The last bank holiday of the year can only mean one thing, it’s time for The Reading (and Leeds) Festival. Joining almost 90,000 music fans across the weekend and with a line up as good as any in recent years, it’s no wonder Reading Festival sold out weeks before the start. There is something comforting about Reading that makes you feel right at home, it’s one of those festivals that you keep returning to year after year, a little like your favourite arm chair or your spot on that big comfy sofa. This year was no exception and with a mind full of anticipation and wonder it was time to head on down to the town’s musical mecca.

With a decent weather forecast for the weekend and the crowds swelling in the main arena first band up on the FFA radar are Crossfaith. Hoping the jump from the rock tent last year to main stage this year wasn’t going to be too much for the rockers from Japan, it was easy to see that no jump is too small from them and they put on one hell of a show. Burning through a pretty extensive back catalogue they really did please the crowd and they enjoyed themselves, and with that they are gone but you can rest assured they will be back on stage at Reading in the very near future. Slaves provide the music for our first foray into the Lockup tent (which certainly wasn’t our last), although the crowd is fairly thin we do have a decent time wrapped up in the emotion of this unique duo from Kent. 

Walking around the festival site during the afternoon is a pleasure, plenty of people watching, fancy dress spotting, vendor qualification and of course bar queuing habits all take up some time prior to the next band on the FFA must see list. Twin Atlantic have played the last 3 Reading festivals andyou get to realise what the band and crowd love, feels like old friends reuniting for a singsong and a drink.This year the band seemed to have brought a lot more friends to the party! The NME/Radio1 tent is packed and it’s a testament to the bands ever growing popularity, who are promoting their new album ‘Great Divide’. The quartet from Glasgow quickly start the party with ‘I am an Animal’ and turn up the heat in the tent with the aptly named ‘Fall into the party’ then their current single ‘Brothers and Sisters’. This gets the lighter members of the crowd high up on shoulders and with time coming to an end the band finish with the majestic ‘Heart and Soul’. Will they be back for a 5^th year running? Based on this performance I am sure everyone certainly hopes so.

Quickly, we dash across the arena to the Festival Republic Stage to catch Catfish and the Bottlemen. The brooding full on Rock N Roll that these four men play is something to behold and their popularity is only going to get bigger. With their debut album just about to drop and a lot of radio air play behind them they get the crowd up on their toes almost immediately, ‘Rango’, ‘Kathleen’ and ‘Cocoon’feed the crowd what they desire, and even lead singer Van McCann goads a member of the huge audience into a naked crowd surf, you can see why these guys are the real deal – New album out September 25^th

Enter Shikari (Photo Joshua Halling)

Enter Shikari return to Reading and take to the main stage crowd with a swagger and a determination to prove they are one of the best live acts around today. Lead singer, activist and all round conductor of mayhem, Rou Reynolds takes the crowd on a journey through the life of the band, mixing electronic dance with the pure power of punk and the musicianship of metal. Enter Shikari clatter your senses and make you feel like you have just been through a musical warzone. ‘The Paddington Frisk’, ‘Destabilise’ and ‘Sorry You’re Not a Winner’ get the full treatment before getting time to plug the NHS prior launching into ‘Anaesthetist’ and with the final call of ‘Sssnakepit’ ringing in our ears we are yet again pleading with the Reading gods to bring yet another band back next year. 

Next up is Jimmy Eat World who are playing on The Lockup stage (having played the main stage earlier) and as expected its full to the brim for a live performance of ‘Futures’ a 10^th anniversary showcase. From the opening of ‘Futures’ you know what you are going to get and with great delight a mass sing-a-long ensues for the next 40 minutes. It’s always hard to gauge what it must be like for a band to play an album in full but tonight Jimmy Eat World look to be having as much fun as their faithful following gathered (or rammed in) before them.

