Leeds & Reading  unveil the line-up for one of the most popular stages at the event, the LOCK UP STAGE.   Featuring the greatest names in punk, ska and rock we are proud to reveal THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES and DESCENDENTS as our headliners.  They are joined by KING BLUES, THE BRONX, FLOGGING MOLLY and many more names for one of the liveliest line-ups this summer.

Mike Davies, presenter of The Punk Rock Show on Radio 1 and curator of the stage commented "2011 is the year that Punk Rock broke out... again. There are so many great groups around and I truly believe that we have managed to get 24 of the best bands possible to play on the Lock Up Stage. It's guaranteed to be the best weekend of the summer."

The Reading & Leeds Festival take place on Europe’s biggest dual site, Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds.   Held Friday 26th August – Sunday 28th August 2011, this is the most exciting weekend of music and fun held anywhere in the world.

Many more names are still to be announced as well as the full line-up for the Festival Republic Stage, BBC Introducing Stage and The Alternative Stage.  

LOCK UP STAGE

Saturday 27th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 28th August at Leeds Festival

Since forming 21 years ago, THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES have toured the world and taken their self-created ska-core sound to millions of fans.  Arguably the founding fathers of this scene, they’ve continued to entertain countless fans with their high-energy live shows fronted by the inimitable Dicky Barrett.   

Formed in North London, KING BLUES have long held the baton fusing ska, folk and punk rock. Armed with a formidable live reputation and a political backdrop the band have gone from strength to strength. The recent release of their third album ‘Punk and Poetry’ described by one magazine as the “searing soundtrack to revolution summer 2011” enhances that reputation further.

THE BRONX bring their Los Angeles hardcore punk to this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. Having formed back in the early noughties and with a penchant for eponymously naming their albums – they’ve released three, as well as the mariachi album ‘El Bronx’  this quintet return with their own sense of excitement to the stage.

2010 saw CAPDOWN reform having split two years earlier.  Their return to the hardcore punk scene is a positive one and has seen no let-up in their political polemic which has seen releases on numerous independent labels over the past decade. Catch this acclaimed live outfit now in case they really call it day!

Hard to pigeonhole, New York’s LEFTOVER CRACK bring their amalgam of Ska, hardcore punk  and  the well documented anti -bigotry / religion / police and government stance to  this year’s Lock Up stage.

Originally formed as a side project to Figure Four, Canada’s COMEBACK KID’s popularity was fuelled initially by the band’s word of mouth reputation on the hardcore scene’s bush telegraph.  This soon enough saw them recognised in their own right as an exciting addition to the hardcore scene.

Another reformation, BOYSETSFIRE announced their plans at the tail end of last year having called it a day back in 2007. This post hardcore five-piece tear it up tough with a political slant that will be a highlight on this stage this summer.

The band describe STREET DOGS as having started as little more than a “poker night” for musicians, with piles of chips traded in for stacks of amps instead.  However, these talented Boston musicians, fronted by ex-Dropkick Murphy’s vocalist Mike McColgan’s soon made the step up to the respected recording and touring outfit the now are.  Thrilling punk rock from the experts. 

Off the back of a Canadian tour with label mates NOFX, Wyoming’s very own TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET bring their young punk attitudes to the Lock Up stage at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. 
Recently signing a new record deal with SideOneDummy Records, home of Anti- Flag and The Gaslight Anthem, Pennsylvania’s four-piece rockers TITLE FIGHT are all set to embark on a tour of Europe so will certainly be well prepared for a full on hard-hitting set on the Lock Up stage this summer.

SHARKS are one of the names to drop on the punk scene. Having played shows with the likes of Gallows and Lostprophets amongst others, recent EP’s showcased a band that are all about their music. Expect these shows to continue the buzz that has them marked as one’s to watch.


Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the DESCENDENTS must go to sleep with flushed cheeks every night of the week.  Few bands can claim to have influenced and inspired so many artists in their time.  They took punk and pop into the mosh-pit in 1978 and have continued to fuse catchy melodies with raw energy ever since.  These Californian legends will close the night in style.

A little bit of Dublin, via Los Angeles comes to Reading & Leeds courtesy of FLOGGING MOLLY.  Traditional Celtic instruments like violin, mandolin and accordion blend seamlessly with grinding guitars and pounding drums to make the ultimate party sound.  Fronted by Dave King the seven-piece have taken their musical passion around the world and know how to fire up a festival crowd. 

After an eight year break, Southern California’s FACE TO FACE return next month with their eighth studio album ‘Laugh Now, Laugh Later’, released via Antagonist Records / Century Media. Regarded as one of the seminal and most influential punk rock bands of recent times, Face To Face are a sure fire hit for this year, get there early to make sure you see this set.

Post hardcore legends HOT WATER MUSIC arrive at Reading & Leeds Festival ready to deliver a whirlwind live performance. Formed in 1994 by singers / guitarists Chuck Ragan and Chris Wolland, bassist Jason Black and drummer George Rebelo, the band have gone on to inspire a generation of music fans. Be sure to witness a huge and lively crowd for these sets.

The tale of BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH has been filled with step after step of something special — from live shows that are as emotionally incendiary as they are monstrously entertaining to albums that have stoked the hearts and minds of thousands.   These Canadians released their latest album ‘Light The Hoizon’ last year and are sure to perform tracks from it as well as their extensive back catalogue.

Punk supergroup OFF! from Los Angeles are Circle Jerks/Black Flag singer Keith Morris, Burning Brides frontman Dimitri Coats, Redd Kross bassist Steven Shane McDonald, and Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes drummer Mario Rubalcaba.  When they formed they descibed it as “an inspiring kick in the pants," McDonald says. "One that is so vitally rebellious and anti-establishment."  They bring their ‘dark party’ to the festival.

Formed in 2010 by Jim Lindberg, for 20 years the frontman of influential Californian punk band Pennywise, THE BLACK PACIFIC play their first eagerly-awaited Reading & Leeds Festival this summer in support of their eponymous debut album.

With a demo tape that ended up on many critics’ Top 10 lists, Pennsylvanian rockers THE MENZINGERS are destined to be huge and have spent the past year building support with the likes of The Gaslight Anthem, NOFX and Anti-Flag. 

Currently on a whirlwind tour of the US, Brighton hardcore punks YOUR DEMISE return to the UK to blow us away with songs from ‘The Kids We Used To Be…’, their second album for legendary rock label Visible Noise.

Featuring members of Gallows, Haunts and Cry For Silence, much-touted Watford-based supergroup SPY CATCHER release their debut album ‘Honesty’ this summer and are sure to justify their hype at Reading & Leeds.

Fans of south London ska-punks MOUTHWASH will be salivating at the prospect of their festival appearances, as the band return triumphant from their first headline tour and slots with The Skints and The King Blues.