Reading and Leeds

Reading and Leeds Festival add more names to the lineup

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With even more artists yet to be announced across the NME/Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Dance, Lock Up/Rock, Festival Republic, BBC Radio 1Xtra Alternative and BBC Introducing Stages, the line-up just keeps getting bigger and better for 2013!

NEW NAMES ADDED TO THE MAIN STAGE

Already announced on the Main Stage are UK festival exclusive headliners Green Day, Eminem, and Biffy Clyro, plus UK festival exclusive performances from Fall Out Boy, System Of A Down andDeftones. Nine Inch Nails will return to Reading & Leeds for the first time since 2007 to perform a 2013 UK exclusive show.

Also playing the Main Stage are legends of UK drum and bass, Chase and Status, bringing a world-class live show to Reading & Leeds and Frank Turner, who returns to play the Festivals which “hold a special place in his heart” for the seventh consecutive year; his set will be a triumphant showstopper.

Frank Turner

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The Main Stage will welcome the unique musical stylings of quintessentially British band Skindred, whose blend of heavy metal, dub, reggae and drum ‘n’ bass, or ‘ragga metal’, has landed them legions of fans and numerous awards.

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British punkrock band Lower Than Atlantis will be returning to the Festivals on the Main Stage after an incredible set on the Festival Republic Stage last year. Expect to hear the crowd singing along to hits from their entire catalogue, including current album ‘Changing Tune’.

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Joining the line-up are New York punk band We Are The In Crowd, currently touring the UK and Europe with their latest album ‘Best Intentions’, as well as Southampton based five-piece Bury Tomorrow who will be offering their unique blend of melodic metalcore and bringing songs from their anticipated second album ‘The Union of Crowns’.

NME/RADIO 1 STAGE LINE-UP EXPANDS

The NME/Radio 1 Stage gets even hotter with new names joining headliners Skrillex, Alt-J and Phoenix, plus others already announced including Jake Bugg, Imagine Dragons, Major Lazer,A$AP Rocky and Haim.

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Joining the line-up will be Scottish five-piece Frightened Rabbit, armed with songs from their critically acclaimed Top 10 album ‘Pedestrian Verse’, the band’s arena-rock arrangements promise a thrilling live show. Hedonistic punks FIDLAR, whose melodic twists and turns have earned them plaudits from critics on both sides of the Atlantic also take to the stage.

Tipped by the likes of Radio 1 and MTV, Dublin-based Kodaline will be making their Reading & Leeds debut. The alternative rock quartet will be playing the best from their new album ‘In A Perfect World’ and more.

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North London band Tribes are revered as breathing life back into guitar music. The band’s second album ‘Wish To Scream’ is out in May, preceded by the single ‘Dancehall’ on 20th May, which follows the instant anthem of first single ‘How The Other Half Live’. Released just 11 months after their well-received debut album ‘Baby’, the Festival crowds will see them flying the flag for British Indie.

Hotly tipped as ones to watch on the 'BBC Sound of 2013’ list, experimental electronic duo AlunaGeorge will be proving exactly why they’ve been enjoying chart success this year, with their unique brand of sensual vocals and pop sensibilities.

alunageorge

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE ADDS A WHOLE HOST OF ARTISTS

Headliners Sub Focus Live, Magnetic Man and Knife Party, plusBaauer and Iggy Azalea, will be joined by a raft of amazing artists on the newly expanded three day BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage.

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British electro-pop comes courtesy of Fenech-Soler, signed to Warner Records and championed by Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Greg James, the four-piece have received attention from a legion of music bloggers. They will be joined on the line-up by Radio 1 DJ and drum‘n’bass multi-award winner Friction, for the heaviest bass on the Dance Stage. Also confirmed are London based collective Clean Bandit who work with a variety of vocalists to create their eccentric brand of electronica.

London electronic outfit Is Tropical rose to success after the release of their ‘Native To’ album, which also won ‘Best Animation Video’ and ‘Best Indie Rock Video’ at the UK Music Video Awards. Also joining will be Lancaster duo Bondax with their blend of garage-inspired electronica championed by the likes of Annie Mac and gaining increasing popularity in the blogosphere and LA polymath Robert DeLong, whose unique mash-up of indie and electronica has earned him nominations as a 2013 ‘Artist to Watch’ for MTV US, Billboard and Vibe Magazine.

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Trendsetting DJ, Fool's Gold label head and turntablist A-Trak graces the Dance Stage with a wealth of critical acclaim behind him. Performing at the Grammy’s, sharing a Billboard cover with Diplo and Skrillex and winning a ‘DMC World DJ Championship’ when he was just 15, his performance is sure to be an unforgettable one. Also added is one of the hottest commodities in dance music right now, dubstep heavyweight, Flux Pavillion.

A Trak

Bristol DJ Redlight has been a staple in club culture for many years, mixing and taking on bass music from dubstep to drum ‘n’ bass and even grime, and it is with pleasure that he joins the Dance Stage this year. Searching out talent from across the hemisphere, Sydney-based duo Jagwar Ma will be acclimatising to the British festival season and warming up the crowds in the Dance Stage. Fresh from supporting The xx, and headlining the NME Awards show, they are gearing up to bring their brand of psychedelic electronica and sunshine bass lines to festival goers. 

Also confirmed is rockabilly inspired Willy Moon, hailing from New Zealand, now based in London, Moon promises a mix of hip-hop and 50’s inspired dance music, plus there will be fantasy-laden electro from the former Mellowdrone frontman Big Black Delta and mysterious soulful R ‘n’ B from Night Works.

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Confirmed for this day is LA Moombahton Dillon Francis fusing the genres of reggaeton, moombahton and house music for a truly thrilling bass explosion, fresh from collaborating with Major Lazer, a slew of sell out shows and riotous praise, he will be offering up the best of his distinctive basslines and wobbles. 90’s garage and pop inspired electronica comes courtesy of futuristic pop princess Charli XCX.

Joining them will be drum‘n’bass titans Fred V & Grafix as they gear up for a set that promises bone thudding bass and the best in contemporary and classic drum ‘n’ bass, plus high-octane dance music from Jacob Plant ft. Majestic.

THE LINE-UP FOR THE LOCK UP STAGE GROWS

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The Lock Up Stage this year welcomes Alkaline Trio as headliners for this day. The renowned Illinois punk band will be playing the best of their music, from the punk beginnings of their first albums to the more pop-punk offerings seen on their most recent album ‘My Shame Is True’. Promising to excite their legions of fans, expect an electrifying atmosphere and more than a little bit of moshing.

Joining the Stage will be Australian punk rock/psychobilly band The Living End and Californian metaphoric rock group RX Bandits. For a ferocious dose of post hardcore stylings, catch legendary special guests, New York four-piece Quicksand, one of the most influential bands of their genre in the early to mid-90’s.

Also on the bill are Exeter based rock n rollers The Computers who are about to embark on their highly anticipated UK tour, warming up for our festival crowd!

New York punk rockers Cerebral Ballzy return to Reading & Leeds Festivals after an amazing set on the Festival Republic Stage in 2011; the 80’s punk-inspired skater boys are sure to deliver a memorable live show for the Lock Up crowds.

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Joining Tomahawk on this day will be legendary New York hardcore band Sick Of It All with a punk offering, and for a heavy dose of volume, Reading & Leeds favourites, LA hardcore punk band The Bronx will be on hand. Legendary British ska/punk band King Prawn are back after a 10 year hiatus. The band will bring their unique blend of reggae and hardcore to the Festivals for an unforgettable show.

FIRST NAMES FOR THE NEW ROCK STAGE ANNOUNCED

With the expanded Dance line-up covering three whole days, Reading & Leeds are adding a Rock Stage day to each site, with the first names just announced.

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Enter Shikari unveil..Shikari Sound System. At this year's Reading & Leeds Festivals, Shikari Sound System will make its world debut headlining the Rock Stage.

Shikari Sound System is the electronic alter-ego of the British band Enter Shikari, famous for blurring the lines between musical genres across three (thus far) UK chart Top 5 albums since they hit the wider public consciousness in 2006. Having DJ’d and produced in various side projects over the years they finally decided to fully elope with live dance music, and so was born the Shikari Sound System.

For further explanation, let's hear it from the horse's mouth: "Expect re-worked Enter Shikari tracks along with classic remixes and new surprises. Expect eerie live electronics and tent-peg-dislodging baselines. Expect a tour through many dance tempos and electronic genres that have been a constant inspiration to our band's sound. Combining both live instruments and percussion with dub-plate wizardry, this is one for the skankers, the steppers, the movers and the shakers."

Enter Shikari have a deep history with the Reading & Leeds Festivals – attending as teenagers, and having played the festival five times in the past seven years – and so embraced the opportunity to return once again, albeit in 'disguise'. The band's latest single, a 1min16sec blast of a track, has this week been added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist.

Described as "one of the best British bands of the last decade" by Zane Lowe, Welsh hardcore band Funeral For A Friend will also be playing the Rock Stage this year. The award-winning band are veterans of rock performances, playing alongside Guns N’ Roses, supporting Linkin Park and countless others for over a decade. Hardcore Punk band Gallows return to Reading & Leeds for their seventh consecutive year, bringing their electric live show and guaranteed carnage to the Rock Stage, plus Northern Irish band And So I Watch You From Afar will be playing following on from their recently sold out UK shows and release of their critically acclaimed album.

Japanese metalcore band Crossfaith will be bringing their blend of industrial metal and electronica from Osaka to Reading & Leeds’ very own Rock Stage, as well as alternative rockers Arcane Roots, the three-piece from Surrey are influenced by progressive, experimental and pop-tinged rock which can be heard in their music. For a dose of hard rock, don’t miss British four-piece Heaven’s Basement who have gone from strength to strength since they formed over four years ago and have played alongside the likes of Papa Roach and Black Stone Cherry.

FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE WELCOMES NEW ADDITIONS

The Festival Republic Stage showcases the hottest upcoming bands as well as established names, with the first bands for 2013 already confirmed including The Strypes, The 1975, Temples and Swim Deep, Reading & Leeds can now announce many more artists.

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Crystal Fighters take to the headline position with their distinctive mix of acoustic guitar and percussive electronica, as the celebrated British/Spanish dance outfit gear up to release their new album ‘Cave Rave’, with current single ‘You & I’ featured as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record this week.  

Glasgow's Chvrches come fresh from a stellar run at SXSW that saw them collect the festival's inauguaral Grulke Prize for ‘Best International Newcomers’. The prize is just the latest in an ever-increasing list of plaudits for a band championed by Pitchfork and NME, and who came fifth in the BBC ‘Sound of 2013’. Their accessible yet ambitious synth angles, pitched somewhere between Robyn and The Knife, mean Chvrches are equally at home atop the Hypemachine blog chart as supporting Depeche Mode in European arenas.

