2013 will go down as a vintage year for Reading Festival, packed with moments to savour and performances which will live long in the memory.

Reading Festival is one of the biggest and longest running festivals in the UK and when the organisers continue to pull some of the biggest acts from around the globe you can see why it continues to be so. The annual decent on the Berkshire town is something that has gone on for generations and the age range is so diverse 16 – 66 year olds they eat, drink and be merry together all within the close confines of Little Johns Farm. With what seems to be the last big bash of the summer this year and the Reading faithful (and newbies) were treated to a massive line up from the worlds of Rock, Metal, Punk, Dance, Hip Hop, Indie and Alternative music.

Friday sees While She Sleeps open up Reading in fine style, the band start to own the main arena almost immediately, the crowd giving as much energy as the band. Finishing with the ever impressive 'Seven Hills' the band leave to a hail of applause. Skindred take to the Reading main stage with swagger that befits The Imperial March music bellowing from the speakers. Starting off with 'Nobody' the crowd are in full participation within seconds and the band and the crowd never let the momentum slow down, Benji Webb has such a stage presence and ability to get the crowd on the bands side (although he didn't need to work too hard). 'Pressure' is greeted with thunderous applause as Micky Demus plays the opening riff, 'Kill The Power' is debuted for the first time and if this and new single 'Ninja' are anything to go by the new album is going to be a cracker. Finishing with fans favourite 'Warning' and the inevitable Newport Helicopter the band depart to yet more applause. Happy fans, happy band what more could you ask for? Maybe another hour or so :-)

New Found Glory are declaring Punks Not Dead on the main stage, what a true statement, New York punks Cerebal Ballzy are taking out the lock up stage in true 'haven't slept for 3 nights style' this is what it's all about, attitude, speed, sleep deprivation and a pure lust for their beliefs, not the mega bucks punk pop that seems to be flooding the UK at the moment. Catch them while they still have the ballz! Punk is not dead you just need to go and see Cerebal Ballzy to confirm that, if Punk is not dead then British Metal is alive and well with Bring Me the Horizon, I'm wondering if the main stage arena is still going to be in a useable state when they finish. Bringing their unique carnage to Reading Festival is pleasing on the eyes and ears as they steam through their back catalogue and produce some of the finest hooks and riffs we will witness all day, oh and the immense wall of death... Glad I wasn't involved.

Frank Turner is a national treasure after his catapult to fame during the Olympics and the reading crowd take him to their heart. 'Losing Days' and 'Glory Hallelujah' really get the crowd going and it just gets better. 'Wessex Boy' and 'I Still Believe' confirm what a great singer songwriter he is. Deftones can only be described as the nu metal band that aren't nu metal! Playing crowd favourites seems to be the order of the day, keeping the crowd on their toes during their set seems to be easy as they rattle through some of their biggest tunes, opening with 'Diamond Eyes' seems so right and the love the crowd show the band seems to be so humbling to them. 'Change' is dedicated to Chi Cheng who sadly passed away earlier this year, before ending their set with 'Engine No 9' & '7 Words'.  

System of a Down arrive with style and it seems that the crowd have been waiting for this moment a very long time. First up is 'Aerials' quickly followed by 'Sweet-Pee' and the hugely impressive 'I.E.A.I.A.I.O' what a sing-along. Forever the entertainers SOAD do what they do best and it seems inevitable they save their biggest hits till last 'Chop Suey', 'Toxicity' and they finally depart with 'Sugar' ringing in our ears, a simply stunning show of stop start metal musicianship. A drunken bunny on stage can only mean one thing, the mighty Green Day are just about to enter stage right, and without further ado they band set out to play one of the longest sets we will witness all weekend. Playing Dookie in full turns out to be a wonderful bonus for us all, highlights from the album are 'Longview' and fans favourite 'Basket Case'. Sticking with their back catalogue seems to excite the crowd more and brings them to an absolute frenzy with 'St. Jimmy', 'Waiting' & 'Minority'. The encore seems to take it a little bit higher with 'American Idiot', 'Jesus of Suburbia' & 'Brutal Love' before the inevitable mass sing-along of 'Good Riddance'. As the band departs and the crowd disperses every single one of us has a smile on our face and a spring in our step just like the pink fluffy bunny.  

Saturday wakes up to the impressive sounds of Mallory Knox on the main stage, whilst over in the NME / Radio 1 tent the crowd are being treated to Theme Park. The Blackout really 'Start the Party' on the main stage as they blitz through their own songs and even through in a few covers including Beastie Boys 'Fight for Your Right', and House of Pain 'Jump Around'. Modestep have the NME / Radio 1 tent at near breaking point for their thrilling mix of bass driven anthems, if the crowd at the NME / Radio 1 is big it is nothing compared to the crowd that has gathered to see one of Manchester’s biggest new acts The 1975 there must be a ring of 30 plus deep disappointed fans who have to make do watching the band on screens outside the tent, however they do say if you snooze you lose, if their continued success grows at the same speed we will all be watching them on the main stage in years to come.   

Twin Atlantic take to the main stage with a huge crowd waiting to see and hear them and they don’t disappoint, even new song 'I’m An Animal' is greeted with rapturous applause, fans favourites 'Yes, I was Drunk' and 'Make a Beast of Myself' see the band of stage in style. White Lies take delight in entertaining the Reading crowd and starting off with their biggest hit 'To Lose My Life' hits the right note with the masses that have gathered before them. Rattling through some of their finest work in the bright afternoon sunshine White Lies gain momentum even 'Death' can’t dampen that Saturday afternoon feeling. 

