Reading Festival 2011 Preview
As one of the biggest UK festivals, but one of the last to confirm a solid line up, a lot rides on Reading festival having a stellar spread hidden up its voluminous sleeves. Lucky for us that it’s in 50th year, it shows no signs of withdrawing into old age.
In 2011, the line-up is eclectic as always, with no shortage on big names. Headlining the Friday night at Reading (in what is seen by many as a brave choice) are American rock titans My Chemical Romance, riding high on the success of their fourth album “Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys”. Although many fear for the well-being of the band following their 2006 appearance where they were heavily bottled during the height of “The War On Emo”, lead singer Gerard Way has no such concerns.
“I said to the guys, ‘I never want to play this again until we headline’,” he told NME. “Kind of what Freddie Mercury once said when Queen were booed offstage at the Sunbury festival in 1974. Our shows are going to be something special. We don’t even care if we lose money or break even.”
Fighting talk, but who will be competing for attention with the killjoys? Why, it’s no other than Liam Gallagher and Beady Eye, who are headlining the Radio 1/NME tent in what is tipped to be one of the biggest festival moments of the summer. After his last ill-fated festival appearance (Oasis split the day of their headline appearance at V festival in 2009), is Liam nervous about playing in front of such a large crowd again? Is he hell.
“I’ll comfortably f***ing fit back into that dress.” He declared to NME. “I’m not bothered about competing against other bands either. The Strokes? We weren’t f***ing scared of them the first time we heard them. We’re not f***ing scared of them now!”
Although Liam might not be scared of The Strokes, for many their co headlining slot with Pulp (Pulp headlining in Leeds, The Strokes in Reading) is this years biggest festival draw. Expected to play a set encompassing their entire career, rather than being heavy on new songs (Arctic Monkeys of 09, take note), we anticipate a no nonsense rock show, as Casablancas and co tear through fan favourites resplendent in leather jackets and enormous sunglasses.
So in typical Reading style, we have the young pretender threatening to go mainstream (My Chemical Romance), and the almighty comeback (The Strokes), so who does that leave to fill the “Legend” two hour slot on Sunday? Why, that honour could go to no other than possibly the biggest british band of recent years, the almighty Muse.
Announcing that their appearance will be the very last time they play songs from their hugely successful “Origin of Symmetry” album, Muse’s slot will have a certain aura of exclusivity about it. This is something the band hope to play on, by erecting a stage set up they will not be used at any other festival. Matt Bellamy stated that the band are going to “create a production around the album that they never had the chance to do at the time. We want to play the album from top to finish, as well as the other hits.”
In terms of headliners, we have a formidable trio. But what other delights await us on the bank holiday weekend? Expect one of the last ever live shows from The Streets, who Mike Skinner recently announced to be retiring, as well as appearances from newbies Two Door Cinema Club, oldies Jimmy Eat World, cinematic stadium fillers 30 Seconds To Mars, and acoustic beauties Bombay Bicycle Club. The lineup also includes the likes of Noah And The Whale, Elbow, Friendly Fires, The Vaccines, Frank Turner, and many many more, with some still to be announced.
So far so good, but the eternal question is always this: why does Reading Festival deserve your money when there are so many other fantastic line ups out there? The nearest competitor in mind would be Knebworth’s Sonisphere, which many say boasts a more impressive traditional rock line up. The final word goes to Festival organiser Melvin Benn.
“People may talk about Sonisphere but Sonisphere’s massively narrow. Have you seen the same bands at Sonisphere before? Yeah. Will you see them again? Yeah, probably next year. If you want to go and see the same old bands year on year on year, go to Sonisphere. If not, come to Reading and Leeds.”
Reading and Leeds Festival will take place between August 26-28. For a list of reputable ticketing agencies, visit http://www.readingfestival.com/2011/tickets/ or http://www.leedsfestival.com/2011/tickets/