First time

[Vogue]

I went to V last year and had a great time, but not sure if I'll be able to make it this year so I am considering Reading instead...but all I've heard is bad reviews from friends who've been, eg. riots, people setting fire to tents (?!) My music taste is pretty broad I guess, so i'm sure i'll enjoy the music but I'm not sure if i'll like the festival in general...thoughts? I'm hoping the friends who told me about it just had a bit of bad luck, how different is Reading to V?

[thomasowen]

Only you know if you would enjoy the festival so the best advice would be just to think it over. The vast majority go and have no problems, many people do encounter trouble - I had all my money stolen but it didn't stop me going again because it was partly my own fault and I also realize that stuff like that happens. Four years of going and other than that I've had a great time. Look over the forums for other experiences, there's thousands on here.

Edited February 4, 2010 by thomasowen

[Vacant0]

Reading has a much better atmosphere than V and rips you off slightly less. However, the Sunday nights can be absolutely horrible trouble wise, even if you are pretty much avoiding it. Tis, my two cents there. Not anything else can be said really, other than find out yourself but it really isn't that bad.

[Lewis2804]

I went last year and had the best weekend of my life! Sunday didnt seem too bad as i was camped in brown just had the odd people running down the paths enjoying themselves. If you want to avoid any trouble i wouldnt camp in yellow/purple. You'll still have a great time but wont be as much involved on the sunday which sounds like you want (riot wise anyway!) You'll have a wicked time mate

[fat_man_joe]

Having camped in yellow I personally didn't run into any trouble at all. I mean I was nearish one massive fire but for the 5mins or so I watched it it was generally people enjoying the fire quite maturely except every now and then someone putting an old deodorant can on there.

There certainly is a lot of raucous and unresonsible behavior at Reading, but it is possible to avoid it and not even come across it.

[rexclark]

I've never been to V to compare but Reading is great, I only went once but had a great time. There are alot of horror stories but the best advice is be careful and get talking to people camped next to you and keep an eye out for eachother and you'll have an amazing time.

[olly!olly!olly!]

It's what you make of it.

Its fairly easy to avoid trouble if you are sensible, and its easy to have a fun time (despite the lack of much to do) when the bands arent on if you are around good people and are up for a laugh.

Definately worth trying if its the sort of music you like

[Captain Frogarm]

This year is going to be my first year at reading having been to V for the last 4. My brother who I'm going with is a Reading veteran having been going since the early 90's.

He has come to V with me the last two years but we decided that V has simply degenerated too far into a pop festival. The Sunday mainstage last year at Staffs was the final straw...

His opinion is that V is by far the safer festival but that Reading is a lot more fun. TBH I think that you're going to get trouble anywhere - Last year at V someone exploded a gas canister about 3 feet from our tent at 2 in the morning Sunday night. I guess the major difference is that the guys who did it were instantly set upon by multiple security guards and thrown out. From what I hear this doesn't happen at Reading.

Like I say I've never been to Reading and am slightly concerned about the stories I hear but I'm sure I;ll survive!

Hello everyone btw.

[micawber]

I have been to both, but prefer Reading musically and have been for the last 4 years.

I never experience any significant trouble but then again I don't camp these days. All of the main trouble appears to be on the last night in the campsite so if you make appropriate plans then you can enjoy a really great festival. Funnily enough. last year the most trouble I saw was from some aged Radiohead fans upset that they wouldn't be allowed out of the arena back gates until the act had finished.

Ultimately, "the riots" (ha) are usually just some youngsters behaving immaturely. If you have any parenting skills then you'll survive! On the flip side, seeing the youth, their energy and their enjoyment, far outweighs any baggage that comes with it.

[rockinthecasbah]

It's what you make of it.

Its fairly easy to avoid trouble if you are sensible, and its easy to have a fun time (despite the lack of much to do) when the bands arent on if you are around good people and are up for a laugh.

Definately worth trying if its the sort of music you like

[tohellweride]

Reading is mostly fine, though there can be some prats there who deserve a cattle prodding. I've been to Download, Rock am Ring and Sonisphere and Reading definitely has the highest quota of dickheads of the lot. It's usually 16-18 year olds who have never been allowed to do anything as crazy as going camping before so they get a bit over excited and think its funny to put gas canisters on fires.

