How many acts......

[dylstar]

do you get to see in full for a day at Reading? I'm going for the whole weekend and I assume it's around 8-10 if you get there around midday?

Also, I'm only really interested in seeing the last 3 on the main stage for each day, although I'd like to discover some good bands also. So is the main stage the best place for proper rock music?

[johnmcga]

All depends what time you get in and how quickly you're willing to move between stages. I think on the Sunday last year I saw 13 acts altogether, but I got into the site in time for the first and didn't see full sets of all those acts.

It's a small site so it's totally possible to move from one stage to another in a couple of minutes. Kind of the opposite to Glastonbury where it can take 45 minutes to get from a stage on one side of the festival to a stage on the other!

As for discovering new acts, I prefer not to stay by the main stage actually. I find it rather unengaging for acts I'm not familiar with - it's so big that if you don't already know the band it can be hard to get into to, particularly earlier in the day where you're watching smaller acts who aren't so at home on a huge stage.

I'd actually split my time between the other three main stages actually - there are always some gems in the Festival Republic tent (my favourite)

Edited June 4, 2012 by johnmcga

[Vieuphoria]

You can see more bands if you stick to the smaller stages as they have shorter set times. It also depends if you stay for entire sets for see half an go to someone else.

As for sticking to the mainstage? I don't see the benefit in just stick to the mainstage. You can find great stuff everywhere. You never know which bands will make it big, so seeing someone small this year could mean seeing a potential headliner. Just do some research before the fest and see which bands you like most, try and plan beforehand when the settimes come out. Makes for an easier weekend

[lharris92]

always a treat or two in the lock up (if you like punk type music) and there's always a few treats in the fr stage. maybe listen to a few of the more well known songs before going to the fest then giving them a go.

[dylstar]

Do you think Black Keys/Foo Fighters fans will be rough crowds? In fact, are Reading crowds rough in general?

[lharris92]

on the whole, no, but as with every gig you will get a few twats. also avoid the mosh pits and stay behind the barrier if you want a bit more space/less rough crowd

[BTK1609]

Do you think Black Keys/Foo Fighters fans will be rough crowds? In fact, are Reading crowds rough in general?

[allan14]

Iv never found the Reading crowd as rough, not even getting close to the front!

[rug568]

Depends if you class the odd crowd surge as rough.

[Calzum]

If you don't like rough its best you stay out of Lock up and stay clear of NME when At The Drive In play haha

[kaosmark2]

You can see 12 full sets if you jump between the smaller stages. If you're wanting to check out bands though, just whenever there's noone you particularly want to see, just wander around the smaller stages, listen to 2-3 songs, and if you like them stick around. Simples.