US alternative rock outfit Surfer Blood join the line-up, the band have been gaining momentum since their appearance on ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’ back in January. Kate Nash is back, after a hiatus, with her new punk direction. Her musical stylings have taken a shift in direction this year with the release of her feminist punk-influenced album ‘Girl Talk’ and recent sold out tour. Also confirmed is soulful Scandinavian electronica courtesy of Karen Marie Ørsted, or MØ. Her sultry vocals have been likened to Grimes and Lou Rhodes and have made her a critics’ favourite.

New York duo MS MR are set to capitalize on their ‘No. 1 on Hype Machine’ status and are tipped to be the first superstars of Chill Wave.  This boy/girl duo's singles caused a huge buzz on all the coolest music blogs last year and their debut album ‘Secondhand Rapture’ is set for release in May.

For a dose of Canadian indie, Half Moon Run will be performing for the first time at the festival, after a period opening for Mumford and Sons, the band has been slowly creeping on the radar of Indie fans. The stage also sees talent from Mancunian newcomer Findlay, whose stylish mix of glam-blues vocals and pop production have put her firmly on the critics’ radar this year and Oxford four-piece MMX, who have been hotly tipped after their debut release ‘Cold World’ last year, will be first on.

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Headlining the Festival Republic stage this year is one of Britain's most enigmatic bands, British Sea Power.  It's been 10 years since their debut album; expect to hear old favourites as well as tracks from recently released masterpiece ‘Machineries of Joy’.  Their sweeping, epic, angular guitar pop has established British Sea Power as a classic alternative act and this headline set will be a euphoric affair.

Post-folk funk groover Lucy Rose made her name as a vocalist in Bombay Bicycle Club before branching out on her own. The singer-songwriter from Warwickshire will be returning to the Festivals after a show-stopping full band set last year and now in receipt of a critically acclaimed debut album ‘Like I Used To’, Lucy will bring her haunting vocal talents to the Festival Republic Stage.

Lucy Rose

Reading & Leeds are thrilled to announce Tim Burgess, it’s been 10 years since the lead singer of The Charlatans released a solo album, and his blend of Northern soul and Americana will be one of many highlights across the weekend. The Charlatans previously headlined Reading & Leeds in 1999, the first year that Leeds Festival ever took place.

Tampa, Florida trio Merchandise have transcended the punk and hardcore scene and now carry a more thrilling post-punk menace taking their cue from early 90's alternative acts such as Dinosaur JR and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Fuzzy four-piece London based psychedelic band Splashh have been steadily building momentum since last year with rave reviews from The Guardian, NME and a slew of underground blogs. Also on the line-up is punky blues-rock from Drenge, a duo from the Peak District who serve up catchy percussive guitar songs, NY punk garage rockers SKATERS with their unique pop-punk offerings and Belgian pop/rock band Balthazar who have received international acclaim after winning ‘Best Album’ at the Music Industry awards last year with ‘Rats’.

Also added are British folk/rock band To Kill A King who will be playing their unique brand of folk melodies and melancholic indie.

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Headlining the Festival Republic Stage this day are five-piece Indie rockers Spector who have enjoyed rave reviews from the likes of NME, The Guardian and Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, and have gone on to achieve mammoth musical success since their performance at the Reading & Leeds BBC Introducing Stage back in 2011. They return to top the Festival Republic Stage bill with their synth laden guitar riffs and contagious tracks including ‘Chevy Thunder’ for fans to sing-along to.

Ferocious English/American rock band Pure Love, featuring former Gallows frontman Frank Carter and ex-The Hope Conspiracy guitarist Jim Carroll, will perform and expect guitar shredding from UK garage rock The Jim Jones Revue, as they play their distorted blend of bluesy rock. Responsible for one of the year’s most talked-about guitar albums, Parquet Courts will be joining the Festival Republic Stage. The New York punk rockers are hailed for their witty brand of super sharp lyrics and fresh indie sonics and will be bringing the energy to Reading & Leeds this summer.

Excitingly, punk rock garage outfit California X will be making their debut UK performance at the Festivals, English synth-pop outfit Chapel Club return with their distinctive moody indie electronica and US indie electronica duo twenty one pilots join the growing bill. The Family Rain's full on live shows are high octane affairs and these three siblings’ unique brand of hip-hop inspired, dirty blues infused rock 'n' roll has marked them out a band to watch in 2013.

 

Green Day set to headline Reading and Leeds Festival

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System Of A Down and Deftones return to Reading & Leeds with UK festival exclusive performances, playing Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds. Nine Inch Nails are back for the first time since 2007 to perform a 2013 UK exclusive show on the Main Stage and Fall Out Boy return to the Festivals with a UK festival exclusive appearance, both bands playing Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds.

Over on the NME/Radio 1 Stage will be a UK festival exclusive set, ‘Mercury Music Prize’ winners Alt-J and French outfit Phoenix, all taking to the top of the line-up for the stage and playing to thousands of revellers across the weekend.

On the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage, newly expanded from one day to three days for 2013, English electronic music producer Sub Focus Live, Magnetic Man and electronic dance music heavyweights Knife Party will all headline.

The BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage, one of the most exciting additions that Reading & Leeds have witnessed for a long time, will play host one to of the pioneers of grime Wiley and UK rapper Devlin as the first confirmed headliners for 2013.

These names are just the beginning, there are many more yet to be announced across these stages, plus the line-ups for the Festival Republic Stage, Lock Up Stage, BBC Introducing Stage and the Alternative Stage.

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MAIN STAGE

Green Day complete the Main Stage headliners at Reading & Leeds Festivals 2013, all of which are UK festival exclusive appearances. After a surprise Reading performance at 11am in 2012, which saw thousands of revellers heading to the NME/Radio 1 Stage and thousands more watching on screens in the arena, the band returns to play a full headline set at both sites.

Green Day

Green Day are integral to the identity of Reading & Leeds Festivals, with their performances among the greatest in the Festivals' history. With each new record and incarnation, they bring riot and rebellion to a new audience. In 2004, their triumphant headline set featured covers of 'Blitzkreig Bop', 'Ever Fallen In Love?', and fittingly, 'We Are The Champions' and in past performances some lucky fans have even had the chance to get up on stage with the band! Their headline sets at the Festivals this year are sure to deliver even more unforgettable Reading & Leeds moments, don’t miss out!

Following a year that saw him play at the Olympics opening ceremony and sell-out Wembley Arena, Frank Turner returns to Reading & Leeds for the seventh consecutive year. The Festivals “hold a special place in his heart” and his set will be a triumphant showstopper as he plays tracks from his forthcoming album ‘Tape Deck Heart’ as well as playing his big hits.

Already announced for the Main Stage for this day are: System Of A Down and Deftones, both UK festival exclusives, plus Bring Me The Horizon, with more names still to come!

NME/RADIO 1 STAGE

Taking to the NME/RADIO 1 STAGE stage will be the most talked about rapper in the world today, A$AP Rocky, playing the festival for the first time, plus Diplo's dancehall supergroup Major Lazer bringing the carnival spirit to Reading & Leeds.

South London indie quartet Bastille join the NME/Radio 1 Stage with an armful of songs from their debut album ‘Bad Blood’, currently Number One in the album chart, including their recent Number Two single ‘Pompeii’. They'll be joined by Birmingham's 'BBC Sounds of 2013 nominees, Peace, whose hotly anticipated debut album 'In Love' looks set to soundtrack the summer. Their Stones Roses-inspired rock garnered them a ‘Best New Band’ nomination at the NME Awards and won them a big slot on the NME Awards tour. Another name just announced is explosive LA rock duo Deap Vally, who have toured with Muse and The Vaccines, enjoyed Radio 1 playlist support and were tipped by NME as one of the bands of 2013, they join what's set to be the best year for the Festivals yet.

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE

This year the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage will be taking place over three days for the first time, already announced as the first headliner for this stage is Sub Focus Live.

BBC RADIO 1XTRA STAGE

The all new BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage is set to bring the best of hip-hop and grime from the UK and farther afield. Headlining the stage on this day will be one of the pioneers of grime, Wiley; with many more names to come.

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MAIN STAGE

Iconic rapper Eminem headlines the Main Stage in a UK festival exclusive appearance. Added to the line-up this day will be legends of UK drum and bass, Chase and Status, bringing a world-class live show to the Festivals. Chase and Status are credited with taking drum and bass from the club scene to the mainstream, with chart conquering songs like 'End Credits' and 'Let You Go'. Currently working on a new album, their jaw-dropping live show is sure to get the crowds moving ahead of Eminem.

Eminem

Joining Foals, winners of ‘Best Track’ at the NME Awards for ‘Inhaler’, on the expanding bill is White Lies. The British indie trio, whose dark demeanor has seen them win accolades from around the world, make their Main Stage debut in a UK festival exclusive performance at Reading & Leeds. The band are currently in the studio, but by the time the Festivals come around they'll have a new record, the follow up to 2011's astounding ‘Ritual’. Godfathers of emo, Brand New return to the Festivals for the first time since 2009 with a UK festival exclusiveperformance. With a new album in the works, they're bound to premiere new songs as well as their anthem, 'Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades'.

NME/RADIO 1 STAGE

With Alt-J already announced as an NME/Radio 1 Stage headliner and Jake Bugg performing on the stage for the first time, other bands can now be announced. Tame Impala will make to their first visit to the Festivals since winning ‘Album Of The Year’ plaudits for ‘Lonerism’ from both Rolling Stone and NME and Imagine Dragons, the Las Vegas rock band who are so popular in the US they haven't stopped touring for over a year, join the bill.

Also just confirmed is Johnny Marr who formed the Smiths formed The Smiths in 1982 when he was just 18, going on to become one of the most important bands in the history of music, with Johnny Marrone of the greatest guitarists the UK has ever seen. Post The Smiths Marr has spent his time playing guitar in a succession of great acts including The Cribs who he performed with at Reading & Leeds before. His debut solo album ‘The Messenger’ has just been released to much critical acclaim.

Also confirmed are ‘Best New Band’ NME Award winners Palma Violets who met and formed at Reading a few years ago and played the Festivals for the first time in 2012. This year marks a special return for the slapdash rockers who are currently riding high off their recent award success. One of the first artists to take dubstep into the live arena, Modestep's show combines live vocals, a full band and a ridiculous amount of bass. Prepare for an adrenaline fuelled party of epic proportions.

