How was it for you?

[Frogger_Queen]

Right.

I loved the all the artists I saw this year, I failed to be disappointed by any of them. RATM, MGMT, Justice, Pendulum, The Kills, Santogold (look up the word "Cool" in the dictionary, and the name Santogold will be the answer ) Dizzee, Seasick Steve.... We as a group had some of the biggest laughs that we've ever had at a festival

However:

This will be my last Reading. I've been going for the last 5 years, my sister the last 12, and neither of us will be returning, after witnessing the carnage that was last night. Our camp, as always was in purple, near the loos and at certain points, I was terrified, suffice to say we packed-up and left just after 3am this morning. I was threatened by a grown-man, who should clearly have known better, just for sticking up for a young lad camped next to us, who'd done NOTHING wrong. I was abused by some stuck-up ponce for pushing the metal bar away that he was waving around beside me, my daughter was verbally abused, my 30 year old nephew - who trust me you really don't want to pick a fight with, pushed around by some drunken kid that had scarcely left his mothers womb - all this, and we didn't even have to leave our group camp. Marvellous.

Gas cannisters (will they ever learn?) fires big enough to maim for life (I've lived through a house fire - no fun involved, honest) total lack of respect for anyone other than themselves....My sister ended up needing stitches in her leg, simply because we decided to get the Hell out before something SERIOUS happened. Whilst walking through Green, along the back pathway near the Thames, we came across more ar*eholes smashing what was left of their toilets up. My sister fell onto one of the large metal poles they'd just ripped down, whilst trying to leave the site and dodge the aforementioned ar*eholes. All this and we weren't even involved in any of the *FUN* these imbeciles were creating for themselves.

I'd like to think that no-one from these forums was involved in the utter destruction in purple/top of green last night, it's such a shame that a few can ruin an amazing weekend for so many.

Don't even get me started on the over-crowding in the arena. Melvin Benn needs a rethink, and quickly, before someone gets seriously hurt.

F_Q

[angrymammal]

I highly recommend camping in white and leaving on sunday night, leaving the dickheads to maim each other and missing the cues.

[Queeg]

Right.

I loved the all the artists I saw this year, I failed to be disappointed by any of them. RATM, MGMT, Justice, Pendulum, The Kills, Santogold (look up the word "Cool" in the dictionary, and the name Santogold will be the answer ) Dizzee, Seasick Steve.... We as a group had some of the biggest laughs that we've ever had at a festival

However:

This will be my last Reading. I've been going for the last 5 years, my sister the last 12, and neither of us will be returning, after witnessing the carnage that was last night. Our camp, as always was in purple, near the loos and at certain points, I was terrified, suffice to say we packed-up and left just after 3am this morning. I was threatened by a grown-man, who should clearly have known better, just for sticking up for a young lad camped next to us, who'd done NOTHING wrong. I was abused by some stuck-up ponce for pushing the metal bar away that he was waving around beside me, my daughter was verbally abused, my 30 year old nephew - who trust me you really don't want to pick a fight with, pushed around by some drunken kid that had scarcely left his mothers womb - all this, and we didn't even have to leave our group camp. Marvellous.

Gas cannisters (will they ever learn?) fires big enough to maim for life (I've lived through a house fire - no fun involved, honest) total lack of respect for anyone other than themselves....My sister ended up needing stitches in her leg, simply because we decided to get the Hell out before something SERIOUS happened. Whilst walking through Green, along the back pathway near the Thames, we came across more ar*eholes smashing what was left of their toilets up. My sister fell onto one of the large metal poles they'd just ripped down, whilst trying to leave the site and dodge the aforementioned ar*eholes. All this and we weren't even involved in any of the *FUN* these imbeciles were creating for themselves.

I'd like to think that no-one from these forums was involved in the utter destruction in purple/top of green last night, it's such a shame that a few can ruin an amazing weekend for so many.

Don't even get me started on the over-crowding in the arena. Melvin Benn needs a rethink, and quickly, before someone gets seriously hurt.

F_Q

[Messi30]

yeah that fire sounded a bit mad - just how did a bbq manage to torch all those cars ?

[strudders]

Was in Indigo and was carnage there too.

I have a photo of the green toilets....

