The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events both happen on the bank holiday weekend in August (on Friday, Saturday, Sunday), and share the same bill (occasionally with one or two exceptions). The festival's origins date back to the Beaulieu Jazz Festival (1956-1961) which became the National Jazz Festival in 1961 (then The National Jazz and Blues Festival in 1963) and settled in Reading in 1971. In 1999 a second leg was added at Leeds.
The following is a list of acts that have played at the festival.
Video Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups
2018
Main Stage
Radio 1 Stage
BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage
The Pit/The Lock Up
Festival Republic Stage
BBC Radio 1 Xtra Stage
Originally Skepta was billed to headline the Radio 1 tent on Sunday but was removed from the lineup, with "logistical issues" being cited as the reason. He was not replaced, but Diplo was bumped up to headline rather than sub the stage. Other notable removals were Ski Mask The Slump God who pulled out due to touring commitments and was replaced by Bhad Bhabie and Brunswick who was also due to play the Dance Stage but was replaced by Madam X. Skinny Girl Diet were due to open the Radio 1 Stage on Sunday but were replaced by Twisted Wheel.
Maps Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups
2017
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage
The Pit/Lockup
Festival Republic Stage
BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage
Notes
Several artists dropped out of Reading & Leeds for currently unknown reasons, this included Bishop Briggs, Katy B, A2 and K.I.D. On the first day of the festival, Royal Republic, who were the opening act on the main stage for Friday at Leeds, cancelled due to personal reasons, they were replaced By The Xcerts. Don Broco performed on The Lock Up stage under the name 'The Prettyboys' as a secret set. Queens of the Stone Age and Wolf Alice also had secret sets at the festival.
2016
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage
The Pit/Lock Up
Festival Republic Stage
Radio 1Xtra Stage
Notes
Parkway Drive had pulled out of Leeds due to 'family issues', this meant that Skindred played for a full hour while a new band called Judas played the rest of the time slot. A$AP Rocky pulled out of Leeds festival at the last possible moment due to travel problems. He was however capable to perform at Reading. Fetty Wap was due to play on the NME stage, but had to pull out from doctors orders due to a severe ear infection. HAIM were supposed to play on the NME stage but cancelled their European tour to focus on finishing their second album. G-Eazy who was one of the headliners for the Radio 1Xtra stage pulled out of the festival for unforeseen circumstances, and was replaced by Wiley. Travis Scott was also a headliner for the Radio 1Xtra stage, cancelled all remaining UK tour shows also due to unforeseen circumstances, he was replaced by Stormzy. Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots was pulled down into the crowd during their performance of "Car Radio", at Reading 2016 and their set was cut short.
2015
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage
The Pit/Lock Up
Festival Republic Stage
BBC Radio 1 Xtra Stage
Notes
Tyler the Creator had originally been booked to play on the NME Stage, but was forced to cancel these shows after being refused entry into the United Kingdom. Modern Baseball had planned to play the Lock Up Stage, but withdrew the week before the festival due to the lead singer's decision to focus on tackling his depression. Mastodon had originally been booked to headline the Pit stage, but pulled out when they cancelled their European tour, citing a 'personal family matter.' It was later revealed that this was due to bassist Troy Sanders' wife being diagnosed with breast cancer.
2014
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage
The Pit/Lock Up
Festival Republic Stage
Radio 1Xtra Stage
2013
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage
Lock Up/Rock Stage
Festival Republic Stage
BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage
Notes
- The latest announcements to the 2013 Reading and Leeds festival were made on Tuesday, 4 June 2013 on Radio 1
- Reading and Leeds 2013 presale tickets went on sale on 30 August 2012. Weekend tickets were made available on 30 November 2012 at a price of £202.50 (plus an £8 booking fee). Day tickets cost £90.00 (plus a £7 booking fee).
- Early entry tickets for the Reading site sold out on 17 June 2013. On 5 July 2013, Saturday day tickets for the Reading site sold out. On 12 July 2013, Friday day tickets for the Reading site sold out. On 23 July 2013, weekend tickets for the Reading site sold out. On 13 August 2013, Sunday tickets sold out, meaning at the Reading site, the full weekend was sold out. On 17 August 2013, Friday tickets for the Leeds site sold out.
