05e3-400c-a5ab-9200ccd69353 1000000 SUNDAY MORNING ROUND UP Late Of The Pier & I Was A Cub Scout So it’s Sunday and for those who’ve made it through the first two days there’ll be no let up. The heat is still extremely intense, if anything it’s even hotter than yesterday and there’s a fair bit of burnt skin on show. That makes the side tents a great shout for many looking to protect their already reddening skin; it’s also a great idea musically too. Certainly if you got up early enough to catch Late Of The Pier’s Reading bow then you won’t have been disappointed. The Nottingham based teenage prodigies’ brand of spacey indie rock gets the collective pulse racing, with “The Bears Are Coming” drawing a great response. Their debut is due to drop in the autumn and on this showing should be something to really look forward to. Another East Midlands based act now, but this time I Was A Cub Scout originate down the round in Mansfield and even further from their near neighbours in sonic terms. Technical cock ups mean the set is cut by ten minutes but the rest of the set is flawless, in particular recent single “I Hate Nightclubs.” They’ve got lots of dates lined up in the autumn; you’d be a fool to miss out. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT 2007-08-26T12:00:00 244bf66f-5c81-4463-abc6-435f65467b80 1000000 SATURDAY EVENING ROUND UP Panic! At The Disco, Bloc Party, UNKLE One of the most notorious performances of last year’s festival was Panic At The Disco’s afternoon set. Not only did the band have an unwanted encounter with some liquid filled receptacles, but they were also hurtled into a winter that saw them become more successful than they’d ever dreamed. However last year’s performance must have stayed with the band as gone is the Vegas glitter and jazzy Radiohead covers, instead the quartet emerge plaid shirted, lacking any backdrop and the only cover in the set is by 70s rockers The Band. That doesn’t stop the band getting a great reception from the now thoroughly sunburnt crowd; they debut two new songs, which seem slightly more straight ahead rock than the Burlesque-influenced songs of their debut and perhaps indicate the band taking their image of glitz and debauchery down a few notches. Inevitability “But It’s Better If You Do” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” get the best reception, but this set should send them away to finish their new album with a spring in their step. Bloc Party’s sundown set was always going to be a guaranteed success, the band are at the tail end of their world tour and they’ve been drawing plaudits from all over the globe, so today’s set feels like a true celebration of the last eighteen months, where the band can crowd please to their hearts content. This they do, especially on songs like “So Here We Are” and “Hunting For Witches.” They’re playing arenas in September so don’t be surprised if their next Reading slot is a really high one. Having spent the last decade as only a live DJ, James Lavelle’s Unkle have finally gone live. But instead of the usual attempt by sticking in a drummer and the occasional live vocal, he’s gone the whole hog and there are now nine people onstage, bringing to life the dark, brooding, dystopian vision of new album “War Stories” truly to life. They’re joined onstage by Leila Moss of the much underrated Duke Spirit alongside a clutch of other singers and it’s a great show, especially when the band bring to life old favourites like “Lonely Soul” and “Reign.” After over ten years of brilliant records Unkle are finally live and there’s no looking back. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:45:00 GMT 2007-08-25T22:45:00 415cdf19-2893-4489-ae56-3ded01f19493 1000000 The Alternative Stage Derek Meins, Beans On Toast, Adam Crow, Kevin Bridges, John Fothergill, Hugh Lennon & Murphy the Hypnodog, matt Reed, Junior Simpson & Ben Hurley  The Alternative Stage kicked-off with an NME Q&A session, followed by the first act of the day, Derek Meins. He appeared on stage accompanied only by himself and an acoustic guitar and proceeded to perform an eccentric blend of obscure poetry and a collection of aggressively pleasing songs that were both enthused and powerful, often climaxing in orgasmic yelps mixed with pleas that he was a famous poet. Following Meins was the act Beans on Toast, another man with a guitar, but this time stationing himself upon a large box, elevating him to a level unattained by his predecessor. There was a raucous support for his anecdotal songs about sex, drugs and politics, some with a serious message about joblessness, and others with a more satirical twist on festival life in general. The crowd reached a unified fever over his propagation of pro-smoking (especially poignant considering the non-smoking nature of the stage that he was performing on) and being the act to precede the oncoming onslaught of comedy, he did an excellent job of warming everyone’s laughing apparatus. Similarly, the compere, Adam Crow MC, was warmly welcomed during his intermittent appearances and did an outstanding job of both supporting and welcoming the coming acts. First up was the seminal performer Ed Byrne, whose brand of self-deprecating Irish humour was enough to make you laugh your head off; well, off your beer or Guinness at least. Including assaults on current trends towards pseudo-celebrity and other general wastes-of-space, the charming comic quickly gained the crowd’s empathy, especially with his comedic contract-killing of Jade Goody. He proceeded to give another veritable assassination of rap music and hip-hop culture that included a hilarious anecdote about an audience member laughing so much that beer spewed forth from his nose – even though he hadn’t been drinking – and moved on to a critique of fellow Irish musician James Blunt, who he concluded did nothing but hurt one’s cock. After this was a blasphemously funny assault on Christianity, culminating in an assertion of his hatred for parents, and a strange slant towards creepy child-lust. The comedy had begun and it had found their flag-man. There then followed a plethora of comedy, with Kevin Bridges delivering a slice of fresh, Glaswegian humour with the profanity filter switched firmly off. Closely following was John Fothergill, whose crude Geordie humour that was insultingly endearing complimenting his Scottish counterpart perfectly. His direct insults at certain members of the audience were easily forgiven, as his natural charisma acted as an ointment for the wounds. After the more conventional comedians came Hugh Lennon and his ‘hypnodog’, Murphy. The act began as a fairly standard, but uproarious, hypnotist show, beginning with Lennon administering a ‘stand-up-sit-down’ test to diagnose whether or not the members of the audience chosen were suitable for hypnotism. After the unworthy had been sent back to sit on the grass, he continued to do fairly mundane things, such as getting them to hug one another, but soon moved onto controlling these ‘rag-dolls’ in a heavily entertaining way; this included fooling one participant to believe that she was from Mars, and could only speak the indigenous language – the person sitting beside her being the only person who could translate. The fact that he had no problem translating was testament to the highly compelling and funny nature of this hypnotic act. The highlight was fooling one participant into believing the cigarette he was smoking was in fact packed with a very potent stash of marijuana – and then slowly realizing that every member of the audience was in fact a police officer. The show climaxed with Murphy, the eagerly awaited hypnodog, being led onto stage and one-by-one knocking out the various participants with the mere power of his mind. Following Lennon and his spellbinding canine was Matt Reed, who produced an innocently expressed North-Eastern, working-class set of keen observations that were aberrantly abstract and abusive, but easily digested an appreciated – his provocation of the crowd through his controversial humour was injected into the audience’s bloodstream like the opiate that he claimed have been reminiscent of using at the beginning. Junior Simpson, who was eagerly anticipated, marched onto the stage like a Black Panther and instigated a battering on the pedantic prejudices held by various people and places. His comedy was an intuitive and observant commentary on various English cities (notably Newcastle) and the inane and sometimes confusing things that happen there. Alienating himself from the audience was his keenest move, as he won everyone over with relative ease by helping us to see that it isn’t always easy to be a brother taking fruit into Australia. Even more comedy ensued; with Andrew Bird bring a topically sardonic look at the state of the world, this country, and why sharks belong in hotter climates. Ben Hurley, the cuddly Kiwi, began his act with an insult to every British-born member of the audience and encouraged people to throw various objects at him; for some reason (possibly due to his unique blend of abuse and comedy) he automatically clicked with the crowd. Using his national charm and wit he began tearing up Oceana and even the pedestal-placed, late Steve Irwin. He also to a wry look at the festival experience and the divisions that arise between the different fans of bands – notably Emos and Goths, and the perplexing way that they can manage to wear so much black in such heat and still remain pale. Moving on to compare football to anal sex, blue humour was abound. Hurley expertly won over – and sometimes even controlled – the audience who were semi-constantly agog with laughter, as if their eponymous lime was being forced into their mouths. