Reading and Leeds Festivals

{{Main|National Jazz and Blues Festival}}

The Reading Festival was originally known as the National Jazz Festival, which was conceived by Harold Pendleton (founder of the Marquee Club in London in 1958) and first held at Richmond Athletic Ground in 1961. Throughout the 1960s, the festival moved between several London and Home Counties sites, being held at Windsor Racecourse, Kempton Park, Sunbury and Plumpton, before reaching its permanent home at Reading in 1971.{{cite web|url=http://www.myvillage.com/pages/bars&music-music-festivals-carling-weekend-reading-festival.htm|title=Make Christmas Villages easily with My Village|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219085008/http://www.myvillage.com/pages/bars%26music-music-festivals-carling-weekend-reading-festival.htm|archive-date=19 February 2008|access-date=3 May 2018}} Since 1964, when the festival added a Friday evening session to the original Saturday and Sunday format, it has been staged over three days, with the sole exception of 1970 when a fourth day was added, running from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August.

The National Jazz Federation (NJF) Festival was established at the height of the trad jazz boom, as a successor to the Beaulieu Jazz Festival, initially as a two-day event held at Richmond Athletic Ground. The line-up for the first two years was made up exclusively of jazz performers, but in 1963, several rhythm & blues acts were added to the bill, including the Rolling Stones, Georgie Fame, and Long John Baldry, and by 1965, such acts were in the majority, with jazz sessions reduced to Saturday and Sunday afternoons only. This format continued until 1967 when jazz was limited to just the Saturday afternoon session. By 1969, jazz had disappeared entirely from the line-up.

In 1964, a Friday evening session was added to the existing weekend format. In 1966, the NJF Festival moved to the larger Windsor Racecourse. The following year a second stage (the Marquee Stage) was added, but when the festival was moved to Sunbury in 1968 it reverted to a single-stage format. The festival was held at Plumpton Racecourse in 1969 and 1970.

File:Reading Festival 1975 (6).jpg

After moving to Reading, the festival's line-up became primarily composed of progressive rock, blues and hard rock during the early and mid 1970s,{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/aug/25/arts.pop | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=In praise of ... the Reading festival | date=25 August 2006 | access-date=30 June 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205456/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/aug/25/arts.pop | archive-date=14 July 2014 }} and then became the first music festival to incorporate punk rock and new wave in the late 1970s, when the Jam, Sham 69, and the Stranglers were among the headline acts.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-78.html|title=Reading Rock Festival.Reading 1978|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107030627/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-78.html|archive-date=7 January 2011}} The festival's attempts to cater for both traditional rock acts and punk and new wave bands occasionally led to clashes between the two sets of fans at the end of the 1970s, though the festival gradually became known for focusing on heavy metal and rock acts.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-79.html|title=Reading Rock Festival.Reading 1979|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310172708/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-79.html|archive-date=10 March 2008}}

During the 1980s, the festival followed a similar format to that established in the late 1970s, with leading rock and heavy metal acts performing on the last two days, and a more varied line-up including punk and new wave bands on the opening day.

In 1984 and 1985, the Conservative-run local council effectively banned the festival by designating the festival site for development and refusing to grant licences for any alternative sites in the Reading area.

In 1984, many acts were already booked and tickets were on sale, with Marillion due to headline. The promoters tried in vain to find a new site but a proposed move to Lilford Hall in Northamptonshire failed. The proposed line-up was published in Soundcheck free music paper issue 12 as: Friday 24 August – Hawkwind, Boomtown Rats, Snowy White, the Playn Jayn, Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, Wildfire, Chelsea Eloy, Tracy Lamb, New Torpedoes; Saturday 25 – Jethro Tull, Hanoi Rocks, Steve Hackett, Club Karlsson, Nazareth, Twelfth Night, Thor, Silent Running, New Model Army, IQ, the Roaring Boys, She; Sunday 26 – Marillion, Grand Slam, the Bluebells, Helix, Clannad, the Opposition, the Enid, Young Blood, Scorched Earth, and Terraplane).