The Bronx bring their Californian hard-core punk to Reading yet again and just like last time they don’t disappoint. It’s all about their balls out punk in your face rock n roll and nothing is going to make the crowd happier. Ring master and lead singer Matt Caughthran keeps the crowd on their toes and even joins them during the imposed crowd surfing amnesty during the final songs of the set, stand out tracks are 'Knifeman' and 'Heart Attack American' this is definitely one band you wouldn’t mind playing every year.   

Chase & Status draw the biggest crowd of the day so far, thumping basslines and fast and furious drum beats have the crowd jumping from the off 'No Problem' is quickly followed by 'Eastern Jam' and the crowd are not letting up in their participation. 'Smash to Pieces' and 'Heaven Knows'seamlessly merge into one before the magnificent 'Let You Go'. Finishing off in style with 'Blind Faith' & 'Fool Yourself' brings the lights down and the burning calf muscles a well-deserved rest. Eminem doesn’t seem to have a watch and keeps the crowd waiting for what seems an eternity, but when he does arrive its well worth waiting for. He starts with new song 'Survival' and then heads off into his extensive back catalogue highlights include 'Cleanin’ Out My Closet', 'The Way I Am' and even brings out UK Songstress Dido for a stunning rendition of one of his biggest hits 'Stan'. Bringing together 'My Name is', 'The Real Slim Shady' & 'Without me' has the crowd in Eminem Heaven, all before the inevitable 'Lose Yourself' closes his time on the main stage at Reading, this is what Saturday nights are all about.   

Sundays contest is a toss-up between the two of brightest, rockiest, in your face rock n roll bands in the UK at the moment actually make that three... First up on the main stage are Bury Tomorrow loud proud and very heavy, growling their way through their set they maintain a Britishness and humbleness towards the crowd who have turned up to see them first thing on a festival Sunday morning. Round two takes us to the rock stage to see The Virginmarys blasting through their set at break neck speed the band hardly catch their breath between songs. Playing the hardest, purist rock n roll the tent has seen all weekend the crowd rejoice in what is surely one of the best debuts at the festival all weekend the 30 minutes they have means no time for banter when there's rock n roll to be played. 'Bang Bang Bang' has the crowd fist pumping from the start, recent single 'Just a Ride' gets the crowd singing along and the sublime 'Dressed to Kill' brings lead singer Ally Dickaty to his knees. Finishing with 'Dead Man’s Shoes' proves the band have every confidence with their own songs, taking the crowd through emotions they never thought they had. Ding ding round three Heavens Basement create absolute carnage in the tent opening with 'Welcome Home' the band simply let their own honest in your face rock do the talking and the crowd react with pumping fists and a mosh pit the size of the stage. 'Fire Fire' get the crowd bouncing from the start with no rest for the band or crowd 'I’m Electric' just widens the size of the pit and with the crowd singing every word the band are almost not heard through the mayhem. New Single 'Heartbreaking Son of a Bitch' is quickly followed by the stunning 'Executioners Day' and the crowd are now on each other’s shoulders or riding the waves of arms that carry them towards the front, Lead singer Aaron Buchanan joins in the fun and finds himself being held aloft by the crowd, and with that it’s all over and its finally time to catch our breath. British Rock is definitely in safe hands.  

Another British band making their way in the world of rock are St Albans finest Don Broco who are entertaining the main stage crowd that are gathered before them. With a handful of radio induced hits behind them the band look like they are thoroughly enjoying themselves on the big stage, 'Priorities', 'Actors' and the hugely popular 'Thug Workout' make way for their final number 'Fancy Dress'. Filter take to the rock stage with a single goal in mind to introduce you to their very own branded rock n roll and what we hear we like. The crowd react with passion and hang on every word that is sung to them, definitely a band to catch next time round. The Lumineers are enjoying the huge crowd gathered before them and entertaining with their own brand of feel good summer music, 'Flowers in Your Hair' seems so fitting as does 'Classy Girls' they even have time to through in a cover of 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' much to the delight of the crowd. 

Biggest crowd of the day has to go to the pop punk sensations that are Fall Out Boy it seems that a reunion is good for the soul and the band quickly rattle through some of their biggest hits. 'Sugar, Were Going Down' & 'Dance Dance' get biggest cheers. Nine Inch Nails bring their unique brand of industrial electronic rock back to Reading. Appearing through the smoke and lights the band line up in to deliver such a diverse set of songs. Opening with 'Copy of A' the band set out their stall early 'Disappointed' follows before a cracking version of 'Came Back Haunted'. This was nevergoing to be a greatest hits show and the man at the helm gave very little apart from a few ‘thanks’ after only a handful of songs, but the adoring fans expect this. 'March of the Pigs' is clinically excellent as is 'Burn'. With their time up they leave and take their smoke machine with them, as Biffy Clyro don’t want smoke they want fire and lots of it. The set is almost as pyro filled as a Rammstein gig on bonfire night and as the band take the crowd on a journey of pleasure and pain it is left in no doubt that they are worthy headliners and closers of a fantastic weekend. 'Who’s got a Match' sees guitarist and singer Simon Neil hold aloft a flare for the first real taste of what is to come. 'Biblical' and 'God & Satan' lead into 'Glitter and Trauma', 'Bubbles' creates a mass sing-along as does 'Folding Stars'. '57' brings more fire to the show and with a stunning laser show during 'Modern Magic Formula' before 'The Captain' ends with a guitar on fire. 'Mountains' brings the whole show to an end and with that Reading is over for another year, fireworks light up the night sky and we turn our attention to next year. The organisers have a huge task following this year’s extravaganza but as always we will be back on the farm. 

Article by Andy Jamieson

Tickets for nexts years festival are on sale now at 2013 prices with no booking fee.