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Leeds and Reading Festivals 2009
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Reue
I spend half my time at the festivals crowdsurfing crushed people out from the pits.
All too often its tiny girls who push to the front to see their favorite band with absoloutly no idea what it's like up there and need to get pulled out within 2 minutes of the first song.
However, compared to before they put in that second barrier, the crushes are nothing. It used to be so bad that the front barrier was physically pushed forward by the crowd and people falling over sometimes stayed down for a good 10 minutes before they could be pulled back up again.
All too often its tiny girls who push to the front to see their favorite band with absoloutly no idea what it's like up there and need to get pulled out within 2 minutes of the first song.
However, compared to before they put in that second barrier, the crushes are nothing. It used to be so bad that the front barrier was physically pushed forward by the crowd and people falling over sometimes stayed down for a good 10 minutes before they could be pulled back up again.
Haha yeah before the second barrier it was truly deadly up at the front! There was quite a backlash when the second barrier was announced by Mean Fiddler, but then once people actually experienced it in action I haven't heard a bad word against it. Long live the barrier!
glance
Haha yeah before the second barrier it was truly deadly up at the front! There was quite a backlash when the second barrier was announced by Mean Fiddler, but then once people actually experienced it in action I haven't heard a bad word against it. Long live the barrier!
Theres now a second barrier in Radio 1 tent as well. I had no idea till I walked into it on the Sunday night. Glad to see the joy of 2nd barrierism is spreading.
I managed to shove my way to the front of the arctic monkeys at reading. Being a tall girl really helped - and also being drunk. So many bruises, but so worth it 
Most amazing sets include - Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and the SURPRISE OF DAVE GROHL oh i almost cried
Most amazing sets include - Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and the SURPRISE OF DAVE GROHL oh i almost cried
Reue
Theres now a second barrier in Radio 1 tent as well. I had no idea till I walked into it on the Sunday night. Glad to see the joy of 2nd barrierism is spreading.
Wow! I suppose it was really quite necessary, I remember the Kooks having to actually stop their set in 2006 because of the crowd crushes.
Best. Weekend. Ever.
This has been the best year of leeds from my experience. I saw far less artists this year but what I saw was quality over quantity.
Did anyone see Florence and the Machine at leeds. I had only heard a few of her tracks but from seeing her performance ive got to say im a massive fan. It left me completely speechless how talented and passionate she was.
Did anyone see Florence and the Machine at leeds. I had only heard a few of her tracks but from seeing her performance ive got to say im a massive fan. It left me completely speechless how talented and passionate she was.
Reue
Theres now a second barrier in Radio 1 tent as well. I had no idea till I walked into it on the Sunday night. Glad to see the joy of 2nd barrierism is spreading.
It's needed. Went in for FATM few rows from the front and even at 6,3 I was still receiving at absolute beating.
Also, Reue what was going on with the sound on the mainstage? It is so inconsistent. One minute it was really quiet in one speaker then suddenly it would go really loud. It was the same last year.
**** kings of leon up the ******* arse. *****.
amazing weekend otherwise though.
edit: can i just say that kings of leon being ******* has nothing to do with reading, but the fact they are just arrogant *******? they looked bored when they came on! the sound was awful, the setlist was awful, caleb was shouting his mouth off from the start without so much as a "HI GUYS!" i love the kings, they are one of my favourite bands, but it was a very very hard set to get into.
there were plenty of people going mental to the older stuff, when they played four kicks the area around me erupted, then when they went back to stuff like notion or be somebody, everyone just simmered down again and murmured along to the songs.
i agree that the guys down the front are usually only down there to be at the front though. i was like 1 person back from the barrier for brand new and me and my friends were literally screaming every single word back to jesse, while everyone around us stood still and silent. wtf is the point? and least, you know, bop along to the music or something.
amazing weekend otherwise though.
edit: can i just say that kings of leon being ******* has nothing to do with reading, but the fact they are just arrogant *******? they looked bored when they came on! the sound was awful, the setlist was awful, caleb was shouting his mouth off from the start without so much as a "HI GUYS!" i love the kings, they are one of my favourite bands, but it was a very very hard set to get into.
there were plenty of people going mental to the older stuff, when they played four kicks the area around me erupted, then when they went back to stuff like notion or be somebody, everyone just simmered down again and murmured along to the songs.
i agree that the guys down the front are usually only down there to be at the front though. i was like 1 person back from the barrier for brand new and me and my friends were literally screaming every single word back to jesse, while everyone around us stood still and silent. wtf is the point? and least, you know, bop along to the music or something.
Good weekend all in all, highlights being Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Prodigy, Bloc Party, Enter Shikari, Tim Michin, and the Kisers. Even KOL plesently suprised me, and showed just why Leeds is better. Less chavs (though sadly that element was in full force again) and people who care about the music not the crush.
I also actually enjoyed the last night for the first time in 4 years (Reading in 06 and leeds ever since), far less dickheads about and far better marshalling. I was able to have a dance, have a chat, get a bit pissed and have a deep philsophical conversation about Oscar Wilde with a stoner without having to check on my tent every five minuites. Some great stories flying about; Terry Wogans dead, Lady Gagas a man, Oasis have broken up and some one fell in the loos... (wait a second, the last two are true!)