After Labour regained control of the council in 1986, permission was given for fields adjacent to the original festival site to be used, and a line-up was put together at short notice.{{cite web|url=http://www.viator.com/travel-tips/Festivals-and-Fringe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616204535/http://www.viator.com/travel-tips/Festivals-and-Fringe|archive-date=16 June 2008|title=Tours, Tickets & Things to do from Tour Operators Worldwide by Viator}}

The following year saw a record attendance, headlined by the Mission, Alice Cooper and Status Quo.

1988 saw an attempt to take the festival in a mainstream commercial pop direction,{{cite web|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/festival/search.asp?year=1988|title=Explore the Collections – Reading Festival|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224023533/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/festival/search.asp?year=1988|archive-date=24 February 2008}} featuring acts including Starship, Squeeze, Hothouse Flowers, Bonnie Tyler and Meat Loaf (who was bottled off stage),{{cite web |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/music/features/worst-festival-sets.php?page=4 |title=Worst Festival Sets: Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler |publisher=Virgin Media |access-date=21 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093129/http://www.virginmedia.com/music/features/worst-festival-sets.php?page=4 |archive-date=6 October 2014 }} and the subsequent disputes led to the ousting of original festival promoter Harold Pendleton by the Mean Fiddler Music Group organisation.{{cite news | url=http://student.independent.co.uk/graduate_options/mbas_guide/article265467.ece | work=The Independent | location=London | title=How I Got Here: Fiddling all over the world | first=Susannah | last=Prain | date=1 February 2001 | access-date=22 May 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203194931/http://student.independent.co.uk/graduate_options/mbas_guide/article265467.ece | archive-date=3 December 2007 }}

Pendleton attempted to relocate the festival to a new site near Newbury using the name "Redding Festival", but threats of legal action by the new promoters of the original festival, as well as a reluctance by Newbury District Council to issue a licence for the proposed Newbury Showground venue, blocked Pendleton's plans. Meanwhile, the official Reading Festival, now managed by Mean Fiddler, continued at the Thames-side site in Reading, with a predominantly goth and indie music policy that alienated much of the traditional fan base and saw attendances plummet.

Attendances continued to fall between 1989 and 1991, but began to recover from 1992, when new organisers took over from the Mean Fiddler group, broadening the festival's musical policy.

In 1991, Nirvana made the first of their two appearances at Reading, midway down the bill. The following year, in 1992, they played what would be their last UK concert, which was released as a live album/DVD Live at Reading in November 2009. Singer Kurt Cobain came onstage in a wheelchair pushed by music journalist Everett True and wearing a medical gown, parodying speculations about his mental health.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/sevenages/events/alternative-rock/nirvana-headline-reading-festival/|title=BBC – Seven Ages of Rock – Events – Nirvana headline Reading Festival|last=BBC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315203807/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/sevenages/events/alternative-rock/nirvana-headline-reading-festival/|archive-date=15 March 2013}} The 1992 festival was hit by extreme weather, with a thunderstorm on the Saturday drenching the site, leaving it ankle-deep in mud, and blowing away the Comedy Tent.{{cite web|url=https://archivedmusicpress.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/reading-festival-special-cover-of-the-melody-maker-12th-september-1992/|title=Reading Festival Special cover of the Melody Maker, 12th September 1992 |date=6 April 2009 }}

By the mid-1990s, the festival had begun to regain its former status as the popularity of UK outdoor festivals increased. Britpop and indie began to appear on the bill alongside the traditional rock and metal acts, and rap acts such as Ice Cube began to appear regularly on the main stage, to mixed receptions. Public Enemy headlined the second day of the 1992 festival. Beastie Boys were about halfway down the bill for day three.

In 1996, the Stone Roses played the last gig before their break-up at the festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A963489|title=h2g2 – The Stone Roses – 'The Stone Roses' – Edited Entry|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826043346/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A963489|archive-date=26 August 2007}}

In 1998, the Reading Festival absorbed the failed Phoenix Festival, resulting in an on-stage dispute between Beastie Boys and the Prodigy over the song "Smack My Bitch Up".