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE

Taking to the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage as headliners will beMagnetic Man. Made up of producers Skream, Benga and Artwork, they have been touring the world with extravagant live shows ever since their performance at Reading & Leeds in 2010. Skream has since said that those Reading & Leeds performances and the incredible crowd reaction were seminal for him in realising the potential for dubstep as a live genre. 

BBC RADIO 1XTRA STAGE

Joining Wiley as a fellow headliner on this new stage will be Devlin. Dagenham-based rapper Devlin returns to the Festivals with his sideways social commentary and formidable flow. Having just scored a Top 10 single with 'Rewind', he's leading the UK's next generation of rap stars.

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MAIN STAGE

Biffy ClyroBiffy Clyro make their ascent this year to Main Stage headliners in aUK festival exclusive performance and deservedly so after being crowned ‘Best British Band’ at the recent NME Awards.

Described by Spin as "the most vital artist in music" Trent Reznor is undoubtedly a heroic figure for any Reading & Leeds attendee. For the past few years, he has been more at home in a Hollywood recording studio than on a festival stage, providing the scores for huge Hollywood movies like ‘The Social Network’ and ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’. Now, after a four year hiatus, he's returning to his first love:Nine Inch Nails. In a huge exclusive, they will play their only UK shows this year at the Reading & Leeds Festivals. The band have sold over 30 million records worldwide and are responsible for some of the most daring rock music ever recorded, be there to witness this legendary band.

Fall Out Boy will also appear, making a welcome return to the Main Stage this day, with another UK festival exclusive for Reading & Leeds!

Joining them on the stage will be one of the biggest success stories of the past year The Lumineers, an alternative Americana band from Denver, Colorado who have surpassed all expectation to become a global success with their eponymous debut album going Top 10 in the US, UK and Australia. Editors also join the line-up, bringing their cinematic rock to the Main Stage for a second time.These bands are just the start, with more names for the Main Stage yet to be announced!

NME/RADIO 1 STAGE

The final NME/Radio 1 Stage headliner is Phoenix,returning to the Festivals for the first time since 2010 to toast ‘Bankrupt!’, their new album set for release in April this year. In the time since the French outfit last graced the Reading & Leeds stage, they’ve notched up a Grammy and over one million sales of their critically lauded 2009 album ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’. This year look ready to set fire to the worldwide festival circuit, including stepping in to the headline role on this stage for the first time.

Other exciting names added to the NME/Radio 1 Stage are Harlem rapper Azealia Banks, who returns to the festival after playing to a packed out Dance Stage in 2012, to play songs from her long awaited album ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’. Production duo Disclosure, currently riding high in the Top 10 with single ‘White Noise’ and working on their house and UK garage-influenced debut album, will also have the crowds in the NME/Radio 1 Stage singing along this summer.

City and Colour, the moniker of singer-songwriter Dallas Green, is gearing up to release his fourth studio album this summer. With three JUNO Awards under his belt (the Canadian equivalent of the BRITs), City and Colour returns to the UK, following a sold out Royal Albert Hall performance and two sold out Roundhouse dates, to play Reading & Leeds for the first time in a UK festival exclusive appearance. LA sisters Haim have had a fantastic year, winning the BBC ‘Sound of 2013’ poll and touring with Florence + the Machine. Currently finishing off their debut album, they bring their astonishing guitar playing and filthy on stage banter to the Festivals for the first time. Major Lazercollaborator Alex Clare also joins the bill, since releasing his debut album in 2011 the British singer-songwriter has had a Top Five single with ‘Too Close’, as well as a BRIT Award nomination for ‘Best British Single’ with the same track.

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE

Electronic dance music heavyweights Knife Party, the Australian duo who have taken the world by storm, will headline the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage. With two huge EP's under their belt, along with some incredible collaborations and remixes, this is the first time the Knife Party madness will be unleashed on Reading & Leeds Festivals, be sure not to miss out!

ALSO PLAYING AT READING & LEEDS 2013

Last year, Baauer was an underground DJ creating a few waves on Diplo's Mad Decent label. Now he's a global phenomenon, with everyone from the cast of Eastenders to The Simpsons doing the Harlem Shake.

The Blackout have become one of the biggest rock bands in the UK, from supporting the likes of My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park to co-headlining the Kerrang! Tour. Off the back of releasing their fourth album ‘Start The Party’ this year, they play the Festivals for the fifth time.

Hadouken!, once a nu-rave rap crew, have been re-born as a fully-fledged EDM monster. Louder, brasher, but just as much fun they guarantee to bring the party to Reading & Leeds this summer, after an amazing set to a packed crowd on the NME/Radio 1 Stage in 2012.

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has already toured with Rita Ora and released some astonishingly good mixtapes. Her debut album, ‘The New Classic’, is released this year and she'll be bringing some hip-hop swag to Reading & Leeds.

Named after Juliette Lewis' character in ‘Natural Born Killers’, Cambridge five-piece Mallory Knox’s debut album ‘Signals’ has already gone Top 40 this year.

Reading & Leeds veterans, New Found Glory return to do what they do best, making everyone go wild, they bring a special show to Reading & Leeds playing out their well-loved album ‘Sticks and Stones’ in full.

The Strypes come to Reading & Leeds with their quintessentially retro classic rock, despite the fact the band’s eldest member is only 16, and they already count Noel Gallagher among their fans.

B-Town scene leaders Swim Deep will bring their laid back doss-pop to the Festivals.

Temples, the psychedelic four-piece inspired by the Byrds and Tame Impala, come to Reading & Leeds for the first time in 2013.

In less than a year, Manchester band, The 1975, have gone from back room boozer to Shepherds Bush Empire, smashing the airwaves and stealing the hearts, eyes and ears of thousands of new fans every week. Hardworking boys destined for big things.

Hailing from London, Theme Park recently released their self-titled debut album, full of catchy songs. Having featured as NME Radar’s ‘Band of The Week’ and The Guardian’s ‘New Band of The Day’, they are set for great things.

Tomahawk, weirdo-rock supergroup featuring members of Faith No More, the Jesus Lizard, Battles and Mr Bungle will play the Festivals for the first time.

Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic are bound to make the crowds dizzy with brash and ballsy hits like ‘Free’ and ‘Make a Beast Of Myself’ when they take to the stage this summer.

Also playing at the Festivals will be Sheffield rockers While She Sleeps, named Kerrang!'s ‘Best British Newcomers’, who will get the crowds going with songs from their album ‘This is the Six’.

A-Z OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED SO FAR FOR READING & LEEDS FESTIVALS 2013

Biffo Clyro announced as 2nd headliner for Reading & Leeds Festival + more!

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Expect to hear hits from the band’s extensive catalogue as well as tracks from their current Number One double album ‘Opposites’. With a recent NME Award nomination for ‘Best British Band’ and ‘Best Live Band’, 2013 is set to be an incredible year for Biffy Clyro. Reading & Leeds Festivals, the biggest rock festivals in the UK, are the perfect place to witness the band in action.

Biffy Clyro
One of the most successful alt-rock bands of all time, System Of A Down make a welcome return to Reading & Leeds. The band have only played a handful of gigs since they reformed in 2010, but they are back in the UK to play the Main Stage at the 2013 Festivals, which is sure to be a highlight of the weekend.  
 
Reading & Leeds are excited to announce that recently reformed festival favourites Fall Out Boy will take to the Main Stage in a UK festival exclusive performance.  Their live shows are always anarchic and tend to include a few irreverent turns. Their performance at the Festivals this summer will feature songs from across the band’s entire career and will be unmissable.
 
Foals have played Reading & Leeds Festivals three times before, working their way up from the smallest tent, to this year taking their rightful place on the Main Stage. Recently nominated for ‘Best Track’ (‘Inhaler’) and ‘Best Live Band’ at the NME Awards, their Reading & Leeds performance will be one to watch.
 
Since 2012 Jake Bugg has scored a Number One album with his self-titled debut, received nominations for ‘Best Album’ and ‘Best Solo Artist’ at the forthcoming NME Awards and is shortlisted for ‘British Breakthrough Act’ at the BRITs. Catch him on the NME/Radio 1 Stage at Reading & Leeds this year.
 
British metalcore dons Bring Me The Horizon have been destroying huge crowds for almost a decade. The band’s shows on the Main Stage at Reading & Leeds Festivals will crown a year in which they went stratospheric, as well as give fans a chance to hear new material from their highly anticipated forthcoming album ‘Sempiternal’.
 
Acts already announced for Reading & Leeds Festivals 2013
 
Acts already announced for the Festivals are Main Stage headliner Eminem in his only UK festival appearance of 2013, NME/Radio 1 Stage headliners Alt-J, Deftones, Boy Better Know ft. Wiley, JME and Skepta and Sub Focus live. Plus there are many more names yet to be announced!

Eminem set to headline Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2013!

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Since the release of 1999's "Slim Shady LP", Eminem has established himself as a hip-hop god and he is an icon of modern culture. Having sold over 100 million albums worldwide, there's no doubt that he will be one of the most popular headliners in the festivals' history.

Throughout his career, his live shows have been phenomenal. Playing with a mammoth live band, the Eminem show is simply unmissable. With no less than seven UK Number One singles under his belt, this performance is bound to be heavy on hits and one to remember

Eminem @ Reading & Leeds Festival 2013

Last week two brand new stages and the first names across the festival were announced, promising more music than ever before, with artists from the worlds of rock, indie, dance and grime added to the bill. The mightyDeftones will be playing on the Main Stage, Mercury Music Prize winnersAlt-J will headline on the NME/Radio 1 Stage, Sub Focus will headline one day on the all new BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage and Boy Better Know ft. Wiley, JME and Skepta will take to the top of the bill in the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage.

Reading & Leeds Festival 2013 artist + new stage announcements

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The festivals will remain the best choice for music lovers and in 2013 will boast more genres of music than ever before.

Festival boss Melvin Benn has been planning these exciting changes and additions to the festivals over the past year, refining and expanding their proposition for the fans:

"This is a dynamic time for the festivals, not only do we have a fresh look for next year, but we are also adding to the fans’ experience of the festival with the introduction of more stages, different genres of music, including the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage dedicated to hip-hop and grime, and an increase in the numbers of artists playing across the weekend. I’m really thrilled about the additions we have planned and I’m committed to ensuring Reading & Leeds remain the highlight of the festival season for many years to come."

"The addition of the hip-hop stage and the extension of the dance line-up to a three day stage, whilst not losing the essence of what Reading & Leeds Festivals are about across the existing Main, NME/Radio 1, Festival Republic and Lock Up Stages, are the things that really excite me. The Reading & Leeds festival goers listen to a diverse range of music and with the likes of BBC Radio 1 offering specialist shows focused on rock and dance and BBC Radio 1Xtra now a station in its own right, this broad spectrum of musical genres reflects what the fans are into and what Reading & Leeds represents."

