So will you be going back?

[swede]

I have but this time I mean it

I want to try other festivals, Leeds to me just seems like a festival for 15-19 years old. Im 24 and I felt really old this year, I dont know how the people older do it.

[brighteyes]

We watch the bands, not over analyse the age of the crowds.

[swede]

It can be f**king annoying being surrounded by immature, arrogant teenagers at a festival though. Certainly a big factor in me not going back to Reading since I hit 24.

[Cooter]

Im 41, been going to Reading off and on for the last 12 years or so. I won't be going back to Reading again unless the music is more to my taste, and I'm into all ages and types of music. But this year really felt like it catered mainly for the under 20's. All very good but it's not my thing. Too much wandering around trying to find something with a good sound and atmosphere, in fact it was the first festival in 25 years I found myself a bit bored at to be honest.

[micawber]

Incidentally, for anyone who would prefer a hotel, word to the wise: book it now. Certain hotels haven't realised to hike their rates up yet.

[DTichborne]

I went with the Ibis, but you can get one of two Travelodges for less, and they're even fully cancellable up until the date!

Not quite as lucky as this year, when I got the Ibis for £147 for four nights. £280 for next year, which is more consistent with previous years. Which is, granted, not cheap, but split two ways and viewed as a bit of a holiday... and some Travelodge rooms sleep three people (with two sharing a bed). And of course you could potentially cut out the Thursday and Sunday nights.

[DTichborne]

And dickheads aren't an age thing. I had no more time for them when I was 18 than I do now I'm 38, and equally not all of the dickheads I encounter at festivals are young kids.

[micawber]

I went with the Ibis, but you can get one of two Travelodges for less, and they're even fully cancellable up until the date!

Not quite as lucky as this year, when I got the Ibis for £147 for four nights. £280 for next year, which is more consistent with previous years. Which is, granted, not cheap, but split two ways and viewed as a bit of a holiday... and some Travelodge rooms sleep three people (with two sharing a bed). And of course you could potentially cut out the Thursday and Sunday nights.

[swede]

And dickheads aren't an age thing. I had no more time for them when I was 18 than I do now I'm 38, and equally not all of the dickheads I encounter at festivals are young kids.

[Chihiro Cheeks]

Yeah i don't care how old people are as long as they aren't been stupid.

[rexclark]

Definately, I've only missed one Leeds since 99 and unless it's an awful line up next year I'll definately be back.

[Poppington]

My first was 1978, I'm not sure what I like about it. I expect I'll be back in 2012

Give up festivals? Are you mad? If I was going to knock it on the head - I guess I would make my last Reading after 2028 once I've celebrated 50 years.

[DTichborne]

Thanks. What was the Ibis like?

[Sam_Malone]

Three of us went this year and our first was 1993 and we've been at Reading/Leeds pretty much every year since.

For the first time we stayed in a hotel (Holiday Inn Reading South Jct 11) as we didn't fancy camping.

We won't be going back to Reading/Leeds and here are some of the reasons why...

The rip off taxis from hotel to centre of Reading which varied between £8-£15 (despite being booked thru hotel), one taxi took us halfway, then said we weren't his fare and took us back to the hotel, wtf?

The Tuborg was just unbearable, especially at £4. I couldn't taste any difference between it and water from the taps

The walk to get in from Richmond Avenue to the actual arena and the asshole security on the last day, literally trying to pull our bands off, all because we asked if there was a quikcer way into the arena, he thought we were "at it"

Two us are veggies, the city centre pubs stopped doing veggie breakfasts at 12.00 - Yates's didn't do one at all

The line-up was sh1t, two of us didn't want to go anyway, but the other guy said the ticket was his 50th birthday from his Mrs, so we went. The main reason the other two of us agreed to go was Jane's Addiction. Also, we'd waited 14 years to see Descendents, but were that fcuked off by the whole weekend that we left before Flogging Molly came on as we that fed up we just wanted to go.

The weather (cold/rain). Can't put my finger on it, but I was freezing from the Thursday onwards. I go snowboarding 3x a year to Europe/Canada, so I like the cold and can handle it...not last weekend.

We went to West Coast Riot in Gothenburg in 2010 which was really good, so we might go back there again if they move it back to a downtown location. But, ideally I'm looking at going to Primavera Sound in Barcelona at the end of May.

[mooseman]

I didn't go this year, but will be going next year. It will probably be my last Reading weekend as a paying customer, or for the full weekend. I can see the line-up being much better next year (even though i thought it was good this year). Then I'll do glasto when it returns and some foreign ones.

[RichieParf]

I'm 20, does that mean I'm still allowed to go or do I have to be old and bitter as well? (Turns out 16 year olds are allowed to like music too, who knew?)

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

I'm 20, does that mean I'm still allowed to go or do I have to be old and bitter as well? (Turns out 16 year olds are allowed to like music too, who knew?)

[swede]

Im not quite old enough for it at reading, but the 'paedo' feeling of being surrounded by kids half your age is not a good one.

[Benj]

The walk to get in from Richmond Avenue to the actual arena and the asshole security on the last day, literally trying to pull our bands off, all because we asked if there was a quikcer way into the arena, he thought we were "at it"

Edited September 2, 2011 by Benj

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

Thats your problem if you cant stop yourself from eyeing up 15 year old girls.

[DARE]

Didn't go this year and not sure if I'll be going next year. Think i'll just be going to a few smaller festivals. It will need to be a good line up for me to buy a ticket again.

[dirtymookie]

Im 41, been going to Reading off and on for the last 12 years or so. I won't be going back to Reading again unless the music is more to my taste, and I'm into all ages and types of music. But this year really felt like it catered mainly for the under 20's. All very good but it's not my thing. Too much wandering around trying to find something with a good sound and atmosphere, in fact it was the first festival in 25 years I found myself a bit bored at to be honest.

[Cooter]

Quite fancying Sonisphere.

[RDCL]

don't think im going to go next year, creamfields looks like the place for me next year, i feel like a change in genre. i've seen pretty much all the bands i've wanted to see now. Plus the headliners which are predicted for next year(yes i know theyre only predictions) really do not interest me and i very much doubt there will be any bands on there which will really want me to get a ticket

Edited September 4, 2011 by RDCL

[Poppington]

Spot on mate, I'm 34 and been going since '95. This year, for the first time, it kinda felt something was missing. Can't put my finger on it, weather,line-up.... I don't know. think it's unfair to blame it on kids though as i actually think there was less knobheads and and a larger proportion of older people and a massive increase in the amount of people bringing there young children. I actually saw a woman with three kids pushing a fourth in a pram trying to avoid the mud taking a shortcut through the FR tent while I was waiting for Dry The River!

I'm undecided on what to do next year as a result. Might invest in Tangerine fields to cut out all that hassle or might just go elsewhere if there's a quality line-up. Quite fancying Sonisphere.