In 1999, the festival added a second venue at Temple Newsam in Leeds,[http://justcantbeatthat.com/index.php/lifestyle/playlists/reading-99 Reading 1999 – FC Luzern In English] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007214302/http://www.justcantbeatthat.com/index.php/lifestyle/playlists/reading-99 |date=7 October 2011 }}. Justcantbeatthat.com. Retrieved on 17 July 2013. the site of V Festival in 1997 and 1998, due to increasing demand.[https://books.google.com/books?id=xSzqY7tD2UUC&dq=leeds+festival+1997+history+temple+newsam&pg=PA366 Festival and Events Management – Google Boeken]. Books.google.com. Retrieved on 17 July 2013. In the first year, all bands performed at the Leeds site the day after they played Reading, with the Reading Festival running from Friday to Sunday and the Leeds Festival running from Saturday to Monday. However, in 2001, the festival moved to the current format, wherein the Reading line-up plays at Leeds the following day, with the opening day line-up from Leeds playing the final day in Reading (with the exceptions of 2009 and 2010 when the bands playing Leeds played Reading the following day, and the bands on the opening day of Reading closed Leeds).

File:Reading Festival 2000.jpg

After a successful first year in Leeds, the increasing popularity of outdoor music festivals led to the Reading Festival selling out quicker every year. However, the Leeds Festival was plagued by riots and violence, which led to problems in retaining its licence.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2216223.stm | work=BBC News | title=Festival marred by violence | date=26 August 2002 | access-date=22 May 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120043800/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2216223.stm | archive-date=20 January 2008 }} The worst incidents occurred in 2002, following which the festival was moved to Bramham Park north-east of Leeds.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/entertainment/03/festivals_map/html/reading_leeds.stm |title=READING Little Johns Farm LEEDS Branham Park, Wetherby 22–24 August |work=BBC News |access-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040509102821/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/entertainment/03/festivals_map/html/reading_leeds.stm |archive-date=9 May 2004 }} Since then, security at both sites has increased and problems have been reduced.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/08/17/music_leeds_festival_2006_camp_info_feature.shtml|title=Happy campers|publisher=BBC Leeds Entertainment|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401054943/http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/08/17/music_leeds_festival_2006_camp_info_feature.shtml|archive-date=1 April 2012}}

The early 2000s saw a varied but predominantly rock line-up, though as the decade progressed the Main Stage and Radio 1 Stage featured many indie bands.

Despite being predominantly a rock festival, several hip-hop artists have appeared at the festival over the years, including Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, Beastie Boys, Eminem, Xzibit, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Dizzee Rascal, and the Streets.

In 2005, the main stages at both Reading and Leeds were made larger, featuring cantilevered video screens. The same year the Reading Fringe Festival was established in Reading, with venues in the town hosting acts hoping to draw crowds and industry figures from the larger festival. The Reading Fringe has run annually since then.

Flags were banned from both festival sites in 2009, with the organisers citing health and safety concerns.{{cite news | title = Festival fans receive a flag ban | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8220105.stm | access-date = 29 November 2009 | work = BBC News | date = 25 August 2009 | first = Ian | last = Youngs | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090828040419/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8220105.stm | archive-date = 28 August 2009 }} Flags and banners had been a traditional part of the Reading Festival since the early 1970s, originally used to enable motorcycle groups and others to identify themselves and find each other inside the main arena.

File:Reading Festival Aftermath, 2016.png

Reading Festival continued to expand through the early 2010s, with a new record capacity of 105,000 recorded in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.iq-mag.net/2019/07/reading-festival-2019-sells-out/#.XjFmy2hKiUk|title=Reading Festival 2019 Sells Out|date=22 July 2019|website=IQ|access-date=29 January 2020}} In the same year, 200 artists played at both festivals.{{cite web|url=https://www.viberate.com/article/how-rock-are-you-the-best-festivals-for-headbangers/|title=How Rock Are You? The Best Festivals for Headbangers|last=Klancnik|first=Urban|date=10 December 2019|website=Viberate|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129101235/https://www.viberate.com/article/how-rock-are-you-the-best-festivals-for-headbangers/|url-status=dead}}