- On 27 June 2013, Brand New who were due to play on the Main Stage announced that they were cancelling their August European dates including their performances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. They were replaced by EarlWolf.
- Iggy Azalea cancelled in order to attend the MTV Video Music Awards.
- Due to illness, DIIV were forced to cancel Reading and Leeds performances.
- Due to heavy traffic, Pegboard Nerds were unable to attend their Leeds Festival performance.
2012
The initial line-up announcements for the festivals were made on 12 March 2012 - with the tickets made available for purchase shortly afterwards.
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
Festival Republic Stage
Lock Up/Dance Stage
Notes
- Chiddy Bang pulled out of the festival due to touring commitments, and were replaced by Hadouken!
- Here We Go Magic pulled out of the festival for undisclosed reasons. Their replacement was Future of the Left.
- Green Day played a secret gig at Reading Festival.
2011
The line-up for the Reading and Leeds 2011 festivals was announced on 21 March 2011, and tickets were made available thereafter.
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
Lock-Up Stage/Dance Stage
Festival Republic Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £192.50 before booking fees. Pulp headlined over The Strokes at the Leeds Festival. Mouthwash pulled out due to the split up of the band, they were replaced by Fighting Fiction. The Twilight Singers pulled out and were replaced by Young Legionnaire. OFWGKTA pulled out of the Leeds Festival due to the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, but still performed at the Reading Festival. Jane's Addiction were due to headline the NME/Radio 1 Stage but cancelled both their appearances at the last minute - after arriving at the Reading site - due to frontman Perry Farrell falling ill. Rise Against played a secret acoustic set on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading after their mainstage slot.
2010
The line-up for the Reading and Leeds 2010 festivals was announced on 29 March 2010, and tickets were made available thereafter.
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
Lock-Up Stage/Dance Arena
Festival Republic Stage
Notes
- Miike Snow pulled out for undisclosed reasons, with The Joy Formidable replacing them.
- Fight Like Apes and Alberta Cross pulled out of their slots due to undisclosed reasons.
- RX Bandits pulled out due to 'unavoidable family circumstances with Cerebral Ballzy replacing them.
- Crime In Stereo pulled out due to the band splitting up, with Random Hand replacing them.
2009
Main Stage
Radio 1/NME Stage
Lock Up Stage/Dance Arena
Festival Republic Stage
The Alternative Stage
Comedy: Doug Stanhope, Tim Minchin, Brendon Burns, Jack Whitehall, Junior Simpson, Sarah Millican, Tom Stade, Hugh Lennon, MC Matt Read, MC Martin Bigpig, Steve Gribbin, Kevin Bridges, Holly Walsh, Stephen Grant, Markus Birdman, Stuckey & Murray, Jessica Delfino, Dan Nightingale, Gary Delaney, Mark Olver, Daniel Townes, MC Dave Twentyman, Joey Page, Doc Brown, Jamie Kilstein, Joe Bor, Tomb.
Spoken Word: Aidan Moffat, The PeteBox, Kate Tempest, Mik Artistik, John Berkavitch
Debate: ID Instigate Debate
Late Night Entertainment: Smash N' Grab, Swap-A-Rama, Transgressive Records
Film: Le Donk screening plus Q&A session with Mark Herbert and special guests from the film, 3D Night Of The Living Dead, This Is Spinal Tap, Anvil! The Story of Anvil.
Dance To The Radio Stage
Notes
- The festival ran from Friday 28 August 2009 - Sunday 30 August 2009. Weekend tickets cost £175. Day tickets cost £70.
- Alexisonfire and The Bronx (band) played two sets at both Reading and Leeds - one on the Main Stage and one later in the day on the Lock Up stage.
- A Day to Remember cancelled their appearance on the Festival Republic stage.
- A schedule gap on the Radio1/NME stage on the Friday at Leeds and Saturday at Reading was filled by a surprise appearance by Them Crooked Vultures.
2008
The line-up for the Reading and Leeds 2008 festivals was announced on 31 March 2008, and tickets were made available thereafter.
