Leeds & Reading boss talks to eFestivals

At the press launch of this year's Reading, and Leeds festivals eFestivals got a chance to join in on a Q&A session with Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic.

What acts are you looking forward to yourself this year?
That's actually harder than one might imagine giving a straightforward answer to. I guess, interestingly, Blink 182 or Pendulum would be my absolute highlights. You know really Arcade Fire, Guns and Roses, Queens of the Stone Age and Libertines of course! You know, where does one start? I think certainly the last few times I've seen Pendulum it's just been extraordinary and they'd probably be the top of my list this year.

How do you choose the line up? Is there a specific formula you use?
Oh crikey, no! There's no formula, we don't make nuts and bolts, we create festivals. Certainly with a festival like Leeds/Reading one has to try and present a broad balance in terms of the styles of music we're into. This year I think we have really gone across the board, everything really. Guns and Roses, everyone's heard of them and Axl Rose is just incredible on stage (I hasten to add he always makes you wait). Arcade Fire, well, it's just the right year for them with their new album coming out. I think it's time they became a headliner, and I think it says a lot about them and indeed the festival that we've made them that this year. It very important to them and us, and then of course we have Blink 182 who are the American punk band to beat all American punk bands (my favourite without a doubt). One didn't imagine they'd come considering the plane crash, the unwillingness to fly and that business.

So we do try and get it across the board, it's certainly not a formula.

In terms of ticket prices do you think that this year's price is reflected accurately?
I don't think the prices are too expensive, it's gone up by five pounds over the course of the year which I feel is pretty modest actually. So, yes, it has been moderately increased but I also think it's fantastic value. It obviously includes parking, camping and the most extraordinary weekend in your life. And £180 is excellent if you're going to have that peak of a weekend, in any man's book.

Have you done anything differently this year to prevent ticket fraud?
No, I think what we've been doing over the past couple of years is really beginning to work. We're working hard to close down these bogus ticket sites and we have close ties with the Police of both Leeds and Reading. I'd say without any doubt we have got on top of the problem. In 2008 between the two sites we had around 5,000 people show up with bogus tickets, last year in 2009 that was down to about 300. I think we're working in the right direction here.

With Leeds having a heavy local music scene do you think the festival has had any impact on that?
I think it's unquestioned, actually, that the festival has had a massive impact on the area and indeed the North in general. It has become culturally incredibly important, certainly to young people but also a number of others too. That must have a benefit in terms of what Alan does at Raw Talent for instance. We have lots of bands, young bands, wanting to play the festival. Some of these guys are just finishing school or university and they see that opportunity to play, for example, the BBC Introducing stage. You know, 10 years ago that opportunity didn't exist. Let's not beat around the bush, I think on the northern music scene its impact has been enormous.

I know Weezer are a British festival exclusive for you this year, are there any other bands you're particularly proud to have exclusively?
I think in fairness The Libertines, all three headliners and Paramore. Leeds and Reading have always worked hard to have a strong exclusive output, Weezer being only one of those. Again, like Blink 182, the desire on the forums for Weezer to play (as well as my own personal desire) was just fantastic. It's just great music, great energy and great fun. You know, you always imagine you want to go and live in California or something like that when you've been listening to Weezer it's great, even in rainy England.

With the obvious reliability (or indeed lack of) of Pete Doherty and Axl Rose have you any back-up plans if they fall into any of their frequent mishaps?
No, I mean, interestingly enough with both of them I have absolutely no issues. Pete Doherty asked me the question when we made the offer, "Well I thought I was banned from Reading/Leeds!" so I can absolutely assure everyone they're definitely playing.

How does this festival compare to the success of last year's?
This year's line-up is not quite as accessible. Last year any of our headliners could be heard on mainstream radio pretty much all of the time. This year that isn't necessarily true; they're simply not on Radio 1 day in, day out. But it does have the heritage and reputation of out festivals. Whether it's more accessible or less so doesn't matter, it's all important.

Reading Festival takes place on the bank holiday weekend, from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th August at Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, with the sister event, Leeds Festival, taking place the same weekend at Bramham Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire.

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