The festival typically has the following stages:{{cite web|url=http://www.carling.com/music/festival/carling_weekend/|title=Carling festival main page|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506123618/http://www.carling.com/music/festival/carling_weekend/|archive-date=6 May 2008}}

• Main Stage – major rock, indie, metal and alternative acts.
• NME/Radio 1 stage – less well-known acts, building up to an alternative headline act.
• Dance tent – dance music acts, previously sharing a day with the Lock Up stage, now a stand-alone 3-day stage.
• Lock Up Stage (also known as Pit Stage) – underground punk and hardcore acts.{{cite web|url=http://2008.leedsfestival.com/news/story.aspx?aid=89b91dd3-7426-42f9-b789-5d097d1e5761|title=New Stages Announced|access-date=14 January 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Due to demand, from 2006 this stage took up two days rather than previous years where it was only one day.
• Festival Republic stage – acts with less popular appeal and breakthrough acts.
• 1Xtra Stage – new stage for 2013 that stages Hip-Hop, RnB and Rap artists.
• Alternative tent – comedy and cabaret acts plus DJs.{{cite web|url=http://2008.leedsfestival.com/news/story.aspx?aid=1ff3af91-c948-4739-915b-1fdd1ef44ed3|title=The Alternative stage|access-date=14 January 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
• BBC Introducing Stage – Typically unsigned/not well known acts. (Formerly known as the Topman Unsigned Stage at the Leeds site).

{{wide image|Reading Festival 2007 Panorama 2.jpg|1280px|align-cap=center|A panorama of the Reading Festival 2007 arena}}

On 12 May 2020, it was announced that the year's festivals were cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52637393|title=Reading and Leeds festivals called off until 2021|date=12 May 2020|access-date=12 May 2020|work=BBC News}} The festivals were due to host Rage Against the Machine's first UK show in 10 years, along with Stormzy and Liam Gallagher's first appearances as headliners. The 2021 festival included two main stages with six headliners, among them Stormzy and Liam Gallagher from the previous year's line up.

In 2022, Festival Republic came under fire following a number of incidents at both festival sites. At Reading, multiple fires were reported, as well as mugs, chairs, cups and other objects being thrown. Stabbings were also reported.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-29 |title=Reading festival final day marred by violence and tent burning |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/29/reading-festival-violence-tent-burning |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} At Leeds, 16-year-old David Celino died after it was suspected he had taken ecstasy.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-29 |title=Leeds Festival death: Family pay tribute to David Celino, 16 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-62713425 |access-date=2022-08-29}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2018|reason=2008 & earlier all unreferenced}}

