2012 Lineup

[VCK]

The thing is, at first glance the undercard on the Main Stage is basically the same as last year's NME Stage.

It's all just "current" bands who we all predicted would play anyway. Where's the curveballs? Where's the surprise acts? Barring The Shins, who are as close as it gets to being an out of the blue booking, where are the bands who released their debut albums before 2004? Was hoping for New Order, Garbage, Public Enemy, Rancid, someone good who would add a bit of strength to the line-up. Even last year's much maligned bill had The Offspring, Deftones, Madness and Jimmy Eat World.

After last year's disappointment I was expecting FR to hit back with a stellar line-up, like they did after 2007 and 2009, but it's even worse. I know it's all down to personal preference what people think is good and what people dislike, but is there many bands below the headliners and subs who'd really make people attenting V, IOW, Download, Sonisphere, TITP, etc think "shit. I've made a mistake, I wish I was going to Reading and Leeds instead now". Surely this can only mean 2013 will see an amazing line-up?

[lharris92]

some odd placings, admittedly but liking the lineup so far. just got to wait for it to be strengthened with the next few announcements.

[kaosmark2]

The thing is, at first glance the undercard on the Main Stage is basically the same as last year's NME Stage.

It's all just "current" bands who we all predicted would play anyway. Where's the curveballs? Where's the surprise acts? Barring The Shins, who are as close as it gets to being an out of the blue booking, where are the bands who released their debut albums before 2004? Was hoping for New Order, Garbage, Public Enemy, Rancid, someone good who would add a bit of strength to the line-up. Even last year's much maligned bill had The Offspring, Deftones, Madness and Jimmy Eat World.

After last year's disappointment I was expecting FR to hit back with a stellar line-up, like they did after 2007 and 2009, but it's even worse. I know it's all down to personal preference what people think is good and what people dislike, but is there many bands below the headliners and subs who'd really make people attenting V, IOW, Download, Sonisphere, TITP, etc think "shit. I've made a mistake, I wish I was going to Reading and Leeds instead now". Surely this can only mean 2013 will see an amazing line-up?

[Eop]

The thing is, at first glance the undercard on the Main Stage is basically the same as last year's NME Stage.

It's all just "current" bands who we all predicted would play anyway. Where's the curveballs? Where's the surprise acts? Barring The Shins, who are as close as it gets to being an out of the blue booking, where are the bands who released their debut albums before 2004? Was hoping for New Order, Garbage, Public Enemy, Rancid, someone good who would add a bit of strength to the line-up. Even last year's much maligned bill had The Offspring, Deftones, Madness and Jimmy Eat World.

After last year's disappointment I was expecting FR to hit back with a stellar line-up, like they did after 2007 and 2009, but it's even worse. I know it's all down to personal preference what people think is good and what people dislike, but is there many bands below the headliners and subs who'd really make people attenting V, IOW, Download, Sonisphere, TITP, etc think "shit. I've made a mistake, I wish I was going to Reading and Leeds instead now". Surely this can only mean 2013 will see an amazing line-up?

[OneTwo]

Just out of curiousness when does everyone think this will sell out, its been so easy to get tickets i got through straight away and i went on a few times after and got through everytime.

[kaosmark2]

Just out of curiousness when does everyone think this will sell out, its been so easy to get tickets i got through straight away and i went on a few times after and got through everytime.

[ashrichards]

Loving all the moaners! Shhhh your just upsetting yourselfs. This is only 50% of the line up. With the bands already announced I feel sorry for you if you can't go to the festival and have a good time!

[OneTwo]

July maybe?

I can't see it being quickly if at all. I suspect with the touts getting burned last year they didn't bother as much this year, meaning there'll be a lot more left than usual.

[ashrichards]

[dentalplan]

We can hope, we can only hope (or take drastic action against Melvin and somehow take control of FR)

[Prufrock]

If Refused do headline Lock Up then it pretty much means they will clash with either The Cure or Foos, right? What an awful clash.

[Eop]

The only hope we have is that this sells poorly again and Uncle Melvin realises that its not the economy, its his piss poor lineups that are putting people off.

I really hoped UK festivals would've stepped up this year in the absence of Glastonbury but seems they all took a year off unfortunately.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I like this years line up.

But i really did think they were gonna to actually pull all the stops out to live up to the 'greatest festival on the planet' saying.

I mean it's reading, they should be able to get whoever they want, touring or not.

Edited March 13, 2012 by thesecretingredientiscrime

[mrtourette]

Random as fuck, such a weird line-up. Questionable placements, unexpected bands playing (Paramore, Bullet, Coheed), expected ones not (Korn, Lostprophets, KIGH). Kind of a crappy poster design too, it looks all over the place.

I'm pretty happy with the line-up though, and have got myself a weekend ticket. Not as good as 2010, but it beats 2009 and 2011 for me. Shame about the lack of Korn, Prophets, ADTR, The Used and The Pretty Reckless, but solid nonetheless. Can't believe we got Paramore, that came completely out of nowhere!

[Eop]

Reading's not that big, and although it has a bigger budget than certain festivals, it's not deemed as as much of a prestige draw. I don't think it's fair to expect that of R&L.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I know, that's what i was getting at. Reading isn't bigger than others yet everyone expects the best from them because it has history (This is it's 40th year?). I just think if i was in a band i would love to play headline reading over other fest (maybe not glasto) beacuse it's reading. no other reason

Edited March 13, 2012 by thesecretingredientiscrime

[Spud001]

[Voliton]

A lot of people are confusing their music tastes for that of the general public. Strangely enough, the majority of the public like the bands on the lineup. These bands all sell huge numbers of albums. They are all currently (with the exception of one or two, e.g. The Cure) riding on the waves of success that being popular brings them. It seems that a lot of people here would like a musical festival to be tailored directly to their interests. If a band you like isn't on the lineup, go see them in concert. Don't shit up the thread (and the festival itself) complaining about how this or that band "deserve" to be there, because Reading has "such a history" or whatever bollocks. Yes, there are bands out there that could, and perhaps should, have been booked (I'm looking at you, Green Day), but they weren't. Melvin has booked the acts he knows people want to see, and that's the festival we get. If you like it, go, if you don't, more tickets for people that actually like this music.