Main Stage
Radio 1/NME Stage
Festival Republic Stage
The Dance Arena
Radio 1 Lock-Up Stage
Alternative Stage
Notes
- The festival ran from Friday 22 - Sunday 24 August 2008. Weekend tickets cost £155. Day tickets cost £65.
- Set Your Goals pulled out of the festival. Alkaline Trio pulled mainland festival appearances but still appeared at Reading/Leeds.
- The Pigeon Detectives appeared on the Dance To The Radio Stage (an alias for the BBC Introducing Stage in reference to their label) on Thursday 21st at the Leeds Site.
- Slipknot pulled out of the festival after drummer Joey Jordison broke his ankle. Feeder were their replacement as far as the slot was concerned, as almost every act below them were moved up a slot, with Bring Me the Horizon being booked instead, although not taking their slot and being at the bottom of the schedule.
- Avenged Sevenfold performed a shortened set at Leeds and pulled out of the Reading leg due to illness. Due to the short notice, they were not replaced and the schedule was re-arranged. This meant Mindless Self Indulgence playing before Feeder, although this not an official 4th and are still retroactively listed as the second band to play.
2007
Main Stage
Radio 1 Stage
The Dance Arena
Radio 1 Lock-Up Stage
The Carling Stage
Notes
Kaiser Chiefs played a secret slot on the Carling Stage at the Leeds leg of the event under the pseudonym of 'Hooks for Hands'. Peeping Tom were due to perform on the dance stage, but pulled out. +44 also dropped out.
A weekend ticket cost £145 (plus a maximum of £7 booking fee).
2006
Main Stage
Radio 1 Stage
Dance Arena
Radio 1 Lock-Up Stage
Carling Stage
Nokia Tent
Notes
Shortly after the first line-up announcement, Feeder and Yeah Yeah Yeahs switched days, meaning that Yeah Yeah Yeahs would play Reading on Friday and Leeds on Saturday, and that Feeder would play Reading on Saturday and Leeds on Sunday. Audioslave pulled out of their slot due to the band being busy recording new material, The Shins pulled out for undisclosed reasons, and From First to Last pulled out due to the then lead singer (Sonny Moore) needing throat surgery, Paramore had to pull out because their singer (Hayley Williams) had throat problems and were replaced by Sonic Boom Six lower in the bill. Story of the Year and Bleeding Through also pulled out for undisclosed reasons. Flogging Molly played twice at both festivals, once in the punk tent and once on the main stage. Tickets were £135 for a weekend ticket and £60 for a day ticket.
2005
Main Stage
NME/Radio 1 Stage
Dance Arena
Radio 1 Lock-Up Stage
Carling stage
Notes
2005 saw My Chemical Romance play both Reading and Leeds on the same day, in an alteration from the original schedule, due to the MTV Video Music Awards. The Transplants were originally booked to play the festivals but pulled out in mid-August due to illness. Jimmy Eat World also pulled out due to other commitments. Other drop outs include Willy Mason, Simple Plan and Fall Out Boy (also due to the VMAs). A weekend ticket cost £125, a day ticket £60.
2004
Main Stage
Radio 1 Stage
Dance Arena
Concrete Jungle Stage
Carling stage
Notes
On the Radio 1 Stage, the Super Furry Animals headlined on the Leeds Saturday, with Graham Coxon second. This order was reversed when the bands played the Reading Friday. New Found Glory pulled out a few weeks before the festival. A weekend ticket cost £105, a day ticket £45.
2003
Main Stage
Radio 1 Stage
Smirnoff Dance Arena
The Concrete Jungle Stage
Carling stage
Notes
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played as a replacement for The White Stripes, who pulled out after Jack White was in a car crash with his then-girlfriend, RenĂ©e Zellweger. Although they played second on the Main Stage, it was billed as with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, reflecting their smaller status. Jay-Z also pulled out, with The Darkness moving further up the bill to replace him. The Libertines were without Pete Doherty, who was at that time estranged from the band; he also missed their 2004 appearance. Other drop outs included Courtney Love, Lostprophets and Godsmack. A weekend ticket cost £95, a day ticket £40.