The Angry mob did seem to me to be quite good natured but I guess I was lucky.

However the over crowding is an issue, there was a lot more people than the arena could have ever coped with and add to that the useless toilets made for an interesting evening of milling about in piss mud caked boots.

However over all it was brilliant and I absolutely enjoyed myself.

[Ryan1984]

Was that the G2/G3 road near the entrance?

We camped up there as we always have and as there never seems to be any trouble but it was crazy on Sunday this year. People were starting fights, fire's going way over the top, a bunch of chavs just came and stood by our camp for five minutes and insulted us all for no reason, lights were being torn down, an angry mob who actually did seem horrible, people pissing on and graffitiing stranger's tents, a girl came up to us moaning because her tent was stolen and she was going to steal a sleeping bag to make up for it (she went mad when we told her that it doesn't work like that). We packed up as soon as our first train left in the morning to get out of the place.

I'm all for the fun and games on the campsite, the free hugs, chanting and general dumbness (it was like this the rest of the weekend) but when it gets to the stage where you might be endangering other people something needs to be done. I love the festival and will go again and again but this is getting ridiculous now and someone will get hurt badly soon. I was considering White next year but if there was trouble there this year with car being burnt? I may have to take to driving every day there and back. If I do camp I will definitely be taking my car though, so I can pack up and leave ASAP.

It's such a shame as last night spoilt what was a really, really good weekend (the best Reading for years!),

[angrymammal]

I was disgusted that some proper tosser thought it okay to pee in the water point near the main entrance rather than cue to get into the gents

[scarletjim]

Good stuff:

Music - Most of the bands I saw were great, only a couple let me down a bit.

Lightspeed Champion on Sunday in particular - that fella was charming, funny, and musically sublime. Not to mention the violin player who looks like a cross between comedian Stewart Leee and Phil Mitchell from Eastenders. And to think he was only on my 50/50 list originally! Highlights of Fri n Sat were probably Blood Red Shoes and The Subways.

Most people - met some really cool people, chatted so some fella about football during Pendulum's set which was obviously bit strange, but gave me some company when I couldn't get in the tent. Also many thanks to the young couple who stood next to me and my mate Paul during The Killers, we're not great fans, and were pretty drunk, so sang lots of very wrong lyrics over the top of several songs, and were generally probably just a little bit of a pain, but when we apologised after it had finished, they were laughing and said we'd made their night rather than spoiled it, so that was nice. Generally I found most people were friendly, helpful, happy to chat, sensible etc.

My drinking - this must be my first festival ever where I can actually remember pretty much everything I did. The 'not having a bottle of wine for breakfast' is a revalation! Altho that said, I still did manage to lose my T-shirt early Saturday evening so had no top to wear until leaving the arena several hours later, brrrr that was nippy.

Hotel I know it's not considered 'the done thing' to stay in a hotel when at a festival, but given the events in the campsite last night I'm really glad we did, and will definitely do the same next year.

NME / Radio 1 stage - perfectly out of the way, beer nearby, a suitable 'urination fence' nearby (no harm in that in my opinion as long as people are discreet and sensible - no point having even more people wandering around the site unnecessarily making even more traffic). Spent most of my weekend there (the NME Tent, not the urination fence ).

Covers - some interesting covers, including Scroobius Pip and Dan Le Sac using 'Rock The Funky Beats' on Friday night, and TWO Prodigy songs in the space of a couple of hours yesterday (by Hadouken and Pendulum) - it was like last weekend at V-fest all over again!)

Travelling - dunno how everyone in cars got on, but the train journey was a piece of p*ss both journeys. There was a huge queue this morning about midday at the station, yet within about 10 minutes we were through it and on a train! Station staff were directing people clearly, barriers were open to avoid unnecessary delays, we even got a seat on our train! All surprisingly smooth.

Not so good stuff:

Some people - a few people have mentioned the chavvy types who seem to be growing in attendance numbers each year. I still don't think there are anywhere near as many of them as at V-fest in Chelmsford, but still too many. I didn't see much trouble, but any amount is too much, and when drunk young lads are pushing people around in tents etc it's a shame.

Campsite 'fun' - utter madness. Went back for drinks with friends between about 1am and 3am ish last night and, as usual, it was like a jungle. It's NOT harmless fun, it's f*cking dangerous and something needs to be done.