Paramore (Photo Marc Sethi)

Paramore seemed to have risen in stature over the last couple of years and based on tonight's performance you can see why.The professionalism of such young musicians is a joy and stepping up to the plate seems to be second nature. It’s a shame that the main stage at this crucial time is plagued by sound problems but the band work through and the masses gathered before them appreciate it. Hayley Williams the outspoken front woman of the younger generation delivers on everything she does tonight – even her hair colour is up for debate around the bars. Starting with ‘Still Into You’ she sets the standard so high but the band never drop below this and race through a packed set which includes ‘Pressure’, ‘Ignorance’, ‘Decode’ and the acoustically performed ‘The Only Exception’. ‘Let the Flames Begin’, ‘Part 2’ and ‘Proof’ leads us through to the awe inspiring ‘Ain’t it Fun?’ and what turns out to be the biggest confetti show of the weekend.

Queens of the Stone Age delivered a headline set that wows the huge crowd gathered before them and in doing so remove any doubt that they were worthy headliners. Starting with the aptly named ‘You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire’ is a true reflection of what we are about to feel too. ‘No One Know’s ‘ makes an early appearance but only heightens our expectations and from this point on we’re never let down. ‘Smooth Sailing’, ‘Do it Again’ and ‘If I had a Tail’ quickly follow and one of the biggest cheers is reserved for ‘Little Sister’. With the sound problems being replaced by some serious dodgy camera work up on stage, the band and in particular Josh Homme never take a second for granted and pursue perfection with ‘Feel Good Hit of the Summer’, ‘Sick, Sick, Sick’ and ‘Go With The Flow’ and so it all comes to an end with the rousing ‘A Song for the Dead’ and with that the band disappear and allow all of us to stare in wonder at what we have just witnessed.

Queens of The Stone Age (Photo Marc Sethi)

Saturday brings more good weather and still feeling a sense of achievement that we made it through Friday, Gnarwolves shake any remnants of a foggy head that might just have been left from the night before. The Brighton threesome has had a huge year and their ever growing popularity is mainly due to their honest, upfront, in your face Rock N Roll. We knew it was going to be another good day. 

Over on the NME/Radio1 stage there are another 3 bands that have the rock world all in tis. First up, Lonely The Brave who are leading the charge for home grown rock, are previewing songs from their eagerly anticipated debut album which is out on 1^st September. Marmozets, who are also previewing songs from their new album which is out on the 29^th September , produce a short and sweet set but this is ok knowing that we get to see them again in a couple of hours in the much more intimate surroundings. Royal Blood who make so much noise (good noise!) for only 2 people have the tent rocking, another album that is out now and has surely the best cover art work we are going to see all year.

Marmozets (photo Jen O'Neil)

The Hives take to the main stage with their customary letters spelling out their name, there’s definitely no mistaking they are on top form.Howling Pete produces a rock godlike performance, conducting his band and the audience on a journey through the history of The Hives. ‘Come On’ is the perfect set opener and has the energetic frontman covering every inch of the stage. ‘Walk Idiot Walk’ gets a similar treatment and as the band launch into ‘Main Offender’ the crowd gets up close and personal with the singer. ‘Tick, Tick Boom’ gets everyone singing along and we are even treated to the statuesque band (only breathing and blinking allowed). Being promised that we might not realise that this is going to be the finest 15 minutes ever but we should stand up and be counted has the arena in awe of such a wonderful band and a wonderful festival appearance, ‘I hate to Say I told You So’ is the inevitable set closer but has us all wanting more. 

The Hives (Photo by Sydney Bernstien)

With a burger and a pint it’s off to see Marmozets again, this time we can see the whites of their eyes this time, again they don’t disappoint and at least we can say we were there twice!

It’s always nice to discover a band that you have never heard of and that band for me this weekend was We Came As Romans, they simply set about destroying The Pit tent with their powerful, yet melodic rock. I have never really been a fan of having 2 singers with such contrasting styles but I have been converted and now consider myself a fan.

Jake Bugg is another artist that seems to have risen through the ranks in the past year, his unique style brings out the main stage hordes once again, yet again the camera work on stage is poor but his songs shine through and he saves his best for last in the shape of ‘Lightning Bolt’. Headlining the Festival Republic stage are Southampton trio Band of Skulls who play to a fairly small crowd but this is probably due to the place hunters on the main stage. Rumbling bass lines and thumping drums certainly propel the band through their short but sweet set, ‘Sweet Sour’, ‘Himalayan’ and the sublime ‘Hoochie Coochie’ give us all a chance for a sing song, Saturday nights are meant to be like this right? 