"I’m really thrilled about the additions we have planned and I’m committed to ensuring Reading & Leeds remain the highlight of the festival season for many years to come."

Whet your appetite with the first acts announced across the Main, NME/Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Dance and all new BBC Radio 1Xtra stages, some exciting changes to the festival sites, plus ticket details and the limited period £50 deposit scheme.

THE FIRST NAMES ARE CONFIRMED ACROSS THE FESTIVALS!

The first announcement from the 2013 Main Stage line-up is iconic alternative rock band Deftones who will be celebrating their 25th birthday on the Reading & Leeds Main Stages. The band are legendary figures in west-coast rock ‘n’ roll and have sold over four million records worldwide. Today, they are cited as an inspiration by everyone from Muse to Biffy Clyro. The way their sound has evolved from 90’s metal to expansive noise rock has put them in a league of their own, but expect to hear plenty from their seven-album career including material from their critically acclaimed new record‘Koi No Yokan’.

Deftones commented:

"We are thrilled to be returning to Reading & Leeds. In previous years it’s always been a highlight for us and we are honoured to have been invited back."

Alt-J will take to the top of the bill in the NME/Radio 1 Stage. 2012 has seenAlt-J go from virtual unknowns to the hottest new band in Britain. The boys have become a global phenomenon, playing sold-out shows in the US, and charting in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Alt-J’s astonishing year was topped off when their debut album ‘An Awesome Wave’ won the coveted 2012 Mercury Prize and reached gold status. Now they’re back on home soil for two of the biggest gigs of their lives as they headline the NME/Radio 1 Stage at Reading & Leeds.

The gig is especially exciting for Alt-J lead singer Joe whose first festival was Leeds in 2002:

"It was great although I wasn’t prepared at all. Took some Pot Noodles and about a tenner and that was it. I was struggling. The festival was amazing, though: Incubus, Hundred Reasons, The Hives, Foo Fighters, the Prodigy. I was having the time of my life."

With the expansion of the Dance Stage into a standalone three day tent keeping festival fans on their feet, Reading & Leeds are excited to announceSub Focus as the first name for the all new BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage. Drum 'n' Bass returns to Reading & Leeds! More than a decade after Roni Size headlined the first ever dance stage, Sub Focus is bringing the beat back, playing one of the first headline sets on the brand new three day BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage, and what a show it will be! His ground breaking live show is a true spectacle, incorporating some of the most developed technology used today, including epic visuals displayed on a bespoke circular LED video installation and hypnotic lighting sequences. Sub Focusstarted out in the club scene, playing alongside Drum 'n' Bass legends likeAndy C , but in recent years he’s truly crossed over with his biggest hits to date, the stunning synth soundscape 'Out The Blue' and most recently the epic ‘Tidal Wave’ featuring vocals from Alpines. His eagerly anticipated sophomore album will be released Spring 2013. This headline performance will be one not to be missed!

Put simply, without Wiley, JME and Skepta, grime would not exist. For 15 years they have set the UK alight with their red hot tracks and genius flows – whether together as Boy Better Know or as solo MC’s. Now the three founding fathers of grime christen the new BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage with their first ever headline festival set. 2012 has been a stellar year for the trio withWiley scoring two UK Top Five singles, including his first Number One with the summer smash 'Heatwave', the more recent Number Three ‘Can You Hear Me (Ayayaya)’ which featured Skepta and JME releasing the club smash ‘96 F**kries’. Boy Better Know’s performance will give festival goers a taste of their infamously raucous Eskimo Dance raves and is guaranteed to be a highlight on this all new stage.

With the first wave of artists revealed across the festival, Reading & Leeds Festival 2013 are already shaping up to be one amazing weekend, with much more still to come across the Main, NME/Radio 1, Festival Republic, Alternative, Lock Up, BBC Radio 1 Dance, BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Introducing Stages.

The festivals have always been synonymous with incredible headliners, but they are also an important platform for emerging and future stars. Many festival fans will recall The Arctic Monkeys playing their first gigs to packed crowds on a small stage back in 2006, Bombay Bicycle Club’s midday crowd surfing in 2008 or The xx’s stunning first appearance to a few hundred fans in 2009.

Since their inception, the festivals have played host to a number of now legendary performances including Nirvana’s appearance in 1992 and Them Crooked Vultures’ surprise set in 2009. Even as far back as 1972 The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood played a show with The Faces at Reading, his first ever festival appearance of any note, proof, if needed, that the festivals really are the stuff of music legend.

A FESTIVAL FIRST: READING & LEEDS FESTIVALS INTRODUCE THE UK’S FIRST THREE DAY HIP-HOP AND GRIME ARENA WITH THE BBC RADIO 1XTRA STAGE

In a major UK festival first, Reading & Leeds will each have a dedicated BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage delivering the best of hip-hop and grime from the UK and farther afield, which will run across all three festival days and showcase the cream of urban artists and music on offer. This is one of the most important additions that Reading & Leeds have witnessed for a long time and Festival Republic are thrilled to announce Boy Better Know featuringWiley, Skepta and JME as the first names on this stage.

The festivals have always supported a wide range of upcoming and established urban music across rap, hip-hop and grime, having welcomed cutting-edge artists such as Azealia Banks, Odd Future and pioneers of grime Dizzee Rascal and Wiley over the past few years. During the last decade grime has crossed over from the backstreets of South and East London to huge stadium shows, with artists taking their music to a wider audience and playing to festival crowds at Reading & Leeds.

Melvin Benn explains the importance of this new stage:

"The addition of this stage is as exciting as anything we’ve ever done at Reading & Leeds. It is something that’s been developing in my head for some time and, after discussion, it has now become a reality as the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage. This stage will absolutely hit you straight between the eyes with the best of UK hip-hop and grime, with some US acts in the line-up too. I’m delighted to be working with BBC Radio 1Xtra on it and also with promoter We-Represent."

Jason Carter, Head Of Live Music & Events, Popular Music at the BBC states:

"Reading & Leeds Festival is an absolute must for BBC Radio 1 with its great music line-up and the thousands of young people who attend across both sites. We are delighted to be extending our partnership in 2013 with the exciting addition of the BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio 1 Dance Stages, which will make for an even stronger Bank Holiday weekend packed full of live music across Radio 1 & 1Xtra."

We-Represent’s founder James Ponnusamy is delighted to be collaborating with Melvin Benn on Reading & Leeds Festivals, adding:

"We are excited to be bringing a brand new edge to Reading & Leeds by showcasing the best of 2013’s hip-hop, grime and dance acts."

The announcement of this stage is an even greater chance to support the continuing boom in the UK grime scene, as well as offering fans a chance to see some of their favourite hip-hop acts taking the world by storm. Festivals are about once-in-a-lifetime moments and for many fans, this stage will provide the first opportunity to see live performances from artists they’ve been listening to for years, as well as showcasing upcoming talent.

THE DANCE STAGE GROWS INTO A THREE DAY EXTRAVAGANZA AND BECOMES THE BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE

2012 has been a huge year for dance music, with big-name DJs and underground producers dominating the musical landscape. To do justice to the amount of great dance acts commanding arenas with their unforgettable live performances, Festival Republic are excited to announce Sub Focus as the first headliner on the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage. In 2013 this stage will be expanding from a one day event to a dedicated stage across all three days of the festivals with two more headliners and a whole host of other artists yet to come.

The dance offering at Reading & Leeds has always been popular with fans taking time away from all the rock ‘n’ roll and indie and really letting go. Over the years Reading & Leeds’ Dance Stage has witnessed performances from the likes of Katy B, Deadmau5 and Chase & Status , who have all had the tent packed to the rafters. These acts and others, including Simian Mobile Disco and Magnetic Man, have all pulled in huge crowds at the festivals, showing how relevant the scene is to Reading & Leeds fans.

The festival goers’ thirst for high quality dance acts will be further quenched in 2013 with the expanded stage, meaning even more well-known artists and rising talent from the dance world will get to play under this canvas.

Jason Carter, Head of Live Music & Events, Popular Music at the BBC states:

"Reading & Leeds Festival is an absolute must for BBC Radio 1 with its great music line-up and the thousands of young people who attend across both sites. We are delighted to be extending our partnership in 2013 with the exciting addition of the BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio 1 Dance Stages, which will make for an even stronger Bank Holiday weekend packed full of live music across Radio 1 & 1Xtra."

Free drinks and breakfast at Reading & Leeds Festival 2012

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Vouchers for the food will be sent out with the tickets from today, Monday 6th August, which festival goers can present to vendors in designated locations in the campsite until midday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. One food voucher will be valid for each day, so nobody has an excuse for missing breakfast (the most important meal of the day!) and setting yourself up for a weekend of musical magic. Beer (proof of age will be required) or soft drinks can be collected once through wristband exchange.

Managing Director of Festival Republic, Melvin Benn explains:

“Beer and Burger (B&B) has become Beer and Breakfast Bap (B&BB). 

“Of course it was never intended to be only beer as soft drinks were always going to be on offer and that will remain.

“The mechanics are simple. For the food element every weekend ticket holder will receive their food vouchers at the same time as their ticket, with a per day voucher that can be redeemed at specially created ‘Food for Campers’ locations in the campsite, offering either a bacon, sausage or a scrambled egg and mushroom bap. The breakfast bap will be available between 7am and 12 noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday and only the voucher for that specific day can be redeemed. Although no sponsor has come forward to support this in any real way our pals at Heinz have been kind enough to donate enough sauce to make us all very happy!

“The beer is even easier! As you walk out of wristband exchange for the first time a team of festival volunteers will be waiting to give every weekend wristband holder a bag with three cans of beer or soft drinks, one for each of the music days. What's even better is that the bag is a recycling bag, which you can fill with empty cans to get even more free beer!

“It’s on us so I hope you enjoy it!”

Headliners The Cure, Kasabian and Foo Fighters take to the stage, alongside many more artists including: The Black Keys, Paramore, Florence + the Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, Bombay Bicycle Club,The Vaccines, Justice, The Maccabees, At The Drive-In, Less Than Jake, Metronomy, Sleigh Bells, The View, Social Distortion, Reginald D Hunter, Lee Nelson and Jason Byrne who are just some of the bands and acts performing at this year’s festival over seven stages.

 

Dance to the Radio Stage lineup for Leeds Festival

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Emergent in 2009, LITTLE COMETS have nurtured an upward trajectory with a debut album 'In Search Of…', an ever-growing rabid following that has seen the band sell out shows across the UK and on the eve of this year's festival are due to release their second album 'Life Is Elsewhere'.