Gaymers - £3.90 - that's a joke. I paid it, and so did most people as nearly all bars ran out of cider nearly all weekend, but I can't believe cider is about 20% more expensive than last year, talk about inflation...

Queues (?) - only once or twice I got stuck in a total deadlock - obviously that's not great, but maybe it's unavoidable, hence the '?' for this one. I guess whatever order and stage they use for bands, someone is gonna get screwed over by it. Also I never had to queue very long for drinks anywhere (except when waiting for that scarce commodity called cider, but that was stock problem, not about queues per se).

Food - dunno what I was expecting, but I never seem to get excited about any of the food any more. Thai Green curry and veg tempura all days, just couldn't find anytihng else that took my fancy, maybe I'm just getting too fussy!

Might add to this later if anything crops up from the depths of my memory...!!!

[jamesg200311]

Vampire weekend were the best band of the weekend for me, i thought their whole set completely captured the essense of what reading should and is all about, singing in unity with thousands of fans, happily jumping around like a complete maniac and seeing the whole crowd loving every second of it. Flogging Molly and MGMT also did this for me, its all about the tents though, there seems to be such a better atmosphere in there.

After four days of non stop partying and loving every second, I come home and see my house and everything seems so clean and dull. I turn on my music and listen to all the best bands of the weekend and wish i was back there at the festival. Now im back at in my hometown all the people look so serious, civil and boring. But camping at reading with that carefree attitude and having the diet of a beer bellied junk food monster is probably the best thing in the world. Bring on 2009!!

[jammy2211]

Highs were obviously the bands, with two headliner sets better then any I've previously seen at the festival. Met some really cool people, especially those camped near us with a shisha who we chilled with quite alot, and just all the laughs I had with mates as has become the standard.

Biggest low was the pull outs on the Sunday, two of my favourite bands gone, arg.

The Sunday night wasn't that bad imo, albeit for most of it I was just sat in my campsite. The aftermath in the morning was pretty dam disgusting at times, didn't feel particually intimidated though. I do wish it'd get a bit less violence orientated, I've still got plenty of years camping in the midst of it but once I'm a bit older I can see me heading to White for a much more laid back experience.

[Frogger_Queen]

Yep, everyone seems to have got it right here.

Strudders, it was next to those very loo's that my sister got hurt last night.

It's such a shame, it was such a good festival music-wise, queuing for the bar etc wasn't a problem, we camped near some REALLY nice people and made lots of new friends and it's sad to think that the festival we've all enjoyed so much over the years now feels inacessable to us, but such is life.

One thing I can say though, is the angry mob really weren't very good-natured, throwing half full beer cans at each other - again in front of our tents on Thursday night. One girl had a cut under her left eye from a flying can, admittedly not a large cut, but a cut all the same, I asked if she was ok as she cut through our tents to get out of the way.

The thing is, having your gazebos that are attached to your tent ripped down, and having them dragged along with your tent and belongings with it into the sludge ain't funny any way you look at it. Have a trolley forced at great speed into your weary head when trying to get some shut-eye, doesn't raise the tiniest smile with me. Stick a glo-stick up your bum and run around naked and I will laugh at you/with you, dress up in your mum's wedding dress and paint your face, run around dressed as Borat and give me a free-hug, I am more than happy to join in, but destroy my belongings, intimidate me to the point of fearing for my safety, knowing I have three children waiting for me when I get home, and I'm not going to be in the least bit amused.

Thanks everyone for your input, you've restored my faith in the festival-going public, may you all have many years enjoying what we all love to do.

F_Q

[Paul ™]

Was in Indigo and was carnage there too.

I have a photo of the green toilets....

[BruisePristine]

I have to say I think the campsites this year were the messiest I've ever seen them. In terms of litter I mean.

[BoroPhil]

Gotta say that the carnage witnessed on Sunday night in Purple 3 was a disgrace.

Our whole group of 11 (including 2 scared females and 2 scared 16 year olds) had to decamp sharpish whilst dickheads ran amock around us. 2 hours sleep in a car was not ideal prior to a 5 hour journey home. one of the reasons that I tell people that I happily drive past the Leeds site every year to get to Reading seems to be getting challenged. It never used to be like this and I've been going for 15 years.

