After much speculation, on Monday the final headliners for the last of the UK’s major Summer festivals, Reading and Leeds 2013 were confirmed. After releasing three albums over the course of the last year, none of us should be overly surprised that US pop punk legends Green Day were confirmed to join Eminem and Biffy Clyro as the three headliners for Reading and Leeds. It’s a choice that is likely to split festival goers – but then that seems to go for all such announcements these days!
Alongside Billie Joe, Mike, Tre and Jason, the reactivation of Nine Inch Nails by Trent Reznor earlier in the year will mean few are surprised to see NIN take their spot on the line-up’s, where they will be sub-headlining under Biffy Clyro (something else that seems to have ruffled a few feathers amongst the NIN fanbase, but we’re sure they are just happy that Trent is up and running again). Chase & Status are also taking to the Reading and Leeds stages this year. Having sub-headlined The Prodigy at Download 2012 in a very effective fashion, one of the surprises of the 2012 festival circuit will get another chance to show they can fit in on any bill as they sub-headline for Eminem.
Across the weekend, several more pop punk, rock and metal acts (plus a couple of other acts with metal leanings) have taken their places on the line up. Friday’s main stage, in addition to seeing Green Day, System Of A Down and the previously announced Deftones and Bring Me The Horizon will see folk rock’s current hero Frank Turner returning to Reading and Leeds, and pop punk veterans New Found Glory will be kicking things off in typically energetic style.
Saturday’s main stage in addition to Eminem and Chase & Status sees both Brand New and Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic join the fun, and Sunday’s main stage Top 3 are confirmed as the previously announced Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy, with Nine Inch Nails sandwiched in-between. Sunday also sees the appearance of former Alexisonfire main man Dallas Green in his new life with City And Colour on the Radio One / NME Stage.
If Green Day aren’t your thing then you could check out Dubstep’s hot property Skrillex headlining the Radio One/NME Tent, and similarly Pendulum fans may well wish to skip Biffy Clyro to see Knife Party in the Dance Tent. If that’s not enough, also announced to be appearing across the weekend (stages to be confirmed) are one of the metal bands of the moment in While She Sleeps, friends of Rocksins and white hot rock/dubstep crossover act Modestep, UK rock bands Mallory Knox and The Blackout, and experimental metal act Tomahawk (one of Mike Patton’s many projects for those not familiar with the band).
So that’s quite a mixed bag to digest! Tickets for Reading and Leeds are on sale now at around the £200 mark. Day tickets are also available. Tickets are available from all the usual online ticketing websites, as well as from the official Reading and Leeds festival websites. Further news updates on Reading and Leeds, as well as Download, Bloodstock and the rest of the UK’s major alternative festivals will be available here at Rocksins as and when announcements are made.