As an aside to that rant, any possibility The D (and Franz Ferdinand) could be FR headliners, like Ash were in 2010? I know both are pretty huge, but they haven't released albums for a while so they could be a solid booking for a smaller audience.

[VCK]

I know, that's what i was getting at. Reading isn't bigger than others yet everyone expects the best from them because it has history (This is it's 40th year?). I just think if i was in a band i would love to play headline reading over other fest (maybe not glasto) beacuse it's reading. no other reason

[Lewis Cato]

Positives:

Headliners/Subs: All incredibly strong, each capable of shifting a large amount of day tickets (maybe Florence more than Kasabian) and on initial appearance makes for what seems to be a really strong line-up. The Maccabees and Foster the People are the perfect way of offering something to the younger crowd who may not be interested in The Cure, At the Drive-In are a really strong booking also likely to shift some day tickets and TDCC and Justice are once again a great alternative to Foo Fighers.

The Shins: A band who are obviously in very high demand managing to sell out 2 nights at HMV Forum practically instantaneously; a sunny mid-afternoon slot will be absolutely perfect for their life-affirming, rich indie rock.

OFWGKTA: A surprising and somewhat refreshing booking; a high slot on the NME stage would have been far more expected, but is there much demand for Odd Future at Reading anymore? Either way their slot 6th down will at the very least make for an interesting watch; whether the rest of the Reading audience agrees with that though is yet to be discovered.

The Gaslight Anthem: Selling out their intimate show at the KOKO late last week in 6 minutes shows once again a great demand and a solid if not safe booking by Reading.

Katy B probably also deserves a notable mention; a great dance/pop crossover booking for the dance stage; totally solid.

Negatives:

Paramore: After subbing in 2010 to blink-182 and receiving a lukewarm reception it doesn't appear to make much sense to have them subbing under The Cure. blink-182 is a far more appropiate act for Paramore to be subbing and if they could only provoke a mediocre reaction then it does not bode well for this year.

Bombay Bicycle Club/The Vaccines: Both too small to play 3rd. Not much else to be said.

Enter Shikari: After playing Reading for what will now be 4 years in a row a slot not much different to that of last year's is just plain boring. A booking as headliner for NME would have made for a far more interesting read as it would have given now Reading veterans and their devoted following the reward of finally headlining a stage after all these years; a reward which they would show their gratitude for by putting on the biggest show of their careers and going down a storm, but instead we're treated with just plain ol' Enter Shikari at Reading. As always. Unlike Frank Turner, whose residency at the festival has shown him flourish up the bill, Shikari's slots are beginning to show a stagnancy which could ultimately jeopardise their legacy at the festival. Only solution; not to play for a long bloody time after this year or at the very least return in a couple years with a more interesting slot.

Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles' live show relies heavily on the gloomy, intimidating atmosphere created through their biting sonic and visual attack provided through a heap of smoke, darkness and unforgiving strobes. Is this going to translate on a sunny afternoon with a blue sky above? I think not. Although usually an incredibly powerful live act, this slot completely removes them from the atmosphere which makes them so exciting; I was trying to think of what to compare it to, and although at first I imagined it being like if Elbow were placed in the NME tent last year instead of on the Main Stage at sunset, it's so much worse than that, it's like if Elbow were placed in the staff room of the Reading branch of the Vodafone shop. A slot rendering them completely devoid of their power which makes them so interesting. Big mistake.

Edited March 13, 2012 by Lewis Cato

[mrtourette]

Reading has a world famous reputation, it's arguably the second biggest festival in the world behind Glastonbury. So many bands have made names for themselves at Reading. Bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Blur, Radiohead, Manics, Muse, Kings Of Leon, RATM, I could go on. To see a festival with such legendary status reduced to this is depressing.

[Eop]

Reading has a world famous reputation, it's arguably the second biggest festival in the world behind Glastonbury. So many bands have made names for themselves at Reading. Bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Blur, Radiohead, Manics, Muse, Kings Of Leon, RATM, I could go on. To see a festival with such legendary status reduced to this is depressing.

[MJMilz14]

The only hope we have is that this sells poorly again and Uncle Melvin realises that its not the economy, its his piss poor lineups that are putting people off.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

A lot of people are confusing their music tastes for that of the general public. Strangely enough, the majority of the public like the bands on the lineup. These bands all sell huge numbers of albums. They are all currently (with the exception of one or two, e.g. The Cure) riding on the waves of success that being popular brings them. It seems that a lot of people here would like a musical festival to be tailored directly to their interests. If a band you like isn't on the lineup, go see them in concert. Don't shit up the thread (and the festival itself) complaining about how this or that band "deserve" to be there, because Reading has "such a history" or whatever bollocks. Yes, there are bands out there that could, and perhaps should, have been booked (I'm looking at you, Green Day), but they weren't. Melvin has booked the acts he knows people want to see, and that's the festival we get. If you like it, go, if you don't, more tickets for people that actually like this music.

As an aside to that rant, any possibility The D (and Franz Ferdinand) could be FR headliners, like Ash were in 2010? I know both are pretty huge, but they haven't released albums for a while so they could be a solid booking for a smaller audience.

[st dan]

The odds of a Mr Grohl and Mr Homme collaboration somewhere must be pretty high .. Surely ??