40th/50th Anniversary?

[saints15]

I was just on Wikipedia having a look at the Reading and Leeds page and it says that the festival has been active since 1961 and under the name of Reading since 1971. This means that the festival will have been going for 40/50 years depending on which way you look at it.

Does anyone reckon a big deal is actually going to be made out of this like there was for 40 years of Glastonbury? Because after finding this out I would expect an outstanding line up to celebrate this

[Yellow_Fellow]

I've brought this up but Melv seems to be playing it quiet :/

[saints15]

He probably hasn't actually realised then, it would be nice if they actually have some music on the Thursday night to celebrate it but I doubt anything is going to materialise for this anniversary

[rexclark]

Bit of a hard one with it only being 13 years of Leeds, I'd imagine if there is anything on at Reading it'll be low key.

[saints15]

It'd like there to be like a best of previous Reading evening on the Thursday which Melvin trying to get bands to play who the public would like to see back, meaning that those newer to the festival can see bands who played in the 90s. Although if this were to happen I imagine that all the bands who play would want to headline the Thursday

[thetime]

has reading always been at the same venue?

I know theres been quite a few different owners of the festival, where take glasto its always been eavis(although mean fiddler have a percentage since 2002).

[saints15]

has reading always been at the same venue?

I know theres been quite a few different owners of the festival, where take glasto its always been eavis(although mean fiddler have a percentage since 2002).

[rexclark]

Perhaps get some Jazz on?

[Dave The Hedgehog]

The fact it's two festivals now makes it redundant, I think - it'd be different if it was something like 25 Years of Reading & Leeds, then the could market the two festivals at the same time rather than come across as if they are placing priority on one and not the other. 12 Years of Leeds doesn't quite have the same ring to it as 50 Years of Reading.

[saints15]

I guess Melvin can't really put more effort in Reading than Leeds, but i don't think 50 years of Reading should be ignored, does anyone know if anything special happened in 2001?

[thetime]

I guess Melvin can't really put more effort in Reading than Leeds, but i don't think 50 years of Reading should be ignored, does anyone know if anything special happened in 2001?

[saints15]

Yeah travis headlines!

[scottguesty]

according to the history section of the current reading festival website, they have lineup information from 1972 onwards. perhaps they only acknowledge from 1972 onwards??

[purplehaze81]

according to the history section of the current reading festival website, they have lineup information from 1972 onwards. perhaps they only acknowledge from 1972 onwards??

[saints15]

I wouldn't have thought so because they randomly miss other years out too.

Also there was a spell in the 80's where the festival was banned for a few years.

[luckysalt]

Its probably not being marketed as a 50 year old festival, cus that would make the fest seems dated with all the kids, Reading is funky and fresh and hip!

Edited February 21, 2011 by luckysalt

[Dave The Hedgehog]

Reading is funky and fresh and hip!

[mrtourette]

If there was a nod to it then I would expect it to be on-site only rather than publicised, purely beause it's R&L now and they wouldn't want to make Leeds seem like the lesser partner. Maybe re-name the main bar or FR tent in honour of it.

[Chas]

according to the history section of the current reading festival website, they have lineup information from 1972 onwards. perhaps they only acknowledge from 1972 onwards??

[jump]

Its probably not being marketed as a 50 year old festival, cus that would make the fest seems dated with all the kids, Reading is funky and fresh and hip!

[saints15]

Of course Melvin didn't go until 1972 so next year will be his 40th anniversary ;-) Melvin's first festival