2023 Festival

[captainricebox]

Despite my lack of fomo for this year I was tempted by a couple of half price tickets for Saturday, just because it's right here and I know I can just get drunk and party. I really hope they make amends next year. Whomever is managing this mess this year is clearly nothing but financially driven and lost sight of what Reading was, treating it like some other city festival. 

 

Weekend tickets are twice what the relative price given inflation was when I first went, and the lineup back then had bands with at least one and often multiple albums opening most of the stages. I get the album business and stream have changed things since then, but really? How are kids meant to be paying for that if you're relying on The Killers to hold it all together?

[charlierc]

35 minutes ago, captainricebox said:

How are kids meant to be paying for that if you're relying on The Killers to hold it all together?

I mean, they did sell out a large-scale UK stadium tour last year (I should know given I was at the Coventry date). But the general thing is just a mess.

Do we expect to see a big change for 2024 or is the buzz that they're just gonna keep on plodding along with this format?

[andyrhodes24]

5 minutes ago, charlierc said:

I mean, they did sell out a large-scale UK stadium tour last year (I should know given I was at the Coventry date). But the general thing is just a mess.

Do we expect to see a big change for 2024 or is the buzz that they're just gonna keep on plodding along with this format?

We’ve nothing really to go off yet, not even Glasto headliners from this year. Looking back, 2019 was the perfect mix of pop and alt, even decent sized bands drawing decent sized crowds in the FR and pit stages, people stood outside for Bowling for Soup (clashed with The 1975) as they couldn’t get in. What a year

[dumbsaints]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

I mean, they did sell out a large-scale UK stadium tour last year (I should know given I was at the Coventry date). But the general thing is just a mess.

Do we expect to see a big change for 2024 or is the buzz that they're just gonna keep on plodding along with this format?

The Killers crowds on that tour were mostly 30+, leaning towards 40+. Not Reading kind of audience.

[andyrhodes24]

Just now, dumbsaints said:

The Killers crowds on that tour were mostly 30+, leaning towards 40+. Not Reading kind of audience.

Scary thing is at their recent headline gigs The Killers have been playing Mr Brightside first, imagine the exodus after that at R&L

[charlierc]

5 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Scary thing is at their recent headline gigs The Killers have been playing Mr Brightside first, imagine the exodus after that at R&L

The setlist I'd seen most recently had Human first and Brightside last.

[andyrhodes24]

3 minutes ago, charlierc said:

The setlist I'd seen most recently had Human first and Brightside last.

That now infamous Georgia gig had it first and quite a few on their summer US gigs did as well. Don’t see how that could possibly work 

[TumbleBean94]

Anyone got any recommendations for the Saturday? I’ve got a day ticket but only really know artists on the main stage and want see someone in the tents. Really want to see Soft Play but probably won’t be able to make it and get a decent spot for the 1975 which is really annoying!

[sacred shape]

1 minute ago, Crafty94 said:

Anyone got any recommendations for the Saturday? I’ve got a day ticket but only really know artists on the main stage and want see someone in the tents. Really want to see Soft Play but probably won’t be able to make it and get a decent spot for the 1975 which is really annoying!

High Vis - smiths instrumentals with mild hardcore-esque vocals

Graphic Nature (if you like heavy nu-metal)

Joey Valence and Brae - the Beastie Boys reincarnated

Fat Dog - another Windmill band (like black midi, BCNR etc) who have just released thier first song

Lucia and the Best Boys - synth pop, saw them support Wolf Alice 

[Dukey]

4 minutes ago, Crafty94 said:

Anyone got any recommendations for the Saturday? I’ve got a day ticket but only really know artists on the main stage and want see someone in the tents. Really want to see Soft Play but probably won’t be able to make it and get a decent spot for the 1975 which is really annoying!

Nothing But Thieves, Inhaler, Somebody’s Child, Georgia, KennyHoopla, Lucia & the Best Boys and Joey Vallence & Brae worth checking out 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Dukey

[Crews1]

26 minutes ago, charlierc said:

The setlist I'd seen most recently had Human first and Brightside last.

They do Brightside first at festivals, we’ll get that setlist

[TumbleBean94]

2 minutes ago, Dukey said:

Nothing But Thieves, Inhaler, Somebody’s Child, Georgia, KennyHoopla, Lucia & the Best Boys and Joey Vallence & Brae worth checking out 

NBT are already on the list, cheers! Really want to see KennyHoopla but that 1975 clash is killing me, I saw Kenny before and he was amazing but the 1975 are the only real reason I got my mate to commit to buying a ticket tbh! 

[Dukey]

1 minute ago, Crafty94 said:

NBT are already on the list, cheers! Really want to see KennyHoopla but that 1975 clash is killing me, I saw Kenny before and he was amazing but the 1975 are the only real reason I got my mate to commit to buying a ticket tbh! 

I’d suggest Sleep Token as well but they clash with the Killers I think! 

[thatTFBguy]

1 hour ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Scary thing is at their recent headline gigs The Killers have been playing Mr Brightside first, imagine the exodus after that at R&L

No chance it's not last at a UK festival. Especially one where there's another "headliner" finishing just 10 minute before them. 

[charlierc]

57 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

That now infamous Georgia gig had it first and quite a few on their summer US gigs did as well. Don’t see how that could possibly work 

Just noticed, si. I know that's been an on/off thing for years - think way back in 2012 they were playing Mr Brightside as an opener quite frequently.

[will swain]

arriving by car - got eco-camping - anyone know if we can park near Yellow Gate or is it just normal brown/red

Edited August 23, 2023 by will swain

[Benj]

4 hours ago, TKOCF said:

Judging by pics, Red Camp at Leeds is only about a third full. Usually absolutely heaving by this time on a Wednesday.

Dead festival with a sh*t format

[Andre91]

Red is always one of the first to fill up. 
 

Someone ask around with the stewards and staff etc to see if you can get a rough number out of them on how many attendees they have coming? 

[andyrhodes24]

8 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Red is always one of the first to fill up. 
 

Someone ask around with the stewards and staff etc to see if you can get a rough number out of them on how many attendees they have coming? 

I’ll  report back tomorrow when I get there if I remember, don’t think it’ll be as bad as we think but I’m intrigued

[Andre91]

I’m going to guess around 60,000. 

[19liam75]

Aiming to be at the car park around 9am tomorrow. If anyone could report on which campsite is looking like having a lot of spare space it would be greatly appreciated. Hoping to be somewhere other than White camp.

[therefused]

Any truth to the rumours they’re limiting the amount of alcohol you can take into the campsite?

[Supreme2]

What Leeds campsites looking like? The same as reading (business)?

[jonnyisRFC]

28 minutes ago, therefused said:

Any truth to the rumours they’re limiting the amount of alcohol you can take into the campsite?

Wouldn’t surprise me, it’s Reading festival. Anything to make your experience less enjoyable! 

[Dukey]

1 hour ago, therefused said:

Any truth to the rumours they’re limiting the amount of alcohol you can take into the campsite?

At Boardmasters you could only take 2 crates and were only allowed to take booze the first time you went in