Lineup 2014

[ClemFandango97]

Some of these stories are just awful if true. It really surprises me as I didn't experience this at all and we had no issues whatsoever. We were camped in Green D really near the entrance to the campsite and arena plus Samaritans and all the food vendors and saw nothing dodgy so if I go next year I'll definitely go for a similar place even if it was a bit noisy. Noise wasn't a problem though Fri-Sun as I was cream crackered and would have slept through anything.

[atomised]

Didn't spot any twattish behaviour in green at reading, clearly in a lucky minority

Beat me to it there clem

Edited August 25, 2014 by atomised

[Mash011]

How were La Dispute for anyone who saw them? NME stage seemed an odd choice.

Was really impressed by them. I saw them despite not really knowing any of their material as I had planned to see Blood Red Shoes but couldn't due to the clash with Drenge. After Gerard and Red Fang which were both very average this was the point where the crowd really came alive, which was well deserved too as their performance was great. Definitely made me want to check them out more.

[JSmurphy]

Oh yeah, while we're on this topic, the scum camped near me in P7 also consistently made girls drink from their funnel, which of course is fine, apart from the 3-4 times they pissed in it, and on Sunday kept shouting 'spike it!!!' and 'get the rohypnol'.

[justanothername]

I never really saw anything dodgy until the last day at Leeds and I was at red but I was in the arena from 11:45 til the acts had finished. Lots of people I know loved a few of the acts that were there and a lot of my mates got their value for money with their ticket. There was one person though that saw two acts whilst he was there and apparently a group near us didn't see anyway but where there for the parties (which seems like a waste to me)

[Andre91]

We camped in Orange C at Leeds like last year and we didn't see anything dodgy. Apart from the constant shitty football chants on the Wednesday and Thursday, everyone seemed to calm down come Friday. Although it did seem like most who were camped around us were just there to get pissed and not see any bands. I saw 39

Edited August 25, 2014 by Andre91

[justanothername]

We camped in Orange C at Leeds like last year and we didn't see anything dodgy. Apart from the constant shitty football chants on the Wednesday and Thursday, everyone seemed to calm down come Friday. Although it did seem like most who were camped around us were just there to get pissed and not see any bands. I saw 39

I saw 27 full sets and around 5 parts of a set but I'm happy with that

Also were by any chance wearing a Wonder Years dye top on the Friday? Got a funny feeling that was you

[Andre91]

I saw 27 full sets and around 5 parts of a set but I'm happy with that

Also were by any chance wearing a Wonder Years dye top on the Friday? Got a funny feeling that was you

No that wasn't me! I had a red A Day To Remember t-shirt on and a red beanie. I went nuts for Came Out Swinging I loved how Soupy burst into the opening song pretty much mid-sentance!

[justanothername]

No that wasn't me! I had a red A Day To Remember t-shirt on and a red beanie. I went nuts for Came Out Swinging I loved how Soupy burst into the opening song pretty much mid-sentance!

Ok then, don't remember that. I was in a blue hoodie with my Baby Godzilla top on underneath if that helps you recognise me at all

But I saw Soupy walking around the arena earlier on in the day which caught me by surprise so I just said hey to him. But Came Out Swining was awesome! At one point during the song, when he was on the crowd he grabbed my face and sang directly to me! I bloody loved it and it was one of the best bands I have seen live and is definitely in my top 3 live shows

Edited August 25, 2014 by justanothername

[joshbroown]

I've only been to Leeds Fest the past 2 years but there definitely seemed to be an increase in dickheads even from last year to this year. Last year there was plenty of awful lads but this year there seemed to be a lot more, like, genuinely just terrible chavvy people there just to be a prat. My mates noticed too (some who've been going a lot longer than me).

On a nice surprising note (for me, anyway) I had heard some absolutely dreadful stories about camping in Yellow before this year, but that's where we ended up this time and it was actually really great. Loads better than the terror that was last year's Red.

[dentalplan]

I saw Red Fang on your recommendation last week - they were pretty damn good so thanks! I had nothing on then and when they started playing I was taken aback at first as I'd never listened to them. Thanks for the nod in their direction

Great. I'm glad someone followed my recommendation and enjoyed them.

[Mash011]

Where were you guys camping to see some of this shit? We were in Red and the worst we got was a barrage of custard creams thrown at us by our neighbors and a string of sausages left in my tent. Didn't encounter anything especially bad all weekend.

[dentalplan]

Sad to hear these reports. Obviously not condonable but fires and things have been happening forever, whereas being rude to and degrading other festival goers is the lowest. Sucks how the festival used to be full of the school outcasts and now it seems more like the school bullies.

[joshbroown]

I never ran into too many weekend-ruining events (a couple of fights, one camp that loved throwing around bags of their own shit for a bit. Could have done without that). In general the whole vibe just felt a lot more mean-spirited than last year. I couldn't tell you why.

[dip]

It's the same shit as every year. You just rose-tint it as the months drift by.