VARIOUS CRUELTIES burst into life in 2010 with a couple of well received singles and plenty of hyperbole. The band is essentially the musical vehicle of the prodigiously talented Liam O'Donnell and earlier this year saw the release of their self-titled debut on the small but perfectly formed Hideout Recordings.

Bradford band SCARS ON 45 have found success in the US where one of their tracks was picked to be used on ‘CSI New York’.  They’ve recently performed on the ‘Jay Leno show’ and their debut eponymous album was picked as one of the top ten albums of 2012 by Amazon.  Welcome them back to Yorkshire at Leeds.

CHINA RATS are a rock ‘n’ roll band from Leeds who are inspired by a love of punk, 50’s pop and the best British guitar bands.  Having already got the attention of BBC DJ’s such as Huw Stephens and Tom Robinson, their pop-punk charm is sure to win you over.

LIKELY LADS are a four-piece rock band from York.  With over 400,000 YouTube views and counting on their demos, the band has taken great strides towards becoming the most promising outfit to emerge from the North of England in some time.

These new acts join Main Stage headliners Foo Fighters, The Cure, Kasabian plus The Black Keys, Paramore, Florence + the Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Vaccines, Justice, The Maccabees, At The Drive-In and many many more.

Reading & Leeds 2012 BBC Introducing Stage lineups

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Over the years the stage has seen debut performances from Pulled Apart By Horses (who will make their Main Stage debut this year), Two Door Cinema Club (NME/Radio 1 Stage second headliner 2012) and Don Broco, who move onto the Festival Republic Stage this year after their amazing performance in 2011 on the BBC Introducing Stage.

The bands that play are chosen through a combination of the BBC’s countrywide Introducing shows, Leeds promoters Futuresound, festival promoters Festival Republic and Martin House’s Centre Stage competition.

These new acts join Foo Fighters, The Cure, Kasabian, The Black Keys, Paramore, Florence + the Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Vaccines, Justice, The Maccabees, At The Drive-In and many more.

The Reading & Leeds Festival is held on 24th – 26th August 2012 at Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds. The full line-up and further information can be found at www.readingfestival.com / www.leedsfestival.com  

BBC Introducing Stage

Attention Thieves                                            attentionthieves.co.uk

Backyards                                                       facebook.com/backyardsmusic

Bearfoot Beware                                             facebook.com/bearfootbeware

Black Moth                                                      facebook.com/themothpit

Crooked Tongues                                           ctleeds.bandcamp.com

Cut Ribbons                                                    cutribbons.com

Danica Hunter                                                 danicahunter.com

Deaf Club                                                        deafclub.bandcamp.com

Dear Prudence                                               dearprudencemusic.com  

Dingus Khan                                                   facebook.com/dinguskhanband

Empror & Duppy Beatz                                  myspace.com/duppybeatz  

Escape To New York                                     escapetonewyork.co.uk

Escapists                                                         escapistsmusic.com

The Establishment                                          theestablishmentband.com

Family of the Year                                          familyoftheyear.net

Fish Tank                                                        fishtank.bandcamp.com

Glassbody                                                       facebook.com/glassbody

Hawk Eyes                                                     hawkeyesmusic.com

Hildamay                                                         facebook.com/hildamay        

Ifan Dafydd                                                     facebook.com/ifandafydd                             

Lady Lykez                                                     ladylykez.co.uk

Marmozets                                                      marmozets.co.uk

Marsicans                                                       facebook.com/marsicansuk

Max Raptor                                                     maxraptor.co.uk

Mikill Pane                                                      mikillpane.com

Park Bench Society                                        facebook.com/parkbenchsociety

Proxies                                                            proxiesmusic.com

Rachel Sermanni                                            rachelsermanni.net  

RIO                                                                 myspace.com/reostreetsmart

Samoans                                                         soundcloud.com/samoans

Sarah Williams White                                      sarahwilliamswhite.com

Seasfire                                                           seasfire.tumblr.com

Vengeance and the Panther Queen               vengeanceandthepantherqueen.com

Wet Nuns                                                        wetnuns.com

We Walk On Ice                                             facebook.com/wewalkonice

We Were Frontiers                                          facebook.com/wewerefrontiersofficial

Plus more still to be announced!

Winners of the Futuresound competition and opening the NME/Radio1 Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds will be Post War Glamour Girls postwarglamourgirls.com. 

Alternative Stage

Added to the comedy line-up is Adam Hills who has achieved international acclaim as one of the world’s best stand up comics.  Combining positive uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity has seen him receive a swag of awards, glowing reviews and a legion of fans around the planet.

Once again, Transgressive and friends take over the Alternative Stage two nights at Leeds Festival.  They will curate, DJ and host the stage’s late-night entertainment on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August.  Amongst the line-up this year are live performances from Disclosure, Summer Camp and Ghostpoet, plus sets from hotly tipped up-and-comers such as Theme Park, AlunaGeorge and Outfit. 

Outfit * Summer Camp * Disclosure * Theme Park * AlunaGeorge * Ghostpoet
Metronomy DJ set * Transgressive DJ’s * Gaggle DJ’s  (ALL LEEDS ONLY)

Reading & Leeds announce the best in Comedy & Entertainment for Alternative Stage

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THE ALTERNATIVE STAGE

American born but UK based stand-up REGINALD D HUNTER has seen his career trajectory soar since his arrival on the circuit back in the early noughties.  Subsequently picking up Edinburgh Festival nominations and garnering plaudits for his candid observational comic genius The Sunday Times hailed him as such, “his presence and intelligence make him one of the most brilliantly unpredictable comics in the country”.  Brought to a wider audience following regular appearances on the small screen whilst guesting on the likes of ‘Have I Got News For You’ , ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats’  and ‘Would I Lie To You?’, Hunter makes his headline debut this year, miss at your peril.

www.reginalddhunter.co.uk

(Reading Saturday 25 / Leeds Friday 24)

Delve into the world of LEE NELSON’s outrageous, hilarious mayhem which is witness to his anarchic brand of good natured ribbing, somewhat dubious life lessons and general mischief as he brings a show especially created for Reading & Leeds to the festival this summer. LEE NELSON’S WELL GOOD PARTY features THE PETEBOX which sees an entirely new approach to using beatbox skills to create music, the live show is akin to that of a full band with fully crafted songs as well as demonstrating his world class beatbox skills and featuring graffiti artists.

www.leenelson.com / www.thepetebox.com  

(Reading Saturday 25 / Leeds Friday 24)

JASON BYRNE’s inspired, original brand of high-energy intelligent lunacy ensures that there is no other comedian like him.  With accolades including the Chortle Award for ‘Best Headliner’ in 2007, Byrne has a growing international profile which has seen him perform in New York, Boston, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brussels, Milan, Paris and Australia. After recently finishing his sell out ‘Cirque Du Byrne’ tour, he now has plans to bring a brand new show to the UK for his second major nationwide tour in Autumn 2012. 

www.jasonbyrne.ie

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Saturday 25)

Stephen K AmosSTEPHEN K AMOS has charmed and entertained audiences all over the world with his natural, assured delivery.  His performances are filled with an almost child-like joy and exuberance and can find the funny in some of the most unexpected places.  Comfortable as a performer, presenter, actor and guest there is no doubt that Amos will retain his position as one of the nation’s favourite comedians for a long time to come.

www.stephenkamos.com

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Saturday 25)

Charming and charismatic, a natural motor-mouth, Brighton's SEANN WALSH is the most frighteningly precocious talent to emerge from the UK comedy circuit in ages. Within two years of his first comedy performance in 2007, Seann became the winner of the Leicester ‘Mercury Comedian of the Year’. Shortly after, other accolades included Chortle ‘Best Breakthrough Act Nominee 2010’ and Chortle ‘Best Compere Nominee 2011’.  As team captain on ‘Argumental’ and many other TV appearances, Seann is fast becoming one of the UK’s best new funnymen.

www.seannwalsh.com

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Friday 24)

AL MURRAY aka The Pub Landlord has become a national institution over the years, his hilarious character has continued to win over audiences with his original and downright funny shows.  His countless TV series’ and appearances have made him a household name, and no doubt the summer of the Jubilee and Olympics has given him plenty of new material for this proud Englishman.  A comedy superstar who will pack this stage out, get in early.

www.thepublandlord.com

(Leeds Sunday 26)

Having moved to the UK from his native Vancouver, GLENN WOOL rapidly became one of the rising stars of the comedy circuit in both London and internationally. With an armoury of jokes that are set up and knocked over with startling precision his material veers between sagely political and gleefully silly, a cleverly subversive comedian with a sharp intelligence that quietly hits the mark, effortlessly but effectively.

www.glennwool.com

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Friday 24)

As seen on ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’, ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’, ‘Argumental’ and ‘Russell Howard’s Good News’, CHRIS RAMSEY is enjoying a breakthrough year.  Nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award at last year’s festival and with a recently completed sell-out Spring tour he is now an established circuit act and manages to convey comic observation with passion and infectious, bubbly likeability that’s breathlessly entertaining and one that will appeal to many.

www.chrisramseycomedy.com

(Reading Friday 24 / Leeds Sunday 26)

Both a writer and stand-up HOLLY WALSH was Chortle’s ‘Best Newcomer of The Year’ in 2006 and has since appeared on numerous TV shows as well as writing for both TV and radio.  Last year saw her nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy ‘Best Newcomer Award’  in recognition of her first full show, whilst  a new  six-part sitcom ‘Life Story’ set in a prison and written along with Sharon Horgan – featuring Horgan and Jennifer Saunders, has recently been aired on BBC Three.

www.hollywalsh.co.uk

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Friday 24)

Canadian-born KATHERINE RYAN brings to the stage a range of topics that includes relationships, bringing up children and her own childhood experiences including beauty pageants. Truly an irreverent treat for all, she manages to retain your attention, ripping into exploitative TV and small-town expectations amongst others with a dark, savage wit whilst exuding a wholesome sweetness, making her edgy in-your-face material even more sobering.

www.katherineryan.co.uk

(Reading Sunday 26)

DOC BROWN emerged from a musical background as a battle rapper at the onset of the noughties and it was a chance opportunity that led to him launching the comedy arm of his multi-facetted career which has seen Brown take on various film and TV roles. A relative newcomer to the circuit he has performed both here in the UK at Edinburgh and further afield at the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Comedian, rapper and self-proclaimed bloody good entertainer, this summer marks his debut at the festival and it will be special show for the Reading and Leeds audience, featuring a full rap set.

www.docbrown.co.uk

(Reading Saturday 25 / Leeds Friday 24)