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:15:00 GMT 2007-08-25T22:15:00 da6a0137-3b7c-4932-ba07-54b35fe68324 1000000 Arcade Fire - Main stage We know a place where great bands play <div>An arsenal of instruments and the stone-faced expression of Régine Chassagne signaled the arrival of Arcade Fire onto the Main Stage on Saturday. Following Bloc Party and as a prelude to the Chilis, Arcade Fire seemed to be in an unusual position on the bill. But as they kicked off with UK single Keep the Car Running from their 2007 album Neon Bible, the roar of the crowd proved the band really deserved this slot. With startling musical ambidextrousness, the musical army showcased their vast musical skill as they slid piano, violin, cello, double bass, xylophone, keyboard, harp and mandolin – to name a few of the tools easily at their disposal – through every track. Best of all, the sultry expression of Régine and the concentration on the faces of the violinists conveyed a band truly dedicated and deeply in love with making music. Régine managed to switch between keyboard, bells and xylophone in one song before returning to her accordion, while the drummers raced up and down the stage to convey the magnetic connection between every member of the band from Oregon. As Win Butler punched out the dark lyrics of Black Mirror the crowd was whipped up into a frenetic hive of excitement while the band slid seamlessly between each track. Foot stomping heralded the beginning of Rebellion before the band rose to an impressive crescendo with Wake Up. Clarinets, violins and an accordion oozing cool, this was easily the best and most impressive performance of Saturday. Claire Carter</div> Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 20:30:00 GMT 2007-08-25T21:30:00 7b493bb2-379b-429d-86ab-91ab7920fd9c 1000000 Brakes - NME/Radio 1 stage brakesbrakesbrakes Those who turned up to see what have been dubbed something of an indie super group, were not left disappointed after Brakes performance on the NME/Radio 1 stage earlier today. Comprising of some of the best talent from former members of British Sea Power, The Electric Soft Parade and the Tenderfoot, this Brighton based group can boast supporting other great acts such as Belle and Sebastian and Editors in the past. But this was Brakes’ chance to lead the stage for once.  Playing to a bleary-eyed and slightly hung over crowd who had come to witness their promotion, it’s easy to see why this band drew in the huge crowds this morning.  Playing gritty tracks from their albums Give Blood and The Beatific Visions, festival goers were treated to the huge talent band members have brought to this outfit from their pasts. Lead vocalist, Eamon Hamilton (formerly of the Electric Soft Parade), dedicated the groups latest single Cease and Desist to Razorlight front man Johnny Borrell.  One can’t think why, but perhaps it might have something to do with the mixed reception the band received when headlining the Main Stage last night. Those who turned up to watch would have been forgiven for mistaking guitarist Tom White for Jack Black.  White’s full on beard and pure energy which he delivered on stage would have made this a band Black would have been proud to call graduates of his School of Rock. David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 20:00:00 GMT 2007-08-25T21:00:00 4c895a54-69a0-4f25-81c1-023bd3a74480 1000000 The Young Knives - NME/Radio 1 stage Voices of Animals and Men in tweed Far more restrained are Loughborough’s Young Knives, who managed to pack out the Radio 1 Stage, just minutes later. Having been rejuvenated by the recent Mercury nomination of their debut album the three piece seem determined to raise the tent’s roof today, which given the cut throat riffage and acidic lyrical wit they have in the locker, seems all too easy. “Here Comes The Rumour Mill”, “Part Timer” and “She’s Attracted To” alongside a clutch of new songs, all go down exceptionally well with the crowd. They exit promising to return next year, we’ll hold them to that! Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:30:00 GMT 2007-08-25T18:30:00 f9748bc9-9501-47ce-8095-f93bc8ac0e17 1000000 Eagles Of Death Metal - Main stage Talk of the devil.... Spots like this are just about made for the Eagles of Death Metal.  Playing in blistering sunshine, to an overly excitable crowd who are already very well lubricated, the good time rock n’rollers fit the mood like an extremely tight pair of leather chaps.  Singer Jesse “The Devil” Hughes fails to live up to his satanic reputation, constantly thanking the crowd and bending over backwards to be the ultimate showman. Musically the band echo a time long gone, but today hits like “I Want You So Hard” and “Cherry Cola” are music to the masses’ collective ears. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:30:00 GMT 2007-08-25T18:30:00 f0a55d88-734b-4f64-808f-9ea36a4e7d6e 1000000 Good Shoes - NME/Radio 1 stage Good Shoes...great sound. Tipped to be the next Razorlight by some music critics, one band who have come a long way since playing charity gigs organized by their mates, is Good Shoes. The band from Morden, South West London, played to a crowd eager to show their support for the four piece.  This was no ordinary crowd though. Interestingly enough, those who turned out appeared to be largely made up of fans from the band’s home town, given the reception lead singer Rhys Jones received when he announced they would be performing Morden, a single they released back in June. Playing tracks from their recent Think Before You Speak album, the band provided a set in the NME/Radio 1 tent which would fail to please any festival goer. At one point, bass guitarist, Joel Cox, asked the crowd to turn around, point and swear at one unlucky crowd member who had been giving him the two finger salute throughout their set.  He declared he had won that swearing contest, much to the delight of others in the crowd. Regulars to the Reading Festival scene, Good Shoes have also supported the Mystery Jets during various gigs on Twickenham’s Eel Pie Island.  This was another chance from them to move away from the intimate sessions they have been used to and prove themselves as a band who can command the support of a loyal following who just keep on coming back for more. David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:00:00 GMT 2007-08-25T18:00:00 5cc2f90b-dcd1-4481-b532-31c4e1e6277d 1000000 The Shins - Main Stage Cool of a temperate breeze from dark skies to wet grass, we fell in a field near Reading and watched the festival pass The Shins took to the stage with a dark and lengthy chilling build-up to their set on the Main Stage – in stark contrast to the second sweltering day at the Carling Weekend: Reading Festival.  Keyboardist Martin Crandall maintained the eerie mood, echoing elements of Muse, until the band launched into their familiar brand of chilled out rock combined with spatterings of indie.  As crowds swarmed onto the fields to lie back in the sunshine, The Shins answered the call for something both relaxed and entertaining, with tracks spliced with traditional folk music.  Gone for Good proved a hit as trilby-topped James Russell Mercer belted out lyrics ‘it took me all year to put a poison pill to your ear’ with a voice so distinctive it can be likened to a bell chiming in the darkness.  Despite the heat, the jumping mass swelled to see the four from Oregon as they played a set perfectly fitting the mood of relaxed excitement in the arena. The meaningful lyrics of So Says I proved a sure-fire crowd-pleaser and well known Phantom Limb got even the most relaxed to their feet.  