In my view, it could have been prevented with a heavier security presence. It always seems that all the stewards disappear on Sunday night or at least go into hiding. The burning of tents and blowing of gas cannisters has got worse over the last 3 years. Even the fire engine bottled out stopping to put out a major bonfire on our site when intimidated by the mob.

I reckon there were a few ringleaders and an unlimited supply of pissed immature sheep that would have easily scattered if challenged earlier.

Mr Benn will be getting a letter off me. I ended up leaving 2 tents and various other items that I didn't have time to pack up.

I don't want them to ban campfires as it is part of the whole Reading thing and in its day a great way to socialise and make new friends. I also think that banning gas cannisters is a bit OTT as it effectively would stop the people who want to cater for themselves from having a choice. However, I can see that one, the other or both will have to be considered in the aftermath.

I will be back next year 'cos apart from post midnight on Sunday, as usual, it was brilliant. I hope that some thought goes into controlling the situation better on the last night without it becoming a police state!

[dannypal]

Right.

I loved the all the artists I saw this year, I failed to be disappointed by any of them. RATM, MGMT, Justice, Pendulum, The Kills, Santogold (look up the word "Cool" in the dictionary, and the name Santogold will be the answer ) Dizzee, Seasick Steve.... We as a group had some of the biggest laughs that we've ever had at a festival

However:

This will be my last Reading. I've been going for the last 5 years, my sister the last 12, and neither of us will be returning, after witnessing the carnage that was last night. Our camp, as always was in purple, near the loos and at certain points, I was terrified, suffice to say we packed-up and left just after 3am this morning. I was threatened by a grown-man, who should clearly have known better, just for sticking up for a young lad camped next to us, who'd done NOTHING wrong. I was abused by some stuck-up ponce for pushing the metal bar away that he was waving around beside me, my daughter was verbally abused, my 30 year old nephew - who trust me you really don't want to pick a fight with, pushed around by some drunken kid that had scarcely left his mothers womb - all this, and we didn't even have to leave our group camp. Marvellous.

Gas cannisters (will they ever learn?) fires big enough to maim for life (I've lived through a house fire - no fun involved, honest) total lack of respect for anyone other than themselves....My sister ended up needing stitches in her leg, simply because we decided to get the Hell out before something SERIOUS happened. Whilst walking through Green, along the back pathway near the Thames, we came across more ar*eholes smashing what was left of their toilets up. My sister fell onto one of the large metal poles they'd just ripped down, whilst trying to leave the site and dodge the aforementioned ar*eholes. All this and we weren't even involved in any of the *FUN* these imbeciles were creating for themselves.

I'd like to think that no-one from these forums was involved in the utter destruction in purple/top of green last night, it's such a shame that a few can ruin an amazing weekend for so many.

Don't even get me started on the over-crowding in the arena. Melvin Benn needs a rethink, and quickly, before someone gets seriously hurt.

F_Q

[MM Punk]

Lows - Slipknot and Avenged Sevenfold pulling out.

Highs - Metallica and Manics being so amazing.

Yellow was fine for us, no trouble at all. Fortunately, despite me being a pussy, three of my mates are rather menacing looking and I don't think any little cretins would really want to mess with them.

But you never know, it's just a shame that there appears to be so many truly horrible people around. After hearing some of the stories I feel lucky to have had no trouble.

[mattyp]

Highs

- The preety much stella line up all weekend

- The majourity of the people who were at the festival for a good natured time.

- The banter around the campsite on The Wednesday/Thursday.

- The amount of people camped up on the Wednesday evening, the place is normally like a ghost town. (Just showed to me everyone was up for a great weekend)

- Best sets were RATM, Vampire Weekend (even after my all time low of the festival), The Kills, Tennacious D, Santagold and Mystery Jets.

Lows

- Some guy punching my girlfreind on the back of the head during MGMT and then proceeding to push us off our camping chair whilst we were quietly sat outside the Radio One tent and then were proceded by chants of posh c**s. This all happend because she was wearing a Jack Wills hoodie?