The mind reader who can’t read minds, CHRIS COX is an accomplished and much loved performer, using a mongrel hybrid mix of witty chit chat, magic, psychology, body language, influence, devilish good looks… and lies, to make you think he knows what you’re thinking, despite never knowing what you are thinking, or being able to really do anything he says.  This New Zealand talent has been described as one of the most entertaining performers in the UK.

www.magiccox.com

(Reading Saturday 25)

Emergent in 2005, having reached the finals of the prestigious ‘BBC New Talent’, JIMMY MCGHIE has become a highly regarded and much sought after stand-up.  Having served his time  performing on the comedy ladder in theatres, clubs and universities countrywide he has garnered high praise as an acclaimed young comedian and TV warm-up and has recently  been nominated for Chortle’s Compere Of the Year.

www.jimmymcghie.com

(Reading Saturday 25 / Leeds Sunday 26 )

Winner of the ‘Amused Moose Laugh-Off’, runner-up in ‘So You Think You’re Funny’, and member of sketch trio WitTank, behold, His Imperial Highness Prince Nazim Ziaeddin Nazim Osmanoglu.  Half English posh-boy, half Turkish warlord, NAZ OSMANOGLU  wields the only scimitar he’s got – a sharp sense of humour and a claim to the Turkish throne.  Beware: this man is sweaty, but very charismatic.

www.nazosmanoglu.com

(Leeds Saturday 25)

NATHAN CATON has been active on the UK comedy circuit since the tender age of 19. He excels in combining both personal, confessional material with up-to-date social and political anecdotes. This has won him numerous credits and plaudits over the years and has made him one of the hottest rising young stars on the circuit.  

www.nathancaton.com

(Reading Friday 24 / Leeds Sunday 26)

A little known fact about MARTIN BIGPIG is that he appears on the board of Trivial Pursuit (The Genius Edition) – on an arts/entertainment square where he can be seen wearing a leotard.  That is not something many people can say.  Nor can they have celebrated over 25 years as a professional performer, initially in the circus before moving into the comedy circuit.  Very much the comedian’s comedian, Martin has been the support act of choice for; Frankie Boyle, Jack Dee, Lee Evans, Jasper Carrot, Patrick Kielty, Johnny Vegas, Steve Coogan, and once Tina Turner.   Don’t miss this in demand popular funnyman.

www.myspace.com/martinbigpig

(Leeds)

The hilarious DAMO CLARK is Ireland’s favourite Australian. He moved over to Dublin in 2005 after collecting a set of awards at home and proceeded to win over fans in his new home and all over the UK.   The hugely influential Chortle website said "There is barely a bad word to say about Clark: distinctive and possessing a comic talent beyond his years, both biological and mental." Sample one-liner – “What's orange and looks good on a hippie? Fire”.   Oh yes, you’ll enjoy this.

www.damianclark.com

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Friday 24)

After winning the Chortle ‘Student Comedian Award’ in 2007, TOM DEACON took part in Edinburgh Festival’s longest running group comedy show, The Comedy Zone in 2008, which previously launched the careers of Russell Howard, Harry Hill and Al Murray.  Having his own Radio 1 show and making regular appearances previously on the BBC’s ‘5.19’ show have only sealed his reputation as one of the UK’s brightest up and coming stand-ups. 

www.tomdeacon.co.uk

(Leeds Saturday 25)

Hailing from Rockhampton near Bristol, JOEL DOMMET did his first show in Los Angeles as he thought “shame can’t swim so it wouldn’t follow me home” – luckily for us he made it back over the Atlantic and has been making audiences laugh ever since.  Roles in ‘Skins’, BBC2′s ‘Popatron’ and stand up on ‘Russell Howards Good News’ followed and he can be seen presenting the news everyday on MTV. A welcome new face on the scene.

www.joeldommett.com

(Leeds Saturday 25)

Winners of both Hackney Empire ‘New Act of the Year 2012’ and ‘The Musical Comedy Awards 2010’, ABANDOMAN create hilarious musical sketches at lightning speed live in front of their audience and no two gigs are ever the same.  The project sees Rob Broderick and multi-instrumentalist James Hancox reinventing hip-hop in a way that appeals to all age groups.  The group sold out their entire 28-day run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they were also invited to perform alongside the likes of Jimmy Carr and John Bishop.

www.robbroderick.com

(Leeds Saturday 25)

POPCORN COMEDY presents some of the strongest, sharpest and funniest videos found online. The show also features the country’s best comedians as they showcase their own short comedy films. Previous live performers have included Peter Serafinowicz,Tim Key, Adam Buxton, Josie Long, Robert Popper, David Cross and Graham Linehan. Popcorn Comedy is a Time Out ‘Critic’s Choice’ and has featured on the ‘Culture Show’ (BBC2). “The first truly successful interactive live stand-up show" BBC.

www.popcorncomedy.com

(Reading Sunday 26 / Leeds Friday 24)

LATE NIGHT GIMP FIGHT formed in November 2008 and have been nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010 and won a 2011 Chortle Award for ‘Best Sketch or Character Act’.  Directed by Soho Theatre’s Artistic Director Steve Marmion, the collective consists of Paul Biggin, Richard Campbell, Lee Griffiths, David Moon and Matt Ralph.  Plus one other, who is described in their own words as, “a technical gimp called Matt whose wedding list included two colanders and some onion goggles”.

www.latenightgimpfight.com

(Reading Friday 24 / Leeds Sunday 26)

Stand up comedian and compere DAVE TWENTYMAN will be your host for the Friday of the Alternative Stage at Leeds, effortlessly funny and quick on his feet, Dave endears himself to the toughest of audiences and he is a regular favourite to warm up the crowds at Leeds. Described by XFM as a, “Very funny, lovely young man” be sure to take time out to catch Dave and get in the mood for plenty of laughs. M

http://dave-twentyman.co.uk

(Leeds Friday 24)

Actor and comedian JEFF LEACH is a young man hell bent on world domination. He performs his own opulent and revealing brand of stand up comedy whilst acting in feature films, writing sketch and sitcom pieces and also developing and presenting immersive documentaries. He has been a finalist in the London New Comedian Awards and Amused Moose Laughter Awards and last year performed a sold out solo one hour show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Catch this multi-talented young man at Reading this year before he achieves his world domination!

(Reading Saturday 25)

www.jeffreyleach.com

World-renowned scratch DJ, KID KOALA, has made a name for himself with his three solo albums on Ninja Tune; ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome’, ‘Some of My Best Friends Are DJs’ and ‘Your Mom’s Favourite DJ’.  He has also been involved in collaborations with the likes of Gorillaz, The Slew and Deltron 3030, with the latter hip-hop supergroup featuring Dan The Automator and Del The Funky Homosapien gearing up for the release of their much anticipated second album later this year.  Be sure to check out one of the best turntabalists around at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival.

www.kidkoala.com

(Reading Saturday 25 / Leeds Friday 24)

Distinctively attired in a trucker cap, charity shop suit and beard, SCROOBIUS PIP has been an unmistakable face in the UK’s music scene in recent years.  Best known as one half of the unlikely chart bothering duo dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, he released his solo album ‘Distraction Pieces at the latter end of 2011.  The record features a roll call of collaborators from the worlds of rock and leftfield hip-hop, including the likes of Renholder, Richard Russell (XL) and Steve Mason.  Be sure to get down the front early for this very special full band set.

www.scroobiuspip.co.uk

(Reading Friday 24 / Leeds Sunday 26)

It’s impossible to categorise the legendary BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH.  Dub poet, political performer, a musician who encompasses jazz, reggae, hip hop, folk, rock and house music, author, playwright … we could go on but it just goes to say he is one of the most recognisable and influential poets in the UK.  Any show from this Birmingham superstar is a life-enhancing experience.  Enjoy.

www.benjaminzephaniah.com

(Reading Saturday 25)

Presented by the irresistible SECRET CINEMA, Matthew Kassovitz’s seminal work ‘LA HAINE’ is heading to Leeds Festival.  With Asian Dub Foundation performing a live re-score to the film, this promises to kick start things in truly mesmerising fashion.  The film, labelled French cinema’s answer to ‘Boyz N The Hood’, sees kids clash with cops in suburban Paris and the result is an explosion of scathing social commentary and dynamic storytelling.  

www.secretcinema.org

(Leeds Thursday 23)

CHRIS SHEPHERD is a BAFTA nominated director who blends live action with animation to examine the humorously dark side of life. He's worked on funny shows such as ‘Big Train’ and ‘Nathan Barley’ while directing award winners such as ‘Dad's Dead’, ‘Bad Night For The Blues’ and his collaboration with David Shrigley ‘Who I Am And What I Want’. More recently he's been directing a film for, as well as curating for Channel 4's art strand ‘Random Acts’.

www.chrisshepherdfilms.com

(Leeds Saturday 25)

The UK’s biggest indie night, PROPAGANDA, takes over the Alternative Stage on Friday night for an incredible audio-visual extravaganza.  Regularly playing to 25,000 people per week in 22 cities across the UK, Ireland and Australia, Propaganda are experts in keeping the party alive into the early hours. With a little help from local boys The Pigeon Detectives, the Propaganda residents will bring you music from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, The Vaccines, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons, The Stokes, Bombay Bicycle Club and much more.If you’ve been to Propaganda before, you know this will be unmissable. If you haven’t, now is your chance.

www.thepropaganda.com

(Leeds Friday 24)

LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR THE ENERGY SESSIONS ARENA, SPONSORED BY RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK, AT THIS YEAR’S LEEDS FESTIVAL

Relentless Energy Drink is excited to announce the DJ line-up for the Energy Sessions Arena, sponsored by Relentless Energy Drink, which will take pride of place in the campsite at this year’s Leeds Festival, providing banging tunes late into the night.

The Energy Sessions Arena, sponsored by Relentless Energy Drink will get going from 10pm to 3am each night of the festival, including Thursday night when this stage will be getting the party started for the early arrivals before the music stages start on the Friday.

Rudimental are currently on a mission to bring soul to electronic music, with the east London quartet winning support from Zane Lowe, The xx, Mistajam and Fearne Cotton. With them set to dominate dance floors in the coming months, their headline DJ set will kick-start the weekend in fine style. 

Purveyors of high quality D&B, and Hospital records favourites, fast-rising producers Fred V & Grafix will also be lighting up the stage over the weekend. These two West Country natives have been making a lot of impact with their scorching sounds and are one of the DJ acts of 2012 to keep a firm eye on.

Electro-pop/R&B superstar Mr Hudson will be bringing some magic to Leeds via his headline DJ set. Known for his exciting collaborations and tours with the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z and Amy Winehouse, Mr Hudson has also DJed all over the world and played for Louis Vuitton, Formula 1, Elton John and former US President Bill Clinton. Expect him to bring an incredibly broad collection of music to the decks for a set you won’t want to miss.