No one could escape the feet-tapping lure of a band who showed the mark of true professionals with an astounding ability to read a crowd, and who fully deserved the fantastic reception they received. Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:00:00 GMT 2007-08-25T17:00:00 7f3e56fd-c162-42fc-9ffd-7ffcd7231d42 1000000 Kids In Glass Houses - Carling Stage Listen to Me, Me, Me Hotly tipped as one of the most promising bands to come out of Wales in the last few years, Kids in Glass Houses had never been to the Reading Festival before, let alone played it. So heading to the festival for the first time must have seem like a daunting occasion for the South Wales band who have enjoyed success playing various venues in Cardiff. They have said in the past they are concerned with writing catchy tracks and this is something they demonstrated with their performance in the Carling tent today. Still unsigned, the Caerphilly band have already played alongside the Manic Street Preachers and the Lostprophets.  It can be understood then that some of the influence from these other Welsh greats has rubbed off on this band. Telling festival goers that this was undoubtedly the best gig they have ever done (and who could blame them), the band played tracks with catchy choruses and tunes which have a New Found Glory or Pavement sound to them.  The huge fan base the band already has thanks to MySpace was evident when front man Aled Phillips handed Raise Hell over to the crowd.  Of course, they finished this track superbly. But why wouldn’t they? This is a band which has generated a huge amount of respect from fans and who are as determined to promote and follow them to their eventual and well deserved success. Signing off with the hugely popular Me, Me, Me, Kids in Glass Houses left a lasting impression and succeeded in grabbing their audience where other lesser-known bands might have failed. David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:00:00 GMT 2007-08-25T14:00:00 537cabac-d48b-4a83-9c5a-2bedb2a0c1da 1000000 The Noisettes - NME/Radio 1 stage The Noisettes Don't Give Up The Noisettes certainly know how to make an entrance. As bass player Shingai Shoniwa appeared on stage with an element of grandiose, decked out in a feather headdress, you could be forgiven for thinking this band were all about display. But they soon proved they didn’t need gimmicks. From the word go Jamie Morrison thrashed out a thundering drum beat, displaying an insatiable hunger for rhythm which took over the NME/Radio 1 Stage.  As he hit the crowd with even more at every song, Morrison’s pounding held the entire set together. And as Dan Smith peppered Don’t Give Up with impressive guitar riffs the tent oozed with delight. Only mid-set did the effects of mid-festival fatigue begin to show in the crowd as the Noisettes started to dry up on variety. Digging deeper, Shoniwa swiftly answered the call for something different, leaping off the stage towards the barrier. The shrill songstress commanded the immediate attention of the crowd – as well as the two security guards who lifted her up as she reignited the tent with an impressive rich vocal performance.  A curious blend of punk, rock and 60s swing followed in songs from the band’s current and debut album, What’s The Time Mr Wolf? showing they are definitely something to keep an eye on this year. As the crowd returned Shoniwa’s calls of ‘la la low’ and ‘yea ea ea’ the Noisettes proved they can easily make anyone stand up and take notice. Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT 2007-08-25T13:00:00 2a305c6f-747a-4cee-ba0a-786a740fa984 1000000 SATURDAY AFTERNOON ROUND UP Paramore & Crystal castles So it’s Saturday lunchtime and unbelievably, it’s actually hotter than yesterday, borderline glorious! The wellies have been replaced by flip flops and waterproofs by bikinis. In spite of the heat it’s a well refreshed and downright enormous crowd that greets youthful Tennessee pop punks Paramore to the Main Stage. They’ve always been portrayed as the wholesome side of punk rock so when they named their recently released album “Riot”, a good few titters were exclaimed. But today they live up to that title, by being by far the loudest band of the weekend so far, to the extent that you can hear them in the campsite!  Volume is only one aspect though and the band also deliver an extremely well oiled performance, with frontwoman Hayley Williams leading the ecstatic crowd through “Pressure” and “Misery Business” with a confidence that’s way beyond her 18 years. Watch this space. Over in the thankfully undercover Dance Tent, Canadian dance quirksters Crystal Castles are whipping up a frenzy, despite their early stage time. Having only played a handful of UK shows before today the band have still managed to draw quite a crowd, which is only right and proper as cuts like “Untrust Us” and “Alice Practice” deserve to be heard on mass. Well worth checking out in the coming months. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT 2007-08-25T12:00:00 732d37e8-f204-40bd-a2f9-df69674df4a5 1000000 CARLING STAGE - ROUNDUP Cajun Dance Party, The Subways & Brand New Following on from Blood Red Shoes brilliant showing on the Carling Stage, things go one stage further with Cajun Dance Party. The band are universally tipped for big things when their debut long player drops early next year, and on this showing, it’s easy to see why. The London five piece have only released a couple of 7 inches, but already the stuffed Carling Tent know every line, with favourites “Amylase” and “The Next Untouchable” going down particularly well. When Reading first locked eyes on the Subways it was a full 4 years ago, when they’d just won a new band competition to play at Glastonbury and earned themselves a spot on the Carling Stage. They were lovelorn couple Billy Lunn and Charlotte Cooper along with drummer Josh Morgan, barely out of school; they played fast paced indie pop and were a lovely heart – warming story for all musical hopefuls, hell, the Subways were cute.  So when the band bound onstage onto the Radio 1 Stage pretty much the whole tent’s jaws fall to the fall. Gone are the t-shirts, string vests and youthful haircuts, they’ve been well and truly ditched. Cooper’s sporting dyed red hair, a knock em’ dead style dress and bright red tights, Lunn’s topless, seriously buffed up and, get this, swaggering. Lunn was too nervous to get his words out properly, let alone talk between songs, now he’s telling us “to sweat out every last drop we have.” The Subways have grown up and we like it! Course, none of this would make any difference without some great new tunes and they have them in abundance, new cuts “I Won’t Let You Down” and “California” sound like their earlier material drenched in lighter fluid. The crowd lap em’ up, as they do every word, every strum and every second of the band’s all too short set. Roll on the new album! For true devotion though there’s only one band today and that’s Brand New. The New Yorkers are making their Reading debut this year and are greeted by a fanbase so well versed in the band’s lyrics that the whole of the Radio 1 Tent turns into a huge chorus. Mainly showcasing their newer material the band nonetheless are greeted by universal approval, with “I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t”, “Jesus/Jesus Christ” and “Millstone” all finding the crowd in fine voice. Having kept a relatively quiet presence in the UK until now, this could be the performance to spring Brand New into the nation’s collective consciousness. Tom Goodwyn Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:00:00 GMT 2007-08-24T22:00:00 3f991ddf-28f9-421b-ba75-fd9531bf5550 1000000 Ash - NME/Radio 1 stage Back like a phoenix from the flames There is an undeniable Gaelic charm when the Irish band Ash takes to the stage. Tim Wheeler has a laid-back charm about him that adds to the summer feel of the songs that they were performing. Opening with ‘Lose Control’, the band immediately struck up a chord in the audience, and were set to deliver some fan-favourites – which isn’t difficult when every track they played fitted the criteria. After the first rousing pop-punk anthem came another one in the form of ‘Burn Baby Burn’, welcomed by the onlookers with a harmony that only a mass of people can secure as sounding high-quality, and where one person would simply sound miserable. There was nothing miserable about the set that Ash were playing; they had the foresight to include an assortment of tracks from their vast back-catalogue, to the applause of the audience, as it was precisely what they wanted. A lot of festival-goers were surprised by the pseudo-heat-wave that assaulted the back of necks at the beginning of the event, and Ash suddenly seemed like the perfect choice to headline the NME/Radio 1 tent on a Friday evening, bashing out classic tracks that simply could not fail to maintain a healthy summer feel, and bring smiles of sheer enjoyment to every face in the vast crowd. Once the performance was over, there was logically a request for an encore – and they delivered. Leaping back onto the stage they burst out the Buzzcocks-esque guitar basher ‘Jack Names the Planets’, to elation from diehard fans in the audience, and the appreciation of casual listeners. Ash were an all-encompassing act, and an exchangeable energy went throughout the audience, causing riotous bopping up and down, and choruses of voices over the chorus sung by one. Ash were never the dully floating, gray result of a failing fire, but are the fuel that inspires it to grow. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:30:00 GMT 2007-08-24T21:30:00 677104d9-f3d7-43d7-9dd9-10dc7be0ee20 1000000 Sparta - NME/Radio 1 stage Threes - it's a magic number Playing a set predominantly comprised of tracks from their most recent, and critically acclaimed album, ‘Threes’, Sparta instantly connected with the audience. The precise, mathematically timed beats from drummer, Tony Hajjar, were juxtaposed with the pleasantly abrasive guitar of Keeley Davis and the sometimes harsh vocals of Jim Ward, the first and latter being former members of the classic post-70’s daze that was At The Drive-In, and arguably being the most productive members. With their previous albums Sparta seemed to be struggling to formulate a coherent sound, but to the glorious benefit of the audience who were viewing them, there was a genuine, subconscious consensus that the band had finally tapped-in to a unique and polished post-hardcore sound, with viciously dulcet remnants of their hardcore preternatural state. Sparta, both in studio and on stage, are a difficult egg to crack, due to the complicated and sometimes misunderstood soundscape that they produce, however easily worth the wait, as the crowd were mutually appreciative of the completely formed performance that they were witnessing – a polished, professional and praising band who were on top form throughout the set.  Now is definitely the time to see this band live, as they are giving audiences a developed and impressive show. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:30:00 GMT 2007-08-24T20:30:00 dd1ad5be-4254-4cd3-bace-ee2589f997a2 1000000 Gossip - Main stage Standing in the way of clothing <div>A demanding thrash of applause heralded the arrival of the Gossip onto the main stage. And as Beth Ditto’s energy oozed from her first note there was no sign of tiredness despite the band having arrived into the UK only two hours before.  Punching out the strong lyrics of Jason’s Basement and Your Mangled Heart with a passion deserving respect Ditto not only entertained, she enthralled. Her relentless energy and piercing screams created a frenetic atmosphere in the crowd. And the trio reveled in the excitement to play seamlessly and prove just how deserving they were of a place on the main stage. The only question is why it has taken so long for the three from Arkansas to be recognized. Taking a pause from the punchy raucousness which characterizes The Gossip, Ditto showed her astounding vocal range as she sang the melodic lyrics of Jealous Girls before guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie whipped the crowd up into a thumping mass again. There was no question that The Gossip had taken the crowd by storm and are one of the hottest things around at the moment. So hot that as the band ripped through their best known Standing in the Way of Control, Ditto was forced to strip down to her underwear, showing a spirit that left the crowd deserving respect.</div> <div> </div> <div>Claire Carter</div> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:00:00 GMT 2007-08-24T20:00:00 5611c3a7-e8c3-4375-8f5c-ac091ce74300 1000000 Big D and The Kids Table - Lock Up stage Pet sounds......... Originating from Massachusetts, Big D and the Kids Table, are a band who have, in the past, been labelled as one of the most outstanding practitioners of ska. They are also rumoured to be named after a band member’s pet, but let’s not digress from the point in hand. This was a band who came to leave their mark on the Reading crowd and who truly succeeded. The reggae and ska beats produced by the saxophones, trombones and trumpets which make up the seven piece ensemble, helped give those in the crowd the perfect occasion to get involved in perhaps one of the first serious mosh pit opportunities of the festival so far. Tracks like Checklist from their 2002 Gipsy Hill album provided the backing for one of the liveliest sessions the Lock-Up tent has seen so far today. She Knows Her Way from their latest album, Strictly Rude, ended proceedings on a fairly chilled out note, but make no mistake - this was a session of loud and heavy proportions. David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:00:00 GMT 2007-08-24T20:00:00 b4ee5a74-a115-404d-b81d-617e89e2e9d9 1000000 Capdown - Interview Interview with Capdown singer, Jake Sims-Fielding Are you looking forward to playing this afternoon? Yes, it’s all good. It’s our fifth time playing Reading and it’s always been amazing. This is the second year we have played in the Radio One tent. I love playing Punk Rock on that sort of stage and the best thing is when the tent is completely rammed. We last played this stage in 2003 and it was excellent. Are you sticking around Reading tonight? No not tonight, we’re off to Leeds tomorrow and are going to try and catch some of the scene bands there. I prefer Leeds, to me it just makes sense to have a festival in a green place. I think it’s better because it’s a bit smaller, a bit more chilled. Have you got any surprises in store for the fans tonight? We’re just going to play a bit of all our three albums, the best bits. This will be our last time playing at Reading and Leeds, we’ve got the Warped Tour in October then we’ve decided we’re finally doing something different. Is there any reason these will be your last UK gigs? It just feels like the right time to do it. We didn’t want to drag it out and finish with everyone not liking us, it’s best to go out on a bang. How long have you been in Capdown? For ten years, it’s the first and only band I’ve ever been in. What would you say are the bands influences? Probably Nirvana, I grew up on Nirvana. Ten years on you can still hear elements of the band in our music. But there are so many different bands around now, it’s not just Punk Rock bands. Do you do any thing special to prepare before playing? I just chill out, have a hot drink. I just spend time relaxing in my cabin really, I’m an old man now! What is the best performance you’ve ever seen at Reading or Leeds? I would have to say Sick of it All. Musically, they are not my favourite band, but in terms of knowing how to destroy a crowd they could teach any one a lesson, they are amazing to watch. I saw Muse last year as well – they just sounded so much better than anyone else. What is the most starstruck you have ever been at Reading or Leeds?Probably when I met Dave Grohl. What are the three things you can’t live without on tour?That’s easy - my backstage pass, catering ticket and free beer! What would your ideal Reading/Leeds line up be? I would like to see the Arctic Monkeys headline, Jamie T, the Foo Fighters, there’s so many! Have you got any key tips for festival – goers?The biggest one would be – buy beer outside the festival! Interview by Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:00:00 GMT 2007-08-24T19:00:00 46df0e72-ad14-45be-9f29-f11fa734f2ca 1000000 The Scare - NME/Radio 1 stage Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Bats! Kiss Reid was like a tainted bottle of ointment, wearing a vibrant, blood red jacket that was mixed in with a sea of black that was the rest of the band. As if the initial sight of the lead singer wasn’t enough to make an impact, the fact alone that the band has two drummers is impressive. Some may say that having two drummers is just decadent and surplus to requirement, but there seemed to be a genuine telepathy between the two of them, chopping and changing beats as they raged their way through the album ‘Bats! Bats! Bats!’