• 2025: Travis Scott, Bring Me the Horizon, Hozier, Chappell Roan{{Cite web |title=Stages |url=https://www.readingfestival.com/lineup/#poster |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Rockstar Energy presents Reading Festival |language=en-GB}}
• 2024: Blink-182, Fred Again, Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Gerry Cinnamon{{Cite web |title=Stages |url=https://www.readingfestival.com/lineup/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Rockstar Energy presents Reading Festival |language=en-GB}}
• 2023: Sam Fender, Foals, the Killers, The 1975 (replacing Lewis Capaldi), Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/news/your-first-2023-line-up-announcement-is-here/|date=9 December 2022|access-date=14 December 2022|title=Your First 2023 Lineup Announcement Is Here!|website=readingfestival.com }}
• 2022: Dave, Megan Thee Stallion, Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me the Horizon, the 1975 (replacing Rage Against the Machine), Halsey{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/08/reading-and-leeds-festival-2022-announce-lineup-with-arctic-monkeys-dave-and-more|date=8 December 2021|access-date=22 March 2022|title=Reading and Leeds festival 2022 announce lineup with Arctic Monkeys, Dave and more |website=TheGuardian.com }}
• 2021: Liam Gallagher, Biffy Clyro (replacing Queens of the Stone Age), Stormzy, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Post Malone, Disclosure{{cite news|work=The Guardian|first=Ben|last=Beaumont-Thomas|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/31/reading-and-leeds-festival-announces-2021-lineup|date=31 August 2020|access-date=3 September 2020|title=Reading and Leeds festival announces 2021 lineup}}
• 2020 (cancelled): Liam Gallagher, Rage Against the Machine, Stormzy{{cite news|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/festivals/reading-and-leeds/third-headliner-2020/|title=Stormzy announced as Reading and Leeds Festival 2020 third headliner|work=RadioX News|date=11 February 2020|access-date=11 February 2020}}
• 2019: The 1975, Foo Fighters, Post Malone/Twenty One Pilots (Co-headline){{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-46286744|title=Reading and Leeds: Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone to headline|work=BBC News|date=12 November 2018|access-date=12 November 2018}}
• 2018: Fall Out Boy, Kendrick Lamar/Panic! at the Disco (Co-headline), Kings of Leon{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/OfficialRandL/status/963319719158779904|title=Reading & Leeds Fest on Twitter|website=twitter.com|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220063322/https://twitter.com/OfficialRandL/status/963319719158779904|archive-date=20 February 2018}}
• 2017: Eminem, Muse, Kasabian{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2017|title=Reading Festival 2017|last=lcarter@festivalrepublic.com|date=6 October 2017|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102352/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2017|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2016: Foals/Disclosure (Co-headline), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Biffy Clyro/Fall Out Boy (Co-headline){{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2016|title=Reading Festival 2016|last=astrid.ferguson@festivalrepublic.com|date=4 October 2016|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102739/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2016|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2015: Mumford & Sons, Metallica, the Libertines{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2015|title=Reading Festival 2015|last=hroberts|date=6 October 2015|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223103001/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2015|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2014: Queens of the Stone Age/Paramore (Co-headline), Arctic Monkeys, Blink-182{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2014|title=Reading Festival 2014|last=bfraserharding@festivalrepublic.com|date=3 September 2014|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160501/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2014|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2013: Green Day, Eminem, Biffy