[Rancidpunk_76]

Reading is mostly fine, though there can be some prats there who deserve a cattle prodding. I've been to Download, Rock am Ring and Sonisphere and Reading definitely has the highest quota of dickheads of the lot. It's usually 16-18 year olds who have never been allowed to do anything as crazy as going camping before so they get a bit over excited and think its funny to put gas canisters on fires.

[mcalli2008]

I went to Reading for the first time last year, and have been to V 3 times. I like V because there is not much trouble etc, and it just seems a lot safer and calmer.

Reading was brilliant, and I really enjoyed myself (going again this year!) but it is a completely different experience than V. You do come across some idiots who think it's a good idea to set fire to random people's tents, set fire to gas canisters & and deodorant cans, but I think you will be fine. We camped in a really bad spot as we arrived late on the Friday, but the trouble only really happened on the Sunday. Police did turn up at one point, but they got attacked and ran away (there was about 4 of them against about 100 teenagers throwing stuff!)..

In all, just arrive early & don't camp too near to the paths!!

[tombenj]

In all, just arrive early & don't camp too near to the paths!!

[jonnyisRFC]

Too true. I've been doing Reading since 1996 and after last year i'm having to knock it on the head. Having to dodge full beer cans and fire works whilst trying to protect your tent from being stamped on, set alight or simply dragged off is NO FUN.

Frack it, Sonisphere and maybe Download for me this year.

[frankie boy]

it realy isnt that bad and it sort of annoys me when people call it riots because its not that bad. Yellow look like a world war 2 bomb site but we camped in green and about 10 meters from path and we were fine we stayed up til about 5 and just woundered around a bit and had a right laugh.

Last years was my first year and I felt the same but its a great laugh have a gooden.

[mcalli2008]

it realy isnt that bad and it sort of annoys me when people call it riots because its not that bad. Yellow look like a world war 2 bomb site but we camped in green and about 10 meters from path and we were fine we stayed up til about 5 and just woundered around a bit and had a right laugh.

Last years was my first year and I felt the same but its a great laugh have a gooden.

[jonnyisRFC]

It was really bad where I was on the Sunday - a few people next to us said it's the worst they'd seen it in the 10 years or so they'd been going. I seen a tent actually dragged away from a girl with all her stuff in and chucked on a fire. She was crying her eyes out and these kids were laughing. These people are scum of the earth. I think it depends where you are, some people I spoke to witnessed nothing like what we did, but where we were was really bad. Still, like I said before apart from this I had a great weekend and will be going back.

[mcalli2008]

Was in Green, it was mental - there was loads of this going on.. they just didn't seem to care who's stuff they were wrecking.. Our tent was almost dragged away too but we were luckily standing near it and managed to save it.. We did end up leaving soon after though, and left the tent so no doubt it did end up on the fire.

[anx]

This. And don't be afraid to leave on the Sunday night if you're genuinely worried about fires and things.

[frankie boy]

It was really bad where I was on the Sunday - a few people next to us said it's the worst they'd seen it in the 10 years or so they'd been going. I seen a tent actually dragged away from a girl with all her stuff in and chucked on a fire. She was crying her eyes out and these kids were laughing. These people are scum of the earth. I think it depends where you are, some people I spoke to witnessed nothing like what we did, but where we were was really bad. Still, like I said before apart from this I had a great weekend and will be going back.

[Rancidpunk_76]

I saw some bad stuff on Sunday night at Reading this year, but that sounds really bad, where were you camped ?

[jonnyisRFC]

Orange camp. For the 1st time in over 12 years we had to pack up our stuff and leave at about 2 in the morning. had a great weekend..... up until that point.

[edgar]

i've never had any problems in the campsite, but the fires do tend to get going on the sunday. but still, if you get an 'angry mob' come your way, tell them to keep moving and they usually will. they're not gonna forcefully take your stuff and throw it on a fire. worst thing was when i was in the pit for cancer bats and my wallet fell out of my pocket. some c*nt swiped the sixty quid out of it and chucked it back on the floor.

my advice is get there early enough to pick a camping spot that's not too close to the arena or to a walkway. don't leave anything valuable in your tent, and if you have a campfire, put it out before you hit the sack.