Legendary and iconic are the words that spring to mind when looking to the Reading Festival. This one started  it's life as a Jazz and Blues festival way back in the 1960's but is now predominently rock -  It's the daddy to Leeds and has always attracted major performers - making it a very major player on the festival scene.

Reading began way back in 1960 when it was known as the National Jazz & Blues Festival held in the grounds of the Richmond Athletic Association.

By 1965 the music scene was begining to change in keeping with the whole 60's ethos and people were demanding something different so along came the Who, the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Small Faces, Cream and The Yardbirds who all attracted a different crowd to the event. Noise complaints forced the 1966 festival to move to Windsor Racecourse, then in 1968 to Kempton Park and then, in 1969, to Plumpton. The festival finally arrived at its final destination - Reading in 1971.

The 70's to the mid 1980s saw the festival booking the biggest names in the business, and promoting and advancing talents of new bands from around the world. The late 80s and early 90s saw yet more changes in the contemporary music scene with indie sounds and dance cross-over acts becoming ever more popular. Reading Festival did what it always does - it changed and adapted and in 1988 Mean Fiddler came on board, with that the future of the festival was assured.

Reading got itself a 'little baby' in 1999 with Leeds becoming the Northern half and both festivals taking place simultaneously.

For many fans the Reading and Leeds festival are the holy grail and the finale to the whole festival season. This is an iconic festival with a long tradition and history - and its very much at the heart of the festival culture - help keep it that way and concentrate on what matters - having fun, keeping safe and getting the chance to hear some damned fine music - let's face it they pull out all the stops each year to put on a great festival that actually means something.

Currently Reading attracts a predominently younger crowd it's proper, full on rock and roll - a well loved and hugely popular festival with a great tradition and history, always attracting a major line up and always delivering.