[6t6o6m]

Just got back. Pretty hellish getting out in the downpour this morning but overall a decent weekend.

Friday definitely the best day. Queens blew me away, they were even better than when on tour last year. Shame they were given such a criminally short set. Both them and Paramore (who I thought dealt with the sound problems incredibly well) put on fun, headliner worthy sets so I hope they both get the chance to headline again properly in the future (not that I'd go and see Paramore again but they clearly have the fanbase for it.)

Arctics were rubbish. Setlist was crap, they had NO energy and I'm pretty sure Alex was on something. Plus they kept fucking around between songs which just got annoying. Crowd in the front section was ridiculous and full of dicks so I went back a section (as Yellow has mentioned they've changed the layout) and they were struggling to get the crowd going back there.

Sunday was pretty naff really. Mongol Horde and Gogol Bordello were fantastic in the evening put I was pretty disappointed with The Horrors, particularly when someone decided to start the worlds worst mosh pit to Who Can Say.

I was camped in White and had a wicked time over there. Met some great people, even a big group of 16 year olds that had just done their GCSEs and were actually there to have a good time rather than piss people off. The bar over there is great in the evenings too. That said, once I got over the bridge the place was just full of shit people who don't know how to handle alcohol or drugs. I'm sure the average age keeps getting lower and lower.

I was very close to huge crowd of 16 yr olds in white. Were you camped near the river behind the pods then?

[Babyquack]

No one was really being hurt though, I mean the guy just slept with others for the rest of the weekend. I know anti-social behaviour is a problem at reading. But some 'banter' and messing around does actually add to weekend, I find Reading is the most interesting festival to camp at, especially if you're with nutters. Can't say I didn't find entertainment in the late hours.

Anti-social behaviour does not constitute 'banter'. By just standing there having a good laugh at what they're doing and therefore condoning it, you're being just a big a twat as they are. Just because your group is 'loving' it, doesn't mean everyone who's camping around you does. I think knowing I was camping near people like you, I'd be worried leaving my tent each day and even sleeping at night.

I found great entertainment in the late hours without doing this kind of thing - you know the silent disco is on till 4am? Maybe go there next time and stay out of trouble Matt.

[6t6o6m]

Really enjoyed the weekend, a whole bunch of fucking cretins about though. One in particular during Don Broco lighting and then throwing a flare forward.

I saw that too, infuriated me.

[mattgimmeshelter]

It's the same shit as every year. You just rose-tint it as the months drift by.

Close to agreeing to this, I saw alot of shit... maybe more than the past. But it's reading and I guess it's standard.

Great. I'm glad someone followed my recommendation and enjoyed them.

Yes thankyou dental, they were fantastic. Made me feel a little bit less shit about being dragged to gerard way.

[Rose-Colored Boy]

Yeah I don't think I've ever seen such a drug addled Reading.

That said, once I got over the bridge the place was just full of shit people who don't know how to handle alcohol or drugs. I'm sure the average age keeps getting lower and lower.

Yeah I camped in white this year too, could not handle the various array of c**ts just there for the dance tent. Sad to say I know the pricks who started that huge fire in purple last night.

Stewarding on Saturday night, the amount of people pulled from the crowd unconscious before and during AM made me feel ill. Once they started the radio network literally didn't stop buzzing the whole night. Saw and heard about loads of other shite too. Even staff camping was noisy as fuck at times, not cool. Worst part is every year it goes on like this word will go out, more and more people will go for the wrong reasons and more and more people who would go for the right reasons will be put off going.

The 1975 packed the tent though.

Didn't just pack the tent, the crowd stretched back out that 'section' towards the introducing stage once Macklemore was finished, it's being talked about as the biggest crowd the NME stage has ever had. They're never playing a tent again - if Jake Bugg got the jump from that slot to subbing main stage I see no reason why The 1975 won't next time they play.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Zac Quinn

[Babyquack]

Great. I'm glad someone followed my recommendation and enjoyed them.

Downloading Whales and Leeches now - they were probably my biggest surprise of the weekend so cheers again.

[sjseabass]

I have been reading the whole thread, I promise, gonna reply and chat tomorrow (gotta sleep - volunteered, did night shift Saturday and a shift today), love reading everyone's reviews.

What I will say for now is the headliners for 2019 should be Marmozets, Royal Blood and Bombay Bicycle Club if there is any justice.

[the wonderwhy]

I was very close to huge crowd of 16 yr olds in white. Were you camped near the river behind the pods then?

I was in the C section, so behind the bar and all the food stuff they had there. I think that was across the path from the pods rather than behind them?

[the wonderwhy]

Downloading Whales and Leeches now - they were probably my biggest surprise of the weekend so cheers again.

Were you sat down on the edge of NME watching The Horrors yesterday?

[Babyquack]

Were you sat down on the edge of NME watching The Horrors yesterday?

Yep - I was at the front but got tired of hardly anyone dancing and then my friend wanted to go see Klaxons so I just went to the edge for a smoke. Should of said hello!