All About Reading Festival

Reading, Berkshire, UK

Open air

XXL – 50k+

Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop

$$$$

Upscale, International, Live Music

+3 Days

Reading festival is the world’s oldest popular music festival still in existence.

Reading festival 2022’s edition dates are 26-28 August, 2022. Go get your Reading festival tickets on Soundclub, the social app for live music experiences covering +2,000 international festivals.

Reading festival lineup will include +200 artists. Among Reading festival headliners to look for we can find Halsey, Arctic Monkeys, and Megan Thee Stallion.

Here’s everything you need to know about Reading festival

1. Reading festival was originally named the National Jazz and Blues festival

Reading festival began under the name of National Jazz festival, organized by Harold Pendleton who was the founder of London’s Marquee Club. The inspiration for the festival came from the Newport Jazz festival of 1950s’ America. The festival was first held at Richmond Athletic Ground in 1961, and the lineup was made exclusively of jazz performers like Ken Colyer and Mike Cotton.

In 1964, the festival was renamed as National Jazz, Blues & Rock festival as several rhythm and blues acts were added to the lineup including the Rolling Stones, and Georgie Fame.

It was finally named the Reading festival in 1976 after it moved to Reading in 1971.

2. Reading festival is one of the world’s oldest music festivals still in existence

Reading festival is the ancestor of pop music festivals! After Glastonbury festival, which began in 1970, Reading is the oldest annual festival still in existence.

Many legendary artists and bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who and Nirvana have performed here in the last six decades, making it one of the first festivals to feature the most popular acts in the world.

3. The music festival is held at a farm

Reading was first held at Richmond Athletic Ground in 1961, and throughout the 1960s, it moved to several sites in England like Windsor Racecourse, Plumpton, Kempton Park and Sunbury.

The festival was held at Reading in 1971 at Little John’s Farm in central Reading, London, after which it came to be known as the Reading festival. The venue is known for hosting outdoor music events, the most famous of which is Reading

4. The festival was banned for two years

In 1984 and 1985, the local council banned the festival by suspending the site in Reading for development. The event had to be canceled as an alternative venue was not found.

In 1986, permission was given for the fields adjacent to the original festival site to be used and the festival was organized on a short notice. It has been going strong ever since.

5. Reading festival earned a bad rep thanks to some of its rude attendees

Did you think it is just cricket and football that have the ‘barmy army’? Welcome to England! Reading festival became infamous for its history of rowdy audiences and their habit of throwing bottles and cans at the performers.

Famous artists and bands like 50 Cent, Panic! at the Disco and Tyler Joseph were all pelted with bottles while performing.

6. Reading’s stage is the playing field for legendary artists

The festival has a great history of performance lineups, including many legendary icons like The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Linkin Park, Nirvana and Eminem.

Pop artists like Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion, Rage Against the Machine and Arctic Monkeys will headline at the 2022 edition.

7. Reading festival 2022 has eight stages

Starting with a humble crowd in its initial years, Reading festival continued to expand through the years, with a new record capacity of 105,000 in 2019. And while there were less than 50 artists in 1971, the festival now has over 200 artists.

The terrific growth has led to an expansion in the number of stages as well. Beginning with a single stage in its first yeats, Reading festival 2022 will have eight stages, where the headliners will perform at the two main stages.

The lesser-known and alternative headlining acts perform at the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage. The underground punk and hardcore acts are performed at the Pit Stage. Other upcoming artists are allotted the Festival Republic and BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage.

8. The festival has evolved its music over the years

The festival has had many of the UK and international bands perform at its stage over the last six decades. And the festival has been through various musical phases and changes of genre.

The festival started as a Jazz festival when the main attractions included traditional jazz musicians like Tubby Hayes and Tony Russell.

In the next few years, the festival was dominated by rock performers such as The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart.

Since 1999, rock, indie, punk, alternative and metal have been the main genres featured in the lineup. 

Hip-hop has also become a major element, including headline sets by artists such as Post Malone and Eminem.

9. The festival has a comic touch 

Reading festival is also home to many comedy acts and separate lists of comedians are also announced every year.

In the past, comedy geniuses like Jerry Sadowitz, Sean Hughes, Josh Widdicombe and Bridget Christie took the stage to perform their acts, entertaining the visitors with their quick wit.

10. In 1999, the festival added a second venue in Leeds

The festival expanded to Leeds in 1999. Since then, Reading festival has become a split venue festival, also known as Reading and Leeds festival. Almost all the same artists perform at both venues on the same weekend.

The Leeds festival takes place in Bramham Park, between Leeds and Wetherby, the grounds of a historic house in West Yorkshire, England.

11. Flags were flagged down in 2009!

What’s a festival if you’re not able to wave your flag with an impassioned flutter! Flags, which are a common sight at festivals, was an integral part of the Reading festival. But they got banned from festival sites in 2009. The organizers cited them to be an impediment to the view and enjoyment of festival-goers. Flags and banners originally used to enable motorcycle groups and others to identify themselves in the main arena.

Reading festival is known for featuring legendary artists from all around the world. With a rich history of over five decades, the iconic festival is an influential part of the UK’s musical identity.