2002
Main Stage
Radio 1 Evening Session Stage
Third Stage
Carling stage
Notes
Guns N' Roses played only in Leeds as they had a prior touring commitment in London on the day of the Reading event. In Reading they were replaced by Raging Speedhorn who appeared much lower on the bill. A weekend ticket cost £90, a day ticket was £39. Reel Big Fish pulled out of Leeds for undisclosed reasons. Antipop Consortium cancelled their Dance Stage appearance after they disbanded earlier that month. Feeder were invited by Melvin Benn to headline the main stage on the first day at Reading and the second day at Leeds. They later turned this down, as they did not want to play such a high-profile slot so soon after the death of their drummer Jon Lee in January of that year. As a result, Feeder would instead headline the Radio 1 Evening Session Stage.
2001
Main Stage
Radio 1 Evening Session Stage
The End Dance Stage
The Concrete Jungle Stage
Carling stage
Notes
This was the year that the Concrete Jungle Stage made its debut. Weekend tickets cost £80, day tickets £35. The Strokes were moved from the Radio One stage to the Main Stage.
2000
Main Stage
Radio 1 Evening Session Stage
Dance Stage
Carling Premier Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £80, day tickets £35.
Rage Against the Machine played their last UK gig at Reading before their break-up. They played their last gig three weeks later.
Originally booked play on the mainstage Eminem had to pull out a few weeks prior due to legal reasons in America.
Elastica pulled out of their Leeds appearance.
1999
Main Stage
Radio 1 Evening Session Stage
Carling Premier Stage
Liberty 37 (unknown position)
Also Included: Big Leaves, Black Box Recorder, Cha Cha Cohen, Chicks, Cube, Cyclefly, Dark Star, Dawn Of The Replicants, Experimental Pop Band, The Jellys, Jims Super Stereo World, Liberty 37, Linoleum, Llama Farmers, Medal, Mercedes, The Motorhomes, Muse, Peeps Into Fairyland, Quasi, Rico, The Rocking Horses, Rosita, Seafood, Silt, Sonia Fariq, Stroke, Venni, The Webb Brothers, Witness
Dance Stage
Vans Warped Tour Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £80, day tickets £30.
Orgy were originally due to open the Main Stage Reading Sunday/Leeds Monday, but pulled out days before the event. Lit filled in their spot.
1998
Main Stage
Melody Maker Stage
Dr. Martens Stage
Carlsberg Export Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £75, day tickets £30. Curve were originally due to play the Melody Maker stage on the Sunday but were replaced by Theaudience at short notice.
1997
Main Stage
Dr. Martens Stage
Melody Maker Stage
Vans Warped Tour Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £70, day tickets £30.
1996
Main Stage
NME Stage
Dr. Martens Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £60
Despite being billed as headliners on the Friday night, Rage Against the Machine played their set before The Prodigy
1995
Main Stage
Melody Maker Stage
Carlsberg Stage
Comedy Stage
1994
Main Stage
Melody Maker Stage
Comedy Stage
Notes
Soundgarden were due to play but cancelled when Chris Cornell was diagnosed with polyps on his vocal cords.
1993
Main Stage
Melody Maker Stage
Comedy Stage
1992
Main Stage
Melody Maker Stage
Comedy Stage
1991
Main Stage
Mean Fiddler Stage
Comedy Stage
1990
Main Stage
Mean Fiddler Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £35.00.
1989
Main Stage
Mean Fiddler Stage
Notes
Weekend tickets cost £32.50.
1988
Main Stage
1987
Main Stage
1986
Main Stage
1985
No festival held this year
1984
The 1984 Festival was cancelled when the Conservative Party took control of Reading Borough Council. The announced line-up was due to be:
Main Stage
1983
Main Stage
1982
Main Stage
1981
Main Stage
Notes
Thompson Twins, Midnight Oil, Outlaws, The Marshall Tucker Band and Alex Harvey Band were originally scheduled to play but cancelled. Stan Webb's Chicken Shack pulled out due to illness and were replaced at short notice by Atomic Rooster.
1980
Main Stage
Notes
Angel City withdrew and were replaced by Grand Prix, Q-Tips also pulled out, being replaced by White Spirit. Gary Moore's G-Force were also originally scheduled to play but cancelled. Headboys (replaced by Quartz) and Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Ozz (replaced by Slade) were also cancellations, while The Pencils pulled out at the last minute when all of their equipment was stolen the night before.