Clyro{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2013|title=Reading Festival 2013|last=kate.sullivan@Festivalrepublic.com|date=16 January 2014|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160442/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2013|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2012: The Cure, Kasabian, Foo Fighters{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2012|title=Reading Festival 2012|date=28 November 2013|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102853/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2012|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2011: My Chemical Romance, the Strokes/Pulp (Co-headline), Muse{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2011|title=Reading Festival 2011|date=28 November 2013|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102805/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2011|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2010: Guns N' Roses, Arcade Fire, Blink-182{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2010|title=Reading Festival 2010|date=28 November 2013|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102636/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2010|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2009: Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2009|title=Reading Festival 2009|date=28 November 2013|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102607/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2009|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 2008: Rage Against the Machine, the Killers, Metallica
• 2007: Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins
• 2006: Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Pearl Jam
• 2005: Pixies, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden
• 2004: The Darkness, the White Stripes, Green Day
• 2003: Linkin Park, Blur, Metallica
• 2002: The Strokes, Foo Fighters, Guns N' Roses (Leeds), the Prodigy
• 2001: Travis, Manic Street Preachers, Eminem
• 2000: Oasis, Pulp, Stereophonics
• 1999: The Charlatans, Blur, Red Hot Chili Peppers
• 1998: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Beastie Boys, Garbage{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-1998|title=Reading Festival 1998|date=28 November 2013|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102716/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-1998|archive-date=23 December 2017}}
• 1997: Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Metallica
• 1996: The Prodigy, Black Grape, the Stone Roses
• 1995: Smashing Pumpkins, Björk, Neil Young
• 1994: Cypress Hill, Primal Scream, Red Hot Chili Peppers
• 1993: Porno For Pyros, the The, New Order
• 1992: Nirvana, the Wonder Stuff, Public Enemy
• 1991: Iggy Pop, James, the Sisters of Mercy
• 1990: The Cramps, Inspiral Carpets, Pixies
• 1989: New Order, the Pogues, the Mission
• 1988: Iggy Pop, Starship, Squeeze
• 1987: The Mission, Status Quo, Alice Cooper
• 1986: Killing Joke, Saxon, Hawkwind
• 1985: No festival held
• 1984 (cancelled): Hawkwind, Jethro Tull, Marillion
• 1983: The Stranglers, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy
• 1982: Budgie, Iron Maiden, the Michael Schenker Group
• 1981: Girlschool, Gillan, the Kinks
• 1980: Rory Gallagher, UFO, Whitesnake
• 1979: The Police, Scorpions (replacing Thin Lizzy), Peter Gabriel
• 1978: The Jam, Status Quo, Patti Smith
• 1977: Golden Earring, Thin Lizzy, Alex Harvey
• 1976: Gong, Rory Gallagher, Osibisa
• 1975: Hawkwind, Yes, Wishbone Ash, Supertramp
• 1974: The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Traffic, Focus
• 1973: Rory Gallagher, Faces, Genesis
• 1972: Curved Air, Faces, Quintessence
• 1971: Arthur Brown, East of Eden, Colosseum
• 1970: Family, Taste, Deep Purple
• 1969: Pink Floyd, the Who, the Nice
• 1968: The Herd, the Nice, Traffic
• 1967: Small Faces, the Nice, Cream
• 1966: Small Faces, the Who, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
• 1965: The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, the Animals
• 1964: The Rolling Stones, Chris Barber Band, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
• 1963: Chris Barber's Jazz Band, Acker Bilk's Paramount Jazz Band
• 1962: Chris Barber's Jazz Band, Kenny Ball's Jazzmen
• 1961: Chris Barber's Jazz Band, Ken Colyer's Jazzmen