Have I missed something in the last five years, but when is it acceptable to hit a woman. I thought these festivals was about embracing the music and having a good time and not physically and verbally discriminating someone over the choice of clothese they wear? Now I know the stereotype of a Jack Wills person doesnt paint a very good picture but its the old cliche of the world will never learn not to judge a book by its cover. Im sure the little boy who did this will learn this on a humbling gap year experience paid by his Daddys city bonus when he visits an Abercrombie sweatshop in 'Nam, but it was completley unneccersary and if it wasnt for Vampire Weekend and Gaymers Cider he would have spoilt what was an awesome day.

A similar situation occured to my freind who was watching Metallica last night, he was sat quietly at the back and got pushed off his chair punched and kicked and called a dirty mettler.

This is one of the main reasons we have so much discremination between sub cultures in the UK. Reading festival is probably the last place I thought I would ever see this.

Overall I had a great festival, I personally have the lucky option of living quite close to the festival and enjoyed camping with my mates on the Wednesday and Thursday and then commuting on The Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Although people say its all about the camping, A Warm bed and shower really meant that I could enjoy the music much more which is why I go to Reading.

Also Im not surprised about the reports of violence, if the above lows have not showed anything there was a miniority of uncontrollerable kids there who still have not realised that ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES and that sometimes things are not "Cool" or "Funny".

This was my fifth consequtive year at Reading, no Reading will ever compare to my first year and my whole outlook on the festival has changed over the years...

Reading will always have a big place in my heart, ive never ever not enjoyed myself there and little johns farm will always provide me with memories of some of the greatest parts of my tennagehood, but I also think I have reached a new chapter in my life where the novulty of festivals in general has worn off and it maybe time for a new way to spend the August bank holiday. The Reading Jacket hasnt been hung up just yet though.

[thoumasked]

carnage was a joke, i also enjoyed rage and mgmt immensly, its a shame that this increased violence due to poor security and the ease of which people with no wristbands came into the campsite on the last night put a darkshadow over the whole festival for me.

[funkymp]

Crowds - leaving the arena after Rage on the friday was a absolute nightmare, how people weren't trampled on I don't know.

[fowls]

For me it was Rage in a sea of mediocre. Most of the bands I saw were bands I had already seen before with no real desire to see again. There wasn't that usual wow factor that Reading usually has.

[hombrederayo]

My god! what is it with these idiots that think its fun to smash up other peoples things and intimidate people.

I cant believe that some twat hit someones girlfriend!

I havent camped for years (I live in centre of town, so no point), and am so glad I dont reading all that.

Music wise, most bands I saw were ace; RATM, metallica, Pendulum (was insane, why they werent on the main stage I dont know), the subways, seasick steve, the music, Dizzee, Biffy, the Enemy. All quality and exactly what Reading is all about, the music.

The main thing I saw that pissed me off was blokes pissing wherever they could. There were plenty of urinals in the arena but the sheer laziness of some bloke pissing right where I was stood behind some bins within spitting distance of the urinals was shocking, even after I told him what a twat he was and made sure everyone in the vicinity knew about it.

To be completely honest, if I didnt live in Reading, I probably wouldnt bother going anymore. At the moment, its more a case of habit really. The quality of the line up is really starting to not compensate for the idiots that go, the ridiculous prices and rubbish choice at the bars, and the whole concept of the arena which only has 1 entrance/exit making moving in and out of it a nightmare.

[Joeyjoejoe]

I started to worry for me and my wifes safety last night (SUN) in orange. This was my first Reading and i did wonder where all the love and humour was on sunday and thought i was just getting old. Re-assuring to see that others thought it had gone too far. The violence and destruction of peoples stuff was bad, i saw so many people in tears shouting for sercurity. White looks good for next year.

Rage were the highlights for me.... felt like i was going to die during Know your Enemy... loved it!

[Ravislayer]

Rage and The D were the highlights.

The immature rioting twats who seem to have grown massively in number. If you wanna go and smash and burn stuff go into the town center of reading and do it there, nobody will notice the difference.

[dakyras]

The main thing I saw that pissed me off was blokes pissing wherever they could. There were plenty of urinals in the arena but the sheer laziness of some bloke pissing right where I was stood behind some bins within spitting distance of the urinals was shocking, even after I told him what a twat he was and made sure everyone in the vicinity knew about it.

[coxy99]

burnt out cars in white