. At first I was taken aback by what I was seeing – it was almost like seeing Iggy and The Stooges, only scarier… if that’s possible. Watching Reid spring backwards and forwards from stage to audience, interacting with the closest people to him, was threatening but at the same time endearing. The ambience of horror was only further perpetuated with the feeling that the band were performing in some kind of Hammer Horror graveyard, with smoke billowing around of them, obscuring the audience’s view, but adding to the mystery surrounding the charismatic rage that was being expressed. For a man who was supposedly brought-up in a trailer by a porn-star mother, Reid has certainly developed unique social skills, casually talking to audience members mid-performance and generally winning-over the crowd with ease. Watching The Scare was tantamount to watching a pornographic film, with a strange sense of ill-ease countered by the wanting to watch more of the show and view the eventual climax – and it was worth the wait, as The Scare didn’t fail to deliver, both on an eponymous level and through their music. James Wright Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:45:00 GMT 2007-08-24T18:45:00 268418eb-32b6-43ae-9bd8-aff6a7d7c4eb 1000000 Capdown - Lock Up stage The last time at this festival... The crowd roared and Capdown answered this weekend. This being their last gig at Reading the band had a lot to prove. And they didn’t disappoint. From the word go lead vocalist Jake Sims-Fielding thrashed around the stage to belt out the lyrics to compete against the rising screams of an excited and dedicated crowd - a crowd which knew every word. His saxophone added the band’s characteristic anthem feel which has become an adored trademark to many of their songs – a signature feeling which has maintained their solid fan base for the past ten years. And as Sims-Fielding teetered on the edge of the stage to scream out the impassioned lyrics of songs from Civil Disobedients, Robin ‘Boob’ Goold played the guitar with a continous smile on his face – a sign of a band which has truly loved making music over the years. As they exploded into an impressive crescendo with Ska Wars a sea of crowd surfers emerged, only dampened by Sims-Fielding confirming that this would be Capdown’s last Reading festival. But as the disappointment subsided and he screamed ‘Lets tear this place up’ the circle pit which took over the bursting tent in the Radio One Lock Up stage did just that. An apt tribute who are going out with a resounding bang but will be sorely missed on next years festival circuit. Claire Carter Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:00:00 GMT 2007-08-24T18:00:00 1e6f4862-97dc-4341-97f8-bb406241dc83 1000000 CARLING STAGE - AFTERNOON ROUNDUP Blood Red Shoes, The Gossip & Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly <div>There have been many notorious performances on the Carling Stage in the past few years, names like Arctic Monkeys, The View and Franz Ferdinand, have all filled it to bursting in the last few years. So any band that has people left outside to contemplate their relative tardiness should count themselves as having formally arrived. Please join us then in wishing Blood Red Shoes a long stay.</div> <div> </div> <div>There may only be two members in the band, but their angular guitar frenzied attack is far too much for most to handle, especially with songs like “It’s Getting Boring By The Sea.” Those who were there, congratulations you witnessed something special, those who weren’t, start weeping!</div> <div> </div> <div>Back to the main stage now and those Arkansas punk superstars The Gossip. Trundling onstage ten minutes late, the band are forced to drop a few songs from the set, but that still leaves time to fit in “Jealous Girls”, “Yr Mangled Heart” and of course, a triumphant “Standing In The Way Of Control.” Beth Ditto will also find time to drop in snippets of Haddaway’s “What Is Love” and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and unfortunately that’s all the time there is. Be on time next year guys, it’ll be detention otherwise, we can promise you that!</div> <div> </div> <div>Testament to the prophetic qualities of the Carling Stage is one Sam Duckworth, or as he’s billed today, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Having packed out the tent last year he’s moved up in the world this year to the roomier confines of the Radio 1 Tent. Not that it makes a difference to his performance mind. A dusting of new songs, a beefed up brass section and he’s in fine form, loving the fact that songs like “I-Spy” and “War Of The Worlds” are sung back to him on masse. Next year it’ll be the main stage!</div> <div> </div> <div>Tom Goodwyn</div> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:15:00 GMT 2007-08-24T17:15:00 19ea27a0-dd8f-41d8-8cb2-515107169c84 1000000 Jimmy Eat World - Main Stage Four sets in one weekend One band with perhaps the hardest task ahead of them this weekend is Jimmy Eat World. Not content with wowing the huge crowds who turn out to see them just the once, the band are making four separate appearances across both festivals this weekend. Playing first on the Main Stage at Reading this afternoon, Bleed American belted out across the arena, reminding festival goers that this was a band who meant serious business this weekend. The band are playing both on the Main Stage and later this evening in the Lock-Up tent, many suggesting the band is attempting to reconcile pulling out of the festival in 2005. Classics like Hear You Me, The Middle and one of their latest offerings, Big Casino, the band provided the perfect backing to a newly sun-kissed Carling Weekend: Reading Festival this afternoon. The band will have to watch they don’t repeat themselves too much later this evening when they play the Radio 1 Lock-Up tent, but those lucky enough to be treated to their first performance may just be tempted to head along for seconds in what surely promises to be another awesome set.  David Ricketts Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:45:00 GMT 2007-08-24T15:45:00 679d5834-74a4-4bf1-8190-21036c1e40a6 1000000 The Sounds - NME/Radio 1Stage The NME/Radio 1 tent is the first place to hear one the hottest new bands <div>Forget heading to the Main Stage for the opening of the Reading Festival this year, the Radio 1 tent was the first place to hear one of the hottest new bands to hit the UK festival scene in a long time.</div> <div> </div> <div>Hailing from Sweden, The Sounds were one of the first bands to play on the Radio 1 tent today and truly deserved the rapturous welcome festival goers gave them.</div> <div> </div> <div>Think a cross between the Killers and Blondie and you’d not be far wrong with an accurate description for the type of music this band produces. Strong vocals, heavy bass and a mix of 80’s electro, make The Sounds one of those bands who provide the energy festival goers need to get their weekend off to a good start.</div> <div> </div> <div>Dying To Say This To You from the band’s second album and their latest single to hit the UK, Painted by Numbers, got the crowd waving their hands in the air, with lead singer Maja Ivarsson climbing on the drum kit to give a rendition of Ego towards the end of the set.</div> <div> </div> <div>“See you next year,” said Ivarsson as she left the stage. She left the crowd in no doubt - this is a band which festival goers will be seeing a lot more of in the future. David Ricketts</div> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:00:00 GMT 2007-08-24T14:00:00 bbfef25a-960b-4f5d-b28f-9866668c3b5c 1000000 AND SO IT BEGINS... The opening bands at the Carling Weekend: Reading Festival <div>Welcome to Reading Festival 2007. Where despite the campsites more closely resembling a First World War battlefield than anything else, the rain has at least stayed away thus far and the whole site is in jubilant mood for the arrival of Brighton based popstrels the Pipettes. In a weekend dominated by indie and rock behemoths, the sugary sweet pop songs and close harmonies that the Pipettes deal in make for a welcome change. “Dirty Mind”, “Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me” and “Pull Shapes” all sound fantastic, and manage to get the crowd, most of whom began the set still half asleep, pulling some shapes of their own. Next we go from Brighton to Sheffield for the jaunty indie pop of Little Man Tate. In spite of a few technical hitches early on in the set, the band soon iron out the creases and deliver a set that gets the entire crowd moving. “European Lover”, “Sexy Man In Latin” and the closing “House Party At Boothys” all serve as boozy calls to arms, persuading the baying masses to shake off last night’s excesses and brave the bar queues. “Have a reet good time on us” says frontman Jon Windle as he drains his can of cider, don’t worry Jon, you can be sure they will. Coincidentally, we stay with the steel city now for the Long Blondes, but let’s be honest; musically they’re from a different world to Little Man Tate. The band arrive with a thunderous “Lust In The Movies”, looking like the coolest gang on site and instantly the crowd are spellbound. They fire off “Weekend Without Make Up” early on and proceed to breeze through a flawless set, premiering one new song “Guilt” alongside old favourites like “Giddy Stratospheres” and “Swallow Tattoo.” A timely reminder that it’s positively criminal they aren’t higher up the bill. Tom Goodwyn</div> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 24 Aug 2007 05:45:00 GMT 2007-08-24T06:45:00 17b4326e-db5e-4e29-956f-a3f40941536f 1000000 IT'S HERE The festival opens with The Pipettes, The Scare, Bombay Bicycle Club and The Grit. The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival is here....Thanks to all those that make the festivals happen year in, year out. The festival opens with The Pipettes, The Scare, Bombay Bicycle Club and The Grit. With interviews, photos and videos galore and our roving team out and about reviewing the music as it happens, stay tuned for all the latest news and backstage fun. Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:45:00 GMT 2007-08-23T06:45:00 5bdc93fd-3d04-4f66-9fa8-11c0ee9078a4 1000000 THE HISTORY OF READING & LEEDS Listen to the story behind the festival. <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/podcast/">Click here</a> to hear all about the history by the power of the podcast. Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:15:00 GMT 2007-08-23T01:15:00 029a1895-a018-4913-8805-c00d90ea837c 1000000 FESTIVAL TRADER PRICES Prices for food stalls onsite. General Purpose Units - Prices Burgers 3.00 1/2lb Beef Burger 4.00 Cheese Burgers 3.50 Quarter Pound Vegetarian Burger 3.00 Sausage & Chips 4.00 Hot Dogs 3.00 Cumberland Ring 3.50 Bratwurst Sausage 3.50 Gloucester sausage 3.50 Steak Roll With Onions Or Salad 3.00 Bacon Roll 2.80 Chips (Small) 1.50 Chips (large) 2.00 Baguettes 3.00-5.00 Extra Fillings 1.00 Toasted Sandwiches 3.00 Extra Fillings 0.50 Steak Baguette  5.00 Southern Fried Chicken  Chicken & Chips (2 Pc Meal) 4.50 Chicken & Chips (3 Pc Meal) 5.00 6 Chicken Nuggets & Chips 4.50 3 Chicken Nuggets & Chips 4.00 2 Chicken Drumsticks & Chips 4.00 Quarter Breast of Chicken & Fries 4.50 Chicken Sandwich With Salad & Fries 4.50 Caribbean  Jerk Chicken 3.00 Jerk Chicken Rice & Peas With Salad 5.00 Curry Goat Rice & Peas With Salad 5.00 Vegetable Curry Rice & Peas With Salad 4.00 Ackee & Saltfish 3.50 Fried Fish Rice & Peas With Salad 5.00 Roast Corn 1.00-2.00 Sugar Cane 2.00 Jelly Coconuts  2.00 Fruit Cups 2.00-3.00 Mexican   Mexican Meals 5.00 Caeser Salad 3.00 Caeser salad With Chicken  4.00 Chicken,Avocado & Bacon Salad  4.00 Potato Wedges With Salsa & Sour Cream 4.00 Burritos 4.00 Fajitas  4.00 Cantina's Chilli With Mexican Rice 4.00 Cantina's Vegaterian Chilli With Mexican Rice 4.00 Mexican Bean Burger  3.50 Jalapeno Burger   3.50 Extras (Mexican)  0.50 Tortilla Fillngs Hot  3.50-3.80 Tortilla Fillngs Cold  2.80-3.80 Nachos Cheese & Refried Beans 3.00 Nachos Salsa & Sour Cream 3.50-4.00 Carvery  Hot Pork Rolls  3.50 Hot Pork Baguettes 4.50 Hot Beef Rolls  4.50 Hot Beef Baguette 3.50 Fish & Chips  5-6oz Cod Fillet & Chips4.50 Pie & Chips  4.00 Indian  Indian Meals 5.00 Chicken Curry 5.00 Chicken Tikka 5.50 Beef Madras 5.50 Vegetable Curry 5.00 Boiled Rice 1.50 Naan Bread 1.50 Indian Snacks 1.50 Kebabs  Chicken Kebab & Salad 4.50 Donar Kebab & Salad 4.00 Vegaterian Kebab & salad 3.80/4.00 Pastries  Danish Assortment 2.00 Muffins 1.50 Cookies 1.00 Biscuits 1.00/1.20 Cake Slices 1.20/1.50 Confectionary  Variety Of Sweets 100gms 1.09 Nougat Bars 1.50 Candy Floss 200gms 2.00 Honeycombe 1.80 Other  All Day Breakfast 4.50 Fresh Corn-on-cob 2.00 Fries With Cheese 2.50 Soup 2.00 Hot Drinks  Tea (small) 1.00 Tea (Large) 1.50 Coffee (small) 1.00 Coffee (large) 1.50 Hot Chocolate (small) 1.50 Hot Chocolate (large) 1.80 Hot Drinks (Machine Dispensed)  Tea (Small) 1.00 Tea (Large) 1.50 Coffee (small) 1.00 Coffee (Large) 1.50 Cappuccino (small) 1.50 Cappuccino (Large) 1.80 Latte (Small) 2.00 Latte (large) 2.50 Espresso 1.50 Choco Milk 1.80 Choco Milk (Large) 2.00 Espresso Choc (small) 1.80 Espresso Choc (large) 2.00 Pasty & Pies  Pies 2.50 Pie & Mash From 5.00 Sausage & Mash 4.00 Cornish Pasty (Giant) 3.50 Cornish Pasty (Large) 3.00 Cornish Pasty (Medium) 2.50 Pasties 2.50 Jumbo Sausage Roll 1.50 Ice Cream  Ice Cream Cone (Small) 1.00 Ice Cream Cone (Med) 1.20 Ice Cream Cone (Large) 1.50 Ice Cream Cup 1.00 99 Flake 1.50 Slush 1.50 Chinese    Chinese Meals 5.00 Vegetable Tempura 3.50 Large Curry With Rice/Fries 5.00 Small Curry With Rice/Fries 3.50 Fries With Curry Sauce 2.50 Chicken Stir Fry 5.00 Vegetable Stir Fry 5.00 Sizzling Beef 5.00 Sweet & Sour Chicken 5.00 Vegetarian Sausage With Onions 3.00 Kao Pad 3.00 Rice 1.50 Spring Rolls 1.50 Crispy Wonton 1.50 Crepe's  Crepe 2.00-3.00 Crepe Specials  3.50 Organic  Organic Muffins 2.00 Organic Popcorn 1.00 Potato    Baked Potatoes With Fillings  3.00-4.00 Baked Potatoes With Butter 3.00 Extra Fillings 0.50 Donuts  Donuts  (1) 0.50 Donuts (2) 1.00 Donuts (4) 2.00 Donuts (6) 3.00 Pizza Pizza (Slice) 3.00 Pizza 7" 9.00 10" 12.00 12" 14.00 Ciabbata Bacon Roll 3.00 Garlic Bread 1.50   Fresh Ground Coffee  Americano Small 1.50 Americano Large 2.00 Cappuccino Small 2.00 Cappuccino Large 2.50 Latte Small 2.00 Latte Large 2.50 Flavoured Latte small 2.00 Flavoured Latte large 2.50 Mocha Small 1.80 Mocha Large 2.20 espresso Small 1.80 Espresso Large  2.20 Hot Chocolate Small 1.50-2.00 Hot Chocolate Large 2.20 Cold Drinks  Mineral water 500ml 2.00 Soft Drinks 500ml 2.00 Energy Drinks 2.00 Orange juce  2.00 Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT 2007-08-19T10:00:00 0db496af-6773-4657-9f91-d296b6f43d7d 1000000 CINEMA TENT RUNNING ORDER FOR READING A selection of shorts and films running from midnight - 4am Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Friday 12.00    OFVM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL   12.30    BORAT (15)                                    1.50      DAYWATCH  (15)                                 Saturday 12.00    OFVM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL  12.40     CASINO ROYALE (12)              3.00     OFVM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Sunday 12.00    OFVM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL  12.15    HOT FUZZ (15)                            2.15      KENNY (15)                             <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/news/Cinema.html"><img height="282" alt="" width="200" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/i/x/n/Image/Reading-Cinema-Poster-small.jpg" /> Click here to see the film poster</a>      Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 19 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT 2007-08-19T09:00:00 09f77ff2-b9fe-42f8-9aee-6616ee8d3c66 1000000 ACTION AID AT READING Wednesday August 15 2007: Thousands of empty plates will be dished out during Reading when music fans will be asked to join an international charity campaign to halve world hunger by 2015. Dishing out justice for the hungry at Reading (from a disco shed!) Wednesday August 15 2007: Thousands of empty plates will be dished out during Reading  when music fans will be asked to join an international charity campaign to halve world hunger by 2015. Anti poverty charity ActionAid is taking ‘Bollocks to Poverty On Tour’ to Reading for the sixth year running from Friday August 24 to 26, giving people the opportunity to support its HungerFREE campaign and demand justice for the 850 million people who go hungry every day – that’s more then the combined population of the UK, Brazil, USA, Canada and Japan. In 2000 the world’s governments made a commitment to halve hunger by 2015 as part of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Yet halfway towards this intended date they’ve done little to improve the situation and 24 people are dying from hunger every minute despite there being enough food to feed everyone on the planet twice over. At ActionAid’s tent punters can sign a plate, take a snap of themselves with it and send a photo message to the United Nations, demanding action on hunger. ActionAid will dish out the plates to world leaders when they meet at the next UN General Assembly in New York in September. <img height="120" alt="" width="120" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/b/j/c/Image/BTP-plates120.jpg" />                                                          <img height="120" alt="" width="120" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/b/j/c/Image/bollocks120.jpg" /> Festival goers across the world will be targeted at venues ranging from folk-rock concerts in Kathamdu to reggae gigs in Nairobi. Anella Wickenden, ActionAid’s Youth Campaigns Manager said: “When a person gets to the point of having nothing to eat, it is because everything else has been denied – access to land, jobs, living wages and their human rights. “But by joining thousands of people around the world festival goers can make a noise about the scandal of global poverty and hunger and demand change through their passion for music. “The crowds at Reading  have always been hugely supportive of Bollocks to Poverty On Tour in the past and I’m sure this year will be no exception!” Bollocks to Poverty On Tour is now a festival regular at Reading and ActionAid will be bringing their tent alive with a kitsch garden hangout, complete with the amazing Disco Shed, in which shed creators, DJs PeepShow Paddy, Count Skylarkin and resident DJ Del Gazebo will be playing their eclectic sets till 3am every night. ActionAid will also be offering the unwashed masses a place to chill out, relax on comfy beanbags and play giant games of Jenga, fussball and ping pong.   Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.actionaidspace.org ">Action Aid website</a> for more information.       Annie Day General Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:00:00 GMT 2007-08-16T00:00:00 edecf369-029c-489a-9816-379a37cd52f5 1000000 THE OFFICIAL READING WARM UP PARTY. Kickstart your festival weekend with a FROG party. Kickstart your festival weekend with a FROG party. The Rivermead sports complex will be transformed into a huge nightclub space with a late bar, flashing lights and arse kicking music. We’ve invited some of our friends to DJ so behind the decks you’ll see: THE HOLLOWAYS THE HORRORS DJ GOLDIEROCKS WE SMOKE FAGS And our resident FROG DJS THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST The Rivermead can be found next to the main entrance of the festival site. (Richfield Avenue.  Reading. RG1 8EQ) 8:30pm – 3am. £4  - (Reading ticket holders only) This is FROGS third year throwing the warm up party, you can expect quality music, giveaways, and the chance to party with over 3,000 fellow festival. This is the only licensed bar on site tonight. Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:45:00 GMT 2007-08-09T03:45:00 a4000427-5f1c-4280-a536-ba61538fe18f 1000000 THE ALTERNATIVE STAGE A whole host of comedy, cabaret, film, art/music collaborations, talks, quizzes... The Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals 2007 is already the event of the summer with over 150 bands playing on six stages, a host of campsite and late night entertainment and the biggest and best headliners of the year preparing to take to the stages over the August Bank Holiday. Now we are proud to announce the debut of The Alternative Stage at both sites, featuring a host of unique musical and multi media collaborations, top name comedy and cabaret and audience Q & A’s to give you an unrivalled bill of exclusive entertainment throughout the weekend. Leeds gets a special treat by starting a day early on the Thursday evening with a very special production called Dream Of An Opium Eater.  A unique collaboration featuring Ben Calvert from Killing Joke, Ivar S. Peersen from Enslaved, Reuben Gotto from Twin Zero / Johnny Truant and Julia Ruzicka from Million Dead, the quartet will revise the old silent movie tradition of a pianist accompanying films, by improvising a soundtrack of intense metal to accompany horror shorts. Also on the Thursday at the North’s only festival is a very rare showing for cult classic ‘American Hardcore’.  The film that documents the US underground punk scene from 1980 to 1986 and features the legends that are Black Flag, Bad Brains, The Replacements and a host of others has never gained a general release in the UK and any serious fan of US alternative music will find the film both fascinating and enthralling. Both sites will get a real treat in the form of a specially curated night courtesy of Transgressive Records, visiting Leeds on Friday before making the journey south to Reading for the Saturday. Featuring audio visual sets from the Transgressive roster, including the much tipped Battle and Jeremy Warmsley alongside Absentee, 3 Trapped Tigers, Noah And The Whale, Beans On Toast, Lucy And The Caterpillar and Mechnical Bride, these are one-off performances created for the festival and promise to be very special indeed.  Able support will come from Transgressive DJs and label bosses Tim and Toby are looking forward to making your evening memorable in all the right ways; “Our nights at Reading and Leeds will be a snapshot of music in all its incarnations and forms – every act is different to the next, and attempting to do something unique and special. The video footage will see some familiar material aired, and some exclusive imagery / videos that aren’t quite so commonplace. We’re hoping to surprise, and delight, and also make you groove your arse off.” Friday 24th August Climate Change Short Films and Q & A Comedy From: PAUL TONKINSON, KERRY GODLIMAN, DAVE FULTON, TIM MINCHIN, WOODY BOP MUDDY’s Record Graveyard, LLOYD LANGFORD, JASON ROUSE, MATT BLAIZE, ROB ROUSE , STEVE GRIBBIN The Evening Entertainment Audio Visual sets from YOUTHMOVIE SOUNDTRACK STRATEGIES / RALFE BAND / SHITMAT / CRAZY GIRL / BEENY ROYSTON & JADELL / WARLORDS OF PEZ / SOUND OFF DJ’s plus DJ Nic Gadget DIRTY SANCHEZ WORLD PREMIERE Saturday 25th August The NME Question and Answer Session Comedy From: DEREK MEINS, BEANS ON TOAST, ED BYRNE, MATT REED, KEVIN BRIDGES, JOHN FOTHERGILL, HUGH LENNON, TERRY CLEMENT, JUNIOR SIMPSON, ANDREW BIRD, BEN HURLEY The Evening Entertainment THE YOUTUBE LOUNGE, TRANSGRESSIVE RECORDS PRESENT: Exclusive Audio Visual Sets From ABSENTEE / BATTLE / MECHANICAL BRIDE / NOAH & THE WHALE with Fay SeaBuzzard / JEREMY WARMSLEY Plus Trangressive DJ’s and Video; PUNK ROCK KARAOKE, THE FIRE TUSK PAIN PROOF CIRCUS DJ Nic Gadget Sunday 26th August The Vox n Roll Music Quiz Crazy Girl Shorts Comedy From: SIMON AMSTELL, HAL CRUTTENDON, BRIAN LAZERNICK, SEAN COLLINS, BARRY & STUART: 2Magicians, IAN COGNITO, RICKY GROVER, JOHN MALONEY, MILTON JONES, JIM TAVARE Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT 2007-08-08T09:00:00 9686c38f-c7f6-4dcf-ae37-597ebd76750e 1000000 GREEN MESSENGERS Global Hand is working in association with Mean Fiddler at both events to collect in any left behind tents and possessions for re-use in disaster relief Leeds and Reading festivals are looking to recruit up to 280 "green messengers" to work in the campsites at each festival, talking to the festival goers and encouraging them to be environmentally aware in the disposal of their rubbish, particularly in packing up.  Mean Fiddler are keen to alert festival goers to the environmental impact of burning their tents and possessions instead of taking them home or donating them. The organisation, Global Hand is working in association with Mean Fiddler at both events to collect in any left behind tents and possessions for re - use in disaster relief and the green messengers will work with Global Hand on the Monday and Tuesday to help recycle the tents. To apply, you must be over 18, available to work from Wednesday 23rd to Tuesday 28th August, doing a total of 24 hours in shifts at some point during Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. You will be free to enjoy the festivals the rest of the time. You must be proactive and dynamic, and happy to interact with the public, spreading the stop climate chaos message. You will need to pay a deposit by cheque of £145 which will then be reimbursed once you have completed your shifts. Cheques must be sent by Friday 17th August. If you have already bought a ticket for Reading or Leeds, you can still apply. Please email below for details on what you will need to do to complete your application. To apply, email: Emily Kay on <a href="mailto:ekay@meanfiddler.co.uk">ekay@meanfiddler.co.uk</a> with your name, address, mobile number, email, date of birth, place of birth, next of kin contact details and your NI number. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:15:00 GMT 2007-08-07T00:15:00 80352064-7edd-4845-b188-914461460b61 1000000 GREEN READING Reduce your impact on the environment at Reading This year at Carling Weekend: Reading & Leeds Festivals we are doing as much as possible to reduce the impact the festival has on the environment, and ask you to help us make that happen. Recycle, donate your tent, car pool & lift share, environmentally friendly showers & loos, free beer & more…. <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/info/green.aspx">Click here for more information</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:15:00 GMT 2007-07-30T01:15:00 e406b175-59c7-49ac-ba7d-0ec5eec7a750 1000000 Wot, no gazebos! Gazebos in selected campsites only Camping space on site is sufficient for everyone but by bringing gazebos, people are using up double the amount of space they should be - which cramps everyone's style. This year we are going to have to change things around and so from now on we are restricting gazebos to the following campsites, brown, red and white - but not in green, yellow and purple camping.  