Bottling acts off stage (being forced off stage by a barrage of audience-thrown bottles and cans) is a frequent occurrence at the festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1089/bottled-at-reading-festival.html|title=Bands Bottled at Reading Festival|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728204455/http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1089/bottled-at-reading-festival.html|archive-date=28 July 2009}} During the 1970s and 1980s, there were often mass-participation can and bottle fights, and unpopular bands have been bottled offstage throughout the festival's history since the first large-scale "cannings" of 1973 and 1974.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/festivals/reading-and-leeds/photos/539/3/25-things-you-never-knew-about-reading-leeds |title=25 Things You Never Knew About Reading & Leeds – Photos – NME.COM (3) |access-date=25 August 2008 |work=NME |publisher=NME.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825004715/http://www.nme.com/festivals/reading-and-leeds/photos/539/3/25-things-you-never-knew-about-reading-leeds |archive-date=25 August 2008 }} Examples include:

• Punk band the Hellions, featuring ex-Damned guitarist Brian James, were booked on an otherwise 100% heavy metal line-up on the Friday of the 1980 Festival and left the stage in less than a minute following an assault of cans, bottles and pork pies. "I Canned the Hellions at Reading" T-shirts were on sale at souvenir stands within the hour.{{cite web|title=Reading Rock Festival 1980– recollections of attendees.|url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-80-recollections.html|access-date=5 March 2021|website=www.ukrockfestivals.com}}
• In 1983, reggae act Steel Pulse left within moments of arriving on stage under an avalanche of missiles launched by punks and rockers waiting to see the Stranglers.
• John Waite and the No Brakes Band quit the stage on the Saturday of the 1986 festival when their drummer was hit in the head by a 12" vinyl disc.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
• In 1988, Bonnie Tyler completed her set despite being pelted with bottles and turf. The same day's headliner Meat Loaf left 20 minutes into his set after being hit by a full two-litre cider bottle. After an initially positive reception Meat Loaf angered the audience by berating them for their treatment of his friend Bonnie Tyler earlier in the day, then stormed off stage when met with a volley of burgers and bottles. He eventually returned shouting "Do you wanna rock 'n' roll or do you wanna throw stuff?" Ten seconds later the cider bottle struck him in the face, at which point he left the stage permanently.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
• In 2000, Daphne and Celeste were scheduled on the main stage for a short two song set and were bottled throughout.{{cite news |last1=Jonze |first1=Tim |title=Daphne and Celeste: 'They hated us so much!' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/29/daphne-and-celeste-you-and-i-alone |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=29 March 2015}}
• In 2003, Good Charlotte stopped their set 20 minutes short and encouraged the crowd to throw bottles all at the same time after a count of three after being pelted by bottles throughout their set.Handbag, Project. (24 August 2003) [http://drownedinsound.com/news/7852-good-charlotte--this-years-daphne-celeste Good Charlotte: This Year's Daphne & Celeste / Music News // Drowned In Sound] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814045948/http://drownedinsound.com/news/7852-good-charlotte--this-years-daphne-celeste |date=14 August 2011 }}. Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved on 17 July 2013.
• In 2004, 50 Cent was pelted with bottles, mud and an inflatable paddling pool during his set.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL1dvdGoOvk|title=50 Cent at Reading 2004|last=Phoemail|date=25 August 2007|via=YouTube|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820093659/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL1dvdGoOvk|archive-date=20 August 2012}} 50 Cent was on stage for just under 20 minutes before throwing his microphone into the crowd in anger. The Rasmus were also bottled off after one song.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/aug/25/popandrock.readingandleedsfestival2007 |title=Hitting rock bottom |access-date=25 August 2008 |work=The Guardian|first=Tim|last=Jonze |date=25 August 2007 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716035736/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/aug/25/popandrock.readingandleedsfestival2007 |archive-date=16 July 2014 }}
• In 2006 at Reading, Panic! at the Disco lead singer Brendon Urie was struck in the face with a plastic bottle and fell unconscious, forcing the rest of the band to stop mid-song as he lay on the floor. Urie received medical treatment from his road crew for several minutes before regaining consciousness, and the band subsequently continued the song from the point at which it was interrupted.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/panic-at-the-disco/24093|title=Panic! At The Disco speak after bottling|work=NME.COM|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521035556/http://www.nme.com/news/panic-at-the-disco/24093|archive-date=21 May 2011}} The same year, My Chemical Romance were heckled by a small group of angry audience members. Lead singer Gerard Way encouraged the crowd to throw bottles at them instead, and the band were pelted with golf balls and bottles of urine, among other items.{{Cite web |last=NME |date=2006-08-27 |title=My Chemical Romance shelled by crowd |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/my-chemical-romance-163-1358036 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
• In 2008, a crowd of approximately 3,000 people attended the "BBC Introducing" Stage at Reading to see unsigned band the FF'ers, following rumours that it would actually be a secret Foo Fighters gig, and the band were subjected to a large amount of abuse from the audience, including several bottles launched at the band.{{cite web | url = http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/9969/ | title = FF'ers @ Leeds Festival 2008 | access-date = 29 November 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150619205528/http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/9969/ | archive-date = 19 June 2015 }}
• In 2016, Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots was attacked and robbed as he attempted to crowd-surf in the Radio One Tent. Reacting unfavourably to his behaviour, the hostile audience threw him to the ground, ripped off various items of his clothing and stole his ski-mask. Joseph was eventually rescued by security guards, who carried him to an elevated platform where he announced that the band's set was over.{{cite news |last1=Perryman |first1=Francesca |title=Twenty One Pilots Tyler Joseph's rips shirt and loses shoe in Reading Festival crowd surf 'attack' |url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/twenty-one-pilots-tyler-josephs-11809083 |access-date=3 July 2018 |work=Get Reading |date=28 August 2016}}

• List of historic rock festivals
• Love Not Riots
• Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups
• List of music festivals in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Ian |title=The Reading Festival: Music, Mud and Mayhem – The Official History |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn Ltd |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-905287-43-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/readingfestivalm0000carr }}

{{Commons category|Reading and Leeds Festivals}}

• [http://www.readingfestival.com/ Reading Festival official website]
• [http://www.leedsfestival.com/ Leeds Festival official website]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/readingandleeds/ Reading & Leeds] at the BBC
• [https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/Reading/ Reading Festival official ticket agent]
• [https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/Leeds/ Leeds Festival official ticket agent]

{{Live Nation}}

{{Rock festival}}

{{Historic rock festival}}

{{Major British Music Festivals}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Music festivals in Berkshire

Category:Music festivals in Leeds

Category:Rock festivals in England

Category:Music festivals established in 1961