Mr Hudson

Best known for melding politically-charged dubstep and post-hardcore rock Rout & Sgt. Rolfy ­– AKA Enter Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds and drummer Rob Rolfe, who are playing on the main stages at Reading and Leeds with their bandmates over the weekend – will be closing the festivities at the Leeds Festival on the Energy Sessions Arena, sponsored By Relentless Energy Drink.

"We shall be busting out the re-energising tunes for a long night of partying,” explains Rou. “Expect enough bass to rupture stomachs and invert ear drums; from the darkest drum & bass, to the biggest booty shaking dubstep, plus plenty of surprising remixes!" 

It’s set to be a banging weekend with the Relentless Energy Drink flowing at the Arena bar and all bars across Leeds Festival.

Full stage line-up

THURSDAY AUG 23rd

Plastic Thumbs

Ben Casey

Gemini

(Headliner) Rudimental

FRIDAY AUG 24th

Ben Casey

Plastic Thumbs

B. Traits

(Headliner) Fred V & Grafix

SATURDAY AUG 25th

The Beat Medics 

Doorly

(Headliner) Mr Hudson

SUNDAY AUG 26th

Plastic Thumbs

The Beat Medics

Kissy Sell Out

(Headliner) Rout & Sgt. Rolfy

Festival Republic Stage lineup announced for Reading & Leeds Festivals

by

SLEIGH BELLS, FEEDER & YOUNG GUNS, THE VIEW and a very special closing DJ set from BASSNECTAR are our headliners.     They will join FUTUREHEADS (playing an a capella & acoustic set) and THE SUBWAYS alongside over thirty other acts who have secured a slot on this coveted stage with psychedelia courtesy of the likes of S.C.U.M. and TOY, classic songwriters like BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH and LUCY ROSE and rock sensibilities from LOWER THAN ATLANTISand DON BROCO amongst many more.

Cornwall folk-punks quartet CROWNS have also been added as the opening act on the Lock Up Stage on Friday in Leeds and Sunday in Reading.

Many more names are still to be announced including the full line-up for the BBC Introducing Stage and the Alternative Stage. 

THIS YEAR’S HEADLINERS

Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival

Formed in 2008 whilst residing in Brooklyn, SLEIGH BELLS – duo Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss emerged from 2009’s CMJ Festival with rhythmic pop songs that combine overdriven guitar riffs and sugary female vocal melodies. Rapidly becoming favourites of the critics on both sides of the Atlantic, they released their debut album ‘Treats’ in 2010 and earlier this year the follow up ‘Reign Of Terror’. 2012 has seen the pair air the new album live to further acclaim and this summer’s showing as headliners on the Festival Republic Stage will doubtless be one of the performances of the weekend.

www.reighofterror.tv

2011 saw the return of THE SUBWAYS with the release of their third album ‘Money And Celebrity’, a sell-out UK tour and two Radio 1 A-listed singles which were seemingly never far  from the airwaves. This explosive three-piece from Welwyn Garden City crashed onto the UK rock scene in 2005, and have over time forged a formidable live presence melding the melodic pop/punk immediacy of their earlier material with the highly energetic, rock power of their second album ‘All Or Nothing’.  ‘Money And Celebrity’ is an amalgam of them both and has seen the band compile a comprehensive live CV across Europe.

www.thesubways.net

Forming in 2009 having met at a Comet Gain show, VERONICA FALLS’ pop orientated, reverb-kissed-tunes arrive via their collective mid-80’s influences but see the quartet add their own poppy slant that aligns them with contemporaries such as Vivian Girls . With a couple of EP’s under their arm the band  went on to record their debut album – the end result sounding like a perfect blend of eighties meets noughties melodic pop. The self- titled album hit the shelves last year and saw them reach new dizzying heights of recognition.

www.veronicafalls.com

BASTILLE is the musical guise of singer/songwriter and producer Dan Smith. Having produced music and videos in his bedroom for a few years his profile began to grow via word of mouth following a makeshift video that accrued upwards of 300,00 views.  Bastille – a vehicle for his different musical worlds, full of songs with danceable rhythms and beautiful soaring vocals encased in harmonies and bleeps was born . Live, he is joined by three other members who together produce a unique and spine tingling performance which to date has resulted in sell out shows across the UK.

www.bastillebastille.com

Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival

Hot on the heels of the amazing reaction to their recent album, ‘Generation Freakshow’, FEEDER will be one of the Festival Republic Stage headliners.  Clearly rising towards a new career peak, 2012 is shaping up to be a big year for the band.  Having already sold out UK tours in January and April, the response to the new songs has been overwhelming and has seen the ‘Borders’ video clock up over 500,000 views on YouTube.  In their career, which spans over two decades, the band have racked up over 25 hit singles, sold in excess of five million records, and released a double platinum singles collection.

www.Feederweb.com

High Wycombe quintet YOUNG GUNS have been making a name for themselves with a rigorous touring schedule in 2012.  Last year they performed their largest headline show to date, an evening at the 2000 capacity Forum in London’s Kentish Town, and in doing so marked themselves out as ones to watch.  With new album ‘Bones’ hitting the UK Top 20 in February, fans at the Festival Republic Stage are sure to be in for a treat come August.

www.weareyoungguns.com

Watford rockers, and recent Island Records signings, LOWER THAN ATLANTIS will be giving fans a very special preview of their new album (due October) when they visit Reading & Leeds Festival in August.  Having made one hell of an impression on their sold-out headline tour earlier this year, expect an electric, chaotic, and passionate set of songs from one of the UK’s best rock acts.

www.lowerthanatlantis.tumblr.com

BASSNECTAR (DJ set) is the brainchild of Lorin Ashton, who creates a musical experience that is sure to engulf the senses.  Festival goers can expect a show which fuses the familiar with the strange and the classic with the cutting edge.  Spanning the spectrum of sonic styles, the artist draws inspiration from every genre imaginable and supplies a combination of basslines and hypnotic soundscapes.  This very special DJ set will see out the night in style on this year’s Festival Republic Stage.

www.bassnectar.net

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

There are few bands guaranteed to get a crowd jumping as much THE VIEW.  Since the band leapt into the charts at No. 1 with their debut album ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’, the Dundee group have taken their upbeat, indie rock-pop around the world gathering fans along the way.  With new album ‘Cheeky For A Reason’ due this summer, described by vocalist Kyle Falconer as “its Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ done by The Clash”, expect a lively end to the day in this tent.

www.theviewareonfire.com

Barry Hyde (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dave (drums, vocals), Ross Millard (guitar, vocals) and Jaff (bass, vocals) have established theFUTUREHEADS as one of Britain’s most thrilling and durable bands with four albums over the last eight years.   This year however they decided to do something totally different, throw away all their instruments and make their latest release ‘Rant’ just using their four vocals.  A brave and inspired move, it is this very special a capella and acoustic show they bring to Reading & Leeds Festival.

www.thefutureheads.co.uk

When BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH released his debut album ‘Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm’ last summer he was hailed as a “serious new talent” by the Sunday Times.  Inspired by the likes of Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire and Sigur Ros he seems himself as simply, unpretentiously, as a singer-songwriter.    We see him as one of the finest new British artists around.

www.benjaminfrancisleftwich.com

KING CHARLES’ critically acclaimed debut album ‘LoveBlood’ has been hailed as a unique piece of work, which has seen the glam-folk star rise from the underground folk world and into the mainstream. It’s an extraordinary record that draws down influences from Afro-beat, rock and roll, glam, folk, hip-hop and country.   This one-off artist is guaranteed to put on a spectacular show.

kingcharles–music.com

King Charles

Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival

Sweden’s NIKI & THE DOVE, a duo who having played their part in previous musical outfits emerged in 2010 and following a release on the Moshi Moshi label began to pick up plaudits in bloggers world. The electronic pairing continued to see the media clamour and with a further release saw them play on the NME Emerge tour alongside Wolf Gang and S.C.U.M.  Earlier this year saw a nomination for the prestigious BBC Sound of 2012 before they releasing their debut album ‘Instinct’.   In search of  the perfect pop song? Catch this beguiling couple and that quest could well be over…

www.nikiandthedove.com

Formed last year, ZULU WINTER to date have only played a handful of UK shows.  Tipped in both print and over the UK airwaves,  the five-piece have recently returned from a debut run of shows in the US including  an appearance at this year’s SXSW, have released  an acclaimed debut album ‘Language’.   The Pitchfork endorsed debut single ‘Let’s Move Back To Front’/ ‘Never Leave’ and the Zane Lowe’s approved follow up ‘We Should Be Swimming’ have now notched up  in excess of 400,000 plays on youtube to date.  Feted as one of the guitar bands to watch out for this year, get a glimpse close up in the intimacy of the Festival Republic Stage.

www.zuluwinter.com

Having lent her not inconsiderable vocal talents to Bombay Cycle Club on their two albums, LUCY ROSE has also recorded in her own right and is currently working on her debut longplayer with three long-term fellow musicians since her arrival in London, having moved from Warwickshire. Vogue magazine stated that she is “one of indie music’s breakout stars of 2012”, with her videos reaching an increasing fanbase.  With songs and sentiments that warm the heart and upcoming live appearances both here and in the US she is definitely one to watch.

www.lucyrosemusic.com

Lucy Rose

ALT-J came together whilst studying at Leeds University and following some healthy airplay for the track ‘Breezeblocks’ last year, were on most of this years ‘lists’ having managed to create an uncontrived element of mystique with their own brand of patient, sophisticated, intricate music. Hard to pin down musically this four-piece have just released their debut album ‘An Awesome Wave’  which veers from psychedelic avant pop to skeletal folktronica and trades in the band’s ability to conjure up understated beauty one minute and epic oddities the next.  Catch them early…

www.facebook.com/altj.band

With a well-received debut album ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’ under their belt,  Brooklyn’s WE ARE AUGUSTINES have propelled themselves into the spotlight with a series of heart-warming shows here in the UK along with  tracks that have been aired on Radio 1, BBC 6 Music  and XFM.   The band’s catalogue of songs is borne of their collective personal background and their formative years and despite the shattered dreams and extinguished guiding lights along their way, the trio have survived and this is only the start.

www.weareaugustines.com

Seen by many as the latter day pioneers of the Nashville rock scene , brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall aka JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD have built  a reputation for stripping rock music down to its basic.  Delivering mind-bending live shows with a work ethic that practically defines D.I.Y., be it their simple but compelling videos to their self-produced and critically acclaimed albums, EP’s and singles.    As Spin stated … “post-adolescent bros dig into the sweet spot between punk and hard rock.”   Whilst Thetripwire succinctly hailed thus; “Jake and Jamin hail from Nashville but share psychedelic mayhem wherever they roam.”