Anyone setting them up in these areas will have them taken down by campsite staff. - Gazebos are allowed in brown, red and white camping. - Not allowed in green, yellow and purple camping. Got it?! Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:00:00 GMT 2007-07-09T07:00:00 dfee26bc-221d-4445-b38c-bcc631b52b09 1000000 National Express This summer National Express is the official travel partner for The Carling Weekend: Reading & Leeds Festivals. This summer National Express is the official travel partner for The Carling Weekend – Reading & Leeds Festivals.   All services are direct & run right to the festival  from all major cities and towns across the UK.  In addition experienced National Express customer service and operational staff will ensure all passengers have a safe, enjoyable and stress free journey.   Let the festival atmosphere begin!   For travel bookings and more information please visit either <a href="http://www.nationalexpress.com/leedsfestival">www.nationalexpress.com/leedsfestival</a> or <a href="http://www.nationalexpress.com/readingfestival">www.nationalexpress.com/readingfestival</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT 2007-06-12T10:00:00 c5598328-afbb-4094-9836-57bab13f1525 1000000 New stages announced... The LOCK-UP and DANCE stages announced.. <div> <div>THE LOCK-UP stage has become one of the twin sites most popular destinations over recent years. Curated by Radio One’s Mike Davies and named after his weekly punk, emo and ska show, this year’s bill has big names and cult favourites aplenty across the two days. It’s always busy in there from the doors opening so make sure to get a good space if you want to see things up close and personal. THE DANCE STAGE returns for a day at each site with a host of live acts to get the party started and keep your feet moving through the day. Friday Reading</div> - Lock Up</div> <div> </div> <div>Jimmy Eat World</div> <div>The Living End</div> <div>Mad Caddies</div> <div>The Bronx</div> <div>Capdown</div> <div>Big D and the Kids Table Plain White Ts</div> <div>The Draft</div> <div>Street Dogs</div> <div>King Blues</div> <div>Riverboat Gamblers</div> <div>The Grit</div> <div> </div> <div>Saturday Reading - Dance </div> <div> </div> <div>UNKLE</div> <div>!!!</div> <div>Digitalism</div> <div>Data Rock</div> <div>Lethal Bizzle Shy Child</div> <div>Metronomy</div> <div>Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip</div> <div>Does it Offend You, Yeah?</div> <div>Crystal Castles</div> <div>The Teenagers   <div>Reading Sunday - Lock Up</div> <div> </div> <div>New Found Glory</div> <div>Turbonegro</div> <div>Gallows Against Me! From Autumn to AshesDwarves</div> <div>The Cancer Bats</div> <div>The Casualties</div> <div>Ignite</div> <div>Municipal Waste</div> <div>Sonic Boom Six</div> <div>The Ghost of a Thousand</div> </div> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:00:00 GMT 2007-06-12T00:00:00 9d635802-8a34-44ac-81f9-5db89fb72f03 1000000 TANGERINE FIELDS ACCOMMODATION Camping made simple at Tangerine Fields Camping made simple at Tangerine Fields. Pre-book a ready pitched tent and sleeping kit for you or your group of friends through our website.   Our ready pitched and fully kitted tents are set up in specially chosen fields, with extra showers and loos, in chilled out surroundings at both Reading and Leeds festivals.  We'll be on hand to give your festival experience that bit of laid back camping bling its been missing all these years. Roomy 2, 4 and 6 man tent sizes available, all ready pitched with a choice of airbeds and new sleeping bags. PLEASE NOTE: You must be in possession of a weekend camping ticket for the event before you purchase http://www.tangerinefields.co.uk/ Jennifer Roberts General Sat, 02 Jun 2007 23:15:00 GMT 2007-06-03T00:15:00 b0926b5e-82f6-4da5-8868-a504f18c5a10 1000000 LIFT SHARE Car sharing will help save you money by sharing the travel costs, reduce the amount of congestion on the roads resulting in you arriving to more quickly as well as being kind to our environment. If you are travelling by car please visit the Carling Weekend: Reading 2007 <a href="http://www.liftshare.org">Car Share Scheme</a> operated by Liftshare. Car sharing will help save you money by sharing the travel costs, reduce the amount of congestion on the roads resulting in you arriving more quickly as well as being kind to our environment. However all arrangements which you make are private arrangements between you and other sharers. The Festival does not arrange lift sharing or have any liability to or for lift sharers. Safety first: Make sure you know the identity of the person or persons you are sharing with. Having a home telephone number is sensible precaution and make sure you leave details of the lift share, the driver and passenger's number(s) and home address if possible with friends and/or family. Take your mobile phone with you. If you are at all uncomfortable with any arrangements, or the condition of the vehicle being used, then make other plans. If a vehicle is not taxed it is possible the driver has no driving licence, no insurance and no MOT. Safety first: trust your instincts and use common sense. <a href="http://www.liftshare.org">Click here for the Car Share Scheme</a>   http://www.liftshare.org/ Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 31 May 2007 23:00:00 GMT 2007-06-01T00:00:00 12240a0f-3c7b-4406-abd5-3e67d0d0c2fa 1000000 Carling Stage Line Up announced THE CARLING STAGE returns to the festival for the 9th year and will again host the best collection of up and coming talent. THE CARLING STAGE returns to the festival for the 9th year and will again host the best collection of up and coming talent. The Carling Stage has become a stepping-stone for many bands as they make their way to the top. Historically the Carling Stage has seen Muse, Kaiser Chiefs, Ash, Kasabian and many others make their first festival appearances and has continued to prove that this is the starting place for the talent of the future. Last year saw The View entertain the crowds from the Carling Stage whilst fans of Klaxons were bursting out of the side of the tent; both bands this year are on the bill for the Radio 1/NME stage. Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkey’s suggests it could be fate…… “When we played on the Carling Stage there was a bit of a buzz around us but we had no idea what would happen. Until then we’d only played to audiences of 300-800. Six thousand came to the Carling tent. People said it was like when the Foo Fighters first played. It’s not a foolproof plan that on filling the Carling tent you become famous, but it has happened quite a bit.” With the stage hosting nearly all of NME’s recommended new bands of the summer festival season over the three days alongside some exclusive performances from some of the most interesting names in alternative rock, organisers Mean Fiddler are proud to announce the following names for this year. <div>Reading Friday/Leeds Saturday</div> <div>Albert Hammond Jr</div> <div>Patrick Wolf</div> <div>Jack Penate</div> <div>Cajun Dance Party</div> <div>Reverend and the Makers</div> <div>1990s</div> <div>Alberta Cross</div> <div>Frank Turner</div> <div>Blood Red Shoes</div> <div>Manchester Orchestra</div> <div>Turbofruits</div> <div>Ripchord</div> <div>Bombay Bicycle Club</div> <div> </div> <div>Reading Saturday/Leeds Sunday</div> <div>Hot Hot Heat</div> <div>The Academy Is...</div> <div>Battles</div> <div>Silversun Pickups</div> <div>Shiny Toy Guns</div> <div>Tokyo Police Club</div> <div>Cobra Starship</div> <div>Foals</div> <div>Director</div> <div>Mute Math</div> <div>Kids in Glass Houses</div> <div>Lostalone</div> <div>Eisley</div> <div>Pete and the Pirates</div> <div> </div> <div>Reading Sunday / Leeds Friday</div> <div>The Hold Steady</div> <div>Peter, Bjorn and John</div> <div>Seasick Steve</div> <div>Charlotte Hatherley</div> <div>Kate Nash</div> <div>Little Ones</div> <div>Kubichek!</div> <div>Operator Please</div> <div>Republic of Loose</div> <div>I Was A Cub Scout</div> <div>Stalkers</div> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 22 May 2007 11:00:00 GMT 2007-05-22T12:00:00 814eed0b-511a-458f-9c6b-a4d2dde466bb 1000000