With almost precession timing tonight's headliners Arctic Monkeys turn up at the main stage and what a show they put on. By far the coolest band of the weekend, they show why they are such a huge band. From that moment you first see them you become a fan and with that you almost know every word that comes out of lead singer Alex Turner’s mouth. Early teasers include ‘Do I Wanna Know’ and ‘Arabella’ and as the backdrop mesmerises your vision the band continue on their headline adventure with ‘Teddy Picker’, ‘Crying Lightning’ and ‘My Propeller’ .We were certainly not prepared for the spectacle that is ‘You Look Good on the Dance Floor’ which looking back was probably the highlight of the weekend. ‘Florescent Adolescent’ and ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ sees the band depart before announcing their second coming with ‘One for the Road’, Snap Out of It’ and the grand finale of ‘R U Mine’.

Arctic Monkeys (photo Alex de Mora)

Sunday brings us some warmer weather and with a spring in our step we head over to the main arena to see another Great British band Young Guns. They don’t look out of place at all on the main stage and have the crowd gathered before them and eating out the palm of their collective hands. Papa Roach on the other hand have to work a little harder to appease the masses gathered before them, not sure if it was the sound or just the endless requests to bounce in the opening 2 songs that seemed to dampen the opening of the set. This soon changed as frontman Jacoby Shaddix worked his magic for the next 40 minutes. His and the bands ability to adapt is remarkable and as they work their way through their back catalogue you can see why they have managed to battle against the doubters and turn them around into fans. ‘Burn’, ‘Scars’ and ‘To Be Loved’ prove what good songs they have in their arsenal but the best is saved for last in the shape of ‘Last Resort’.

Papa Roach (Photo Jen O'Neil)

The Kooks draw one of the biggest crowds of the weekend to the NME/Radio1 tent for a Sunday afternoon feel good time. With little to prove the bandgo about doing what they do best by playing some of the best pop songs we hear all weekend, I’m not sure I have seen so many shoulder carries in one place as I did for the deliverance of their biggest hit ‘She Moves in Her Own Way’. This was a simply stunning show and one that would certainly make me want to go and see them again. 

The Horrors provide the excuse for not having to move too far to see the next band and we certainly weren’t disappointed. Dark and moody and full of angst the band plays to their full potential and with the added smoke machines it sets the scene perfectly. ‘Chasing Shadows’, ‘In and Out of Sight’ and ‘Who Can Say’ settle the crowd into a near Horrors trance like state only to be woken by ‘Mirrors Image’. ‘Still Life’ and ‘I see You’ finish things off.

Blink 182 (Photo Jen O'Neil)

Closing the Festival are pop-punk icons Blink-182 and what a joy it is to have them back. You could see they were feeling right at home in front of the Reading faithful and the band display an attitude that befits their music. Early highlights include ‘Rock Show’, ‘I Miss You’, ‘What’s My Age Again?’ the songs are almost part of the side show as the 3 members of the band banter with each other about the smallest things. ‘Always’ gets the masses on the toes as does ‘First Date’. With such an extensive back catalogue it’s never going to appease everyone but Blink-182 try their hardest. ‘All of This’, A Misfits cover of ‘Hybrid Moments’ and ‘Ghost on the Dancefloor’ lead us up to the best part of the whole night, a massive sing-a-long to ‘All The Small Things’ which places the whole arena into a state of delirium. With the inevitable encore, the crowd don’t have to work too hard to get their heroes back up on stage and as the intro to ‘Violence’ kicks in, it’s business as usual, ‘Dammit’ and the final swansong of the weekend ‘Family Reunion’ sees us depart for another year. With the anticipation of some of the best acts around being touted by the crowd for next year, we can only hope for some repeats (please) and some huge headliners, a little warmth in the air and another incredible weekend,

Reviewed by:  Andy Jamieson