1979
Main Stage
Notes
Thin Lizzy were originally scheduled to headline the Saturday but cancelled. After the Fire and The Ramones were also originally scheduled to play but cancelled.
1978
Main Stage
1977
Main Stage
Notes
Frankie Miller, Widowmaker, Racing Cars, Blue, Tiger, and Hand Reef all made appearances, but their place on the lineup is unclear.
1976
Main Stage
1975
Main Stage
1974
Main Stage
1973
Main Stage
1972
Main Stage
1971
Main Stage
Notes
In 1971 the Festival moved to its permanent home at Little John's Farm on the south bank of the River Thames in Reading, a venue it has remained at ever since (with the exception of two years in the 1980s when the Festival was banned by the Conservative Party controlled Reading Borough Council).
1970
Main Stage
Village Stage
Notes
The 1970 Festival was a four-day event for the only time in its history, with a South of England Local Talent session in the main arena on the Thursday evening. A 'Village' stage was added on Saturday and Sunday running from later afternoon to mid-evening.
1969
Main Stage
1968
Main Stage
1967
Main Stage
Marquee Stage
Notes
The Pink Floyd pulled out on Saturday evening due to singer/guitarist Syd Barrett's health problems and were replaced by The Nice. The Nice also acted as backing band for P P Arnold.
A second "Marquee" stage was added on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Four bands played sets each night, three of which also appeared on the main stage on the same day.
1966
Main Stage
Notes
The Festival moved to the larger Windsor Racecourse venue in 1966 after five years at Richmond Athletic Ground.
Cream were billed as 'Eric Clapton - Jack Bruce - Ginger Baker' as the band were still unnamed when promotional posters & advertising were printed.
1965
Main Stage
1964
Main Stage
Notes
The Festival expanded to three days with the addition of a rhythm & blues themed Friday evening session. The Sunday afternoon session featured the fourteen best jazz bands from a National Amateur Jazz Contest chosen from regional contests held nationwide.
1963
Main Stage
Notes
The third NJF Festival saw the first non-Jazz acts appear, notably the Rolling Stones and Long John Baldry on the Sunday afternoon.
The Sunday afternoon session featured the final heats of the National Amateur Jazz Contest featuring twelve jazz bands chosen from semi-finals held across Britain.
1962
Main Stage
1961
Main Stage
Notes
The above 1961 acts are listed in alphabetical order not running order.
1956-1961
The NJF's predecessor was the Beaulieu Jazz Festival held at Beaulieu in Hampshire. 1956 and 1957 were one-day events and 1958 to 1961 were two-day weekenders (the 1958 Beaulieu Jazz Festival is widely considered to be Britain's first proper multi-day pop festival). Acts appearing included the following (though this an incomplete list for 1956-60):
1961 - Saturday: Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra with Anita O'Day; Joe Harriott Quintet; Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra with Hans Koller; Tubby Hayes Quartet; The Downbeat Big Band; Chris Barber's Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson and Jimmy Cotton.
Sunday: Kenny Ball's Jazzmen; Terry Lightfoot and his New Orleans Jazzmen plus Jimmy Cotton; Mick Mulligan and his Band with George Melly; Bob Wallis and his Storyville Jazzmen; Bruce Turner's Band; Dick Charlesworth and his City Gents with Jackie Lynn; Fairweather-Brown Allstars; Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra with Anita O'Day; Allan Ganley-Keith Christie Jazzmakers; Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra with Hans Koller; The Vic Ash - Harry Klein Jazz Five; Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra.
1960 - Mr. Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band; Ian Menzies and The Clyde Valley Stompers; Memphis Slim; The Jazz Five, with Vic Ash; Harry Klein; Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra; Elaine Delmar; The Ronnie Scott Quintet, with Victor Feldman; The Dill Jones Trio; Little Brother Montgomery.
1959 - Ken Sykora, Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra, with Cleo Laine; Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band; The Avon Cities Jazz Band.
1958 - Alex Welsh and his Dixielanders
1957 -
1956 - Avon City Jazz Band
References
External links
- Reading & Leeds coverage at BBC Online
- Flickr Historical Line Up Posters
Source of article : Wikipedia