www.jeffbrotherhood.blogspot.co.uk

For London four-piece SAVAGES the intention was to create a sound, indestructible and musically solid, written for the stage, designed with enough nuances to provide a wide range of motions. The songs aim to remind us that human beings haven’t evolved so much, that music can still be straight to the point, efficient and exciting.  For a band with so few shows under their belt, they have certainly created a stir and one well worth witnessing as they make their festival debut.

www.facebook.com/savagestheband

With an imminent support slot with The Hives confirmed in the US, LA’s FIDLAR pre-empt their sortie to the UK with an appearance at this year’s Lollapalooza in the company of Black Keys, Black Sabbath et al before making the crossing for their debut this side of the Atlantic. “The tracks sizzle with aggression and bargain-price fidelity of the SoCal punk tradition though their catchy hooks have more in common with Social Distortion and Wavves than Black Flag,” exclaimed MTV. See for yourself and be swayed…

www.fidlarla.com

Despite only having existed for mere months South East London’s THE PALMA VIOLETS have certainly caught the right ears. The band have played a series of secret shows in their own neck of the woods and much has been made of those special nights. They’ve released even fewer tracks and information is scarce bar the fact they have recently signed to Rough Trade Records which, if past history counts for anything, will see a lot of fuss made of  this four-piece  in the right quarters.

www.tumblir.com/tagged/palma-violets

Carrying the weight of the luminance and spacey textures from their earlier EP’s Atlanta’s O’BROTHER have grown into sounds of scorching heaviness and punctuated melodic interruptions that act as puzzles in-between the groaning feedback of ‘Garden Window’ – last year’s debut full length album. With a seemingly relentless touring schedule, this year has seen the band accompany The Hives and the like of Thrice in the US – the Festival Republic Stage welcomes the five-piece as they make their festival debut.

www.beneathyourgardenwindow.com

Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival

Taylor Jardine, Jordan Eckes, Mike Ferri, Rob Chianelli and Cameron Hurley are WE ARE THE IN CROWD.  Hailing from New York, the band are riding high off the release of 2011’s debut album ‘Best Intentions’.   Expect everything from pop-punk frenzies to more thought-provoking slow burners; this band really has something for everyone. They know they have a lot to prove in 2012, and that’s exactly what they thrive on. 

www.wearetheincrowd.com

Nottingham five-piece DOG IS DEAD are a band that have built up the old-fashioned way, honing their thrillingly energetic live show across the UK.  They released their debut ‘Glockenspiel Song’ back in the Summer of 2010, and have now signed to Atlantic Records and released two singles (‘Hands Down’ and ‘Two Devils’) that garnered key fans at Radio 1, NME and The Guardian.  They have toured the UK in the past year including key support dates with good friends, Bombay Bicycle Club, and now begin their ascent to Reading & Leeds Festival. 

www.dogisdead.co.uk

If you haven’t heard of folk-rock singer JAKE BUGG yet, you certainly will soon.  Armed with a sensational vocal, he cites his influences as Donovan, Don Mclean, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.  With his lyrics it’s hard to believe this young singer-songwriter from Nottingham is producing music way beyond his years.  With time on his side, who knows how far Jake Bugg can go.

www.jakebugg.com

With their debut album scheduled for an August release, DON BROCO look set to emerge as the bright, brute new force in British rock – and beyond.  The four-piece will be the first act to release an album on the newly formed ‘Search & Destroy Records’, a joint venture between Sony Music and Raw Power Management.  The bands crossover appeal has spread via word of mouth amongst fans online, and with their penchant for catchy melodies and big choruses, these Festival Republic Stage shows will be one of the many highlights of the weekend.

www.facebook.com/donbroco

2012 is shaping up to be a big year for OBERHOFER.  The debut by this fast-rising talent, entitled ‘Time Capsules II’, is a bold and exciting statement, recorded in Brooklyn late last year with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite.  Emotion is what drives the psychedelic, catchy pop-rock tunes, crafted by the effervescent Brad Oberhofer.   Drawing on influences ranging from Brian Wilson to Descartes, the 21 year old is fixated on the idea of making philosophically minded, energetic melodies that just make people smile.

www.facebook.com/oberhoferjamz

New Orleans bred, LA based THE KNUX are brothers Kentrell ‘Krispy’ Lindsey and Alvin ‘Joey’ Lindsey.  A band who blur the lines between rap and rock, their sound was showcased on last year’s ‘Eraser’ album.  The crossover appeal seems natural given their influences include The Rolling Stones, Nas, Wu-Tang, The Stooges, The Clash, Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix.  Expect an intense set from this hotly tipped duo.

www.theknux.com

After signing to French label Kitsunẽ in 2011, CITIZENS! have been making noises in all the right places.  The end of last year saw the band support The Rapture and more recently they played the Electric Ballroom in London as part of the NME’s run of Awards show gigs.  The band’s debut album, ‘Here We Are’, was produced by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, and was released to critical acclaim last month.  The resulting 11 tracks prove to be an example of what Citizens! do best – classic pop subversion at its most cunning.

www.citizenscitizens.com

After releasing a couple of low-key singles in the latter half of 2011, THEME PARK kicked off 2012 with their first release on Transgressive Records, ‘Two Hours’.  With an album to follow later in the year, they’re already picking up strong radio support, notably from Huw Stephens, Nick Grimshaw, Zane Lowe, John Kennedy and Lauren Laverne.  Described by the press as “a band destined for big things” we’d suggest getting down the front early for these sets.   

www.themeparkband.com

THE MINUTES are a three-piece rock band from Dublin, becoming one of the city's must see live acts having toured extensively both at home and further afield. Last year saw the release of their debut album 'Marcata' and had the likes of Kerrang! and The Guardian salivating at the brilliance of their live shows – which conjure up images of Dr Feelgood meeting The White Stripes, hit the Festival Republic Stage early and get a glimpse of what the hyperbole is all about.

WWW.theminutes.com

BLOOD OR WHISKEY describe their sound as “demented Irish trad kicked in the balls by punk rock”.  Hailing from Kildare and Dublin in Ireland, the band have released three albums and an EP to date, ‘Blood or Whiskey’, ‘No Time To Explain’, ‘Cashed Out On Culture’ and ‘Live and Learn’.  Having toured all over England, Europe, America and Japan, the jaunts have seen them play with many artists including Manu Chao, The Pogues, Flogging Molly and Rancid.

www.bloodorwhiskey.ie

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

Sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow make up 2.54 who have been gaining fans from both the public and critics alike since they posted their own recordings on MySpace in 2010.  The Irish sisters, who were raised in Bristol and now live in London, have seen their sound described as “a little bit grunge, a little bit shoegaze, with bursts of heavy riffing and the odd psychedelic meander”.   Their recently released eponymous debut album has only raised expectations higher, not to be missed.

www.twofiftyfour.net

With the release of debut album ‘Again Into Eyes’ S.C.U.M. saw their elevation from cult hipsters to respected musicians.  It was an iron-clad collection of dizzying, synth-heavy fare, rattling with reverb, smouldering rock, an undeniable classic in-the-making.   They have won over the cynics with their own brand of psychedelic punk and will be sure to do the same to the crowds at Reading & Leeds Festival.

www.scum1968.com

ALBERTA CROSS are Petter Ericson Stakee (vocals/guitar) and Terry Wolfers (bass), a Swede and a Londoner with Brooklyn as their home.  The success of their acclaimed 2009 debut, ‘Broken Side Of Time’, saw the band tour the world; criss-crossing America more times than they’d care to count, earning the patronage of bands like Them Crooked Vultures, Oasis and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, with whom they toured.   A new album ‘Songs of Patience’ is due later this year and this will be the first chance to hear the new songs live in the UK.

www.albertacross.net

Formed while at school in Copenhagen aged only 12, ICEAGE mix punk, post-punk, goth and hardcore as if they invented it. Now still only in their late teens, they released their debut album ‘New Brigade’ last year.   Their shows are notoriously physical, sometimes aggressive, often destructive and always fun. You may get pushed around but you’ll have great time.

http://www.iceagecopenhagen.blogspot.co.uk/

Hailing from Brisbane in Australia, DZ DEATHRAYS have just released their debut album ‘Bloodstreams’ filled with riff-laden scuzzy tunes with thrashing drums, party noise and some seriously laid back grooves.    Describing themselves as thrash pop, they recently came to the UK for some properly sweaty shows where one magazine said the band were “plugged into the oldest of rock and roll mainstays: lust, aggression, hate.”  Sounds good!

www.myspace.com/dzdeathrays

Having only released their debut single last year, London five-piece TOY quickly picked up accolades from the press and public alike.   Their gloriously kaleidoscopic post-punk sound of psychedelia mixed with krautrock has stood them apart from other new bands and having recently toured with friends The Horrors their live shows have been praised as intense and energising.  With their debut album due later this year they are definitely one not to miss.

www.toy-band.com

NME described DEAP VALLY as "Think a hippie Karen O fronting Black Sabbath and you're somewhere in the caustic, blues-riffing ballpark as these Los Angelinos. A hollerin', howlin', hellraising duo”.  Sounds good to us!   The duo, Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards, break blues down to its simplest, most fundamental form: beat, melody, and meaning, while their scorching live shows are fast becoming the stuff of legend.

www.facebook.com/deapvally    

Dubliners THE CAST OF CHEERS play a ballsy post-punk racket that they describe as "like the end of the world and dancing”.  Their debut album ‘Chariot’ was described as a “raucous assault of angular riffs and insistent vocals, it's what Death From Above 1979 might sound like if they were trapped in a lift with Battles and Foals”.    New album ‘Goose’ won more fans last year, danceable repetition fights with heavy rock drums, big bass sounds and intricate guitar work, you will be dancing!

www.myspace.com/thecastofcheers

From Spain come L.A., the brainchild of Albert Lluis Segura who has played in many bands over the years before finding his new sound with release of the six track EP ‘SLNT FLM’ earlier this year.  Described as “six songs full of harmonies and dusty guitars, with a burnt tyre on Mediterranean roads flavour, songs that are earthy wood, like guitars…songs that are the sea and the sand of the isle of Mallorca but also the heat of amp valves”.    Don’t miss this exciting opening act.

http://laoficial.com

ADDITION TO LOCK UP STAGE

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

CROWNS, a quartet from Cornwall have forged a formidable live reputation since their inception in 2010. Part inspired by traditional Cornish songs they bring their shanty-esque rabble rousing folk punk racket to this year's Lock-Up Stage and if their recent tour with the like-minded Sharks are anything to go by then they are certainly ones to watch.

www.crownsband.com