I thought the Monkeys didn't deserve the criticism they got, they payed a mellow set but it was really enjoyable as a fan and showed their vertisility; feck those who just wanted to here 'What people say I am...' tunes. Radiohead blew me away, I was right in the centre about 2 rows back and got a perfect view of them. Ideotheque in particualar was supurb. Bloc Party seemed far more up for it this year than last as well, particually with the Oasis barbs.
What else? Humm, seemed to be far more little kids on site this year than last which got a bitdangerious at times; whoever brought a 9 year old into the front of Enter Shikari was a bloody idiot and was lucky we got the nipper out quickly. Seemed to be far less surreal and drugged up this year as well, people wern't quite so freindly and doing campfire chats as much. The flag ban worked well, meant I could aactually see the stage rather than having to look through a sea of flags when I wasn't up front. I'm sarting t think a second barrier on the main stag is needed and a bigger arena though. Its getting too packed for the big bands, another enterence would be nice...
Oh, and the BBC coverage of Leeds is awful. Biggest festival in the north, 2 big bands making their homecomings, great crowd and some very special moments. How much footage? Nothing at all. Zilch. Nada. Shocking.
I also actually enjoyed the last night for the first time in 4 years (Reading in 06 and leeds ever since), far less dickheads about and far better marshalling. I was able to have a dance, have a chat, get a bit pissed and have a deep philsophical conversation about Oscar Wilde with a stoner without having to check on my tent every five minuites. Some great stories flying about; Terry Wogans dead, Lady Gagas a man, Oasis have broken up and some one fell in the loos... (wait a second, the last two are true!)
I thought the Monkeys didn't deserve the criticism they got, they payed a mellow set but it was really enjoyable as a fan and showed their vertisility; feck those who just wanted to here 'What people say I am...' tunes. Radiohead blew me away, I was right in the centre about 2 rows back and got a perfect view of them. Ideotheque in particualar was supurb. Bloc Party seemed far more up for it this year than last as well, particually with the Oasis barbs.
What else? Humm, seemed to be far more little kids on site this year than last which got a bitdangerious at times; whoever brought a 9 year old into the front of Enter Shikari was a bloody idiot and was lucky we got the nipper out quickly. Seemed to be far less surreal and drugged up this year as well, people wern't quite so freindly and doing campfire chats as much. The flag ban worked well, meant I could aactually see the stage rather than having to look through a sea of flags when I wasn't up front. I'm sarting t think a second barrier on the main stag is needed and a bigger arena though. Its getting too packed for the big bands, another enterence would be nice...
Oh, and the BBC coverage of Leeds is awful. Biggest festival in the north, 2 big bands making their homecomings, great crowd and some very special moments. How much footage? Nothing at all. Zilch. Nada. Shocking.
Olibert
Also, Reue what was going on with the sound on the mainstage? It is so inconsistent. One minute it was really quiet in one speaker then suddenly it would go really loud. It was the same last year.
Bad weather conditions. The wind on Friday especially was very poor, thats the reason the main stage screens were down most of the day.
Speakers swaying in the wind, coupled with a sound tech desperatly trying to adjust levels results in lots of quiets and louds throughout the set.
Nfixlol
seems like at reading people go to the front just to be at the front, even if they don't even really like the band. at t in the park for all the killers everyone in front of the second big screen sang along to every song, and i mean every single one, for a couple of them you couldn't even hear the killers. at radiohead last night, barely anyone around me even knew the words to their most famous songs, other than some 4 foot tall girl who was really really into it but couldn't see **** all, not even the screen, who i kinda felt really bad for 
i might go leeds instead next year
ps don't get me wrong i loved it, but it feels like the further north you go, the better the crowds are.
seems like at reading people go to the front just to be at the front, even if they don't even really like the band. at t in the park for all the killers everyone in front of the second big screen sang along to every song, and i mean every single one, for a couple of them you couldn't even hear the killers. at radiohead last night, barely anyone around me even knew the words to their most famous songs, other than some 4 foot tall girl who was really really into it but couldn't see **** all, not even the screen, who i kinda felt really bad for i might go leeds instead next year
ps don't get me wrong i loved it, but it feels like the further north you go, the better the crowds are.
This saddens me.
nnnomi
I managed to shove my way to the front of the arctic monkeys at reading. Being a tall girl really helped - and also being drunk. So many bruises, but so worth it
Most amazing sets include - Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and the SURPRISE OF DAVE GROHL oh i almost cried
Most amazing sets include - Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and the SURPRISE OF DAVE GROHL oh i almost cried
I have 25 bruises on my legs from Reading!
brokenheroes
i agree that the guys down the front are usually only down there to be at the front though. i was like 1 person back from the barrier for brand new and me and my friends were literally screaming every single word back to jesse, while everyone around us stood still and silent. wtf is the point? and least, you know, bop along to the music or something.
You may have been near me for KoL then. I was sat down at the centre, immediately in front of the barrier so I could recover from the beating I took at the front; but I soon went nuts for Four Kicks
I refused to sing along to Sex on Fire and Be Somebody on principle. They're **** songs. Bleh.
Another thing that pissed me off about people up front at Reading: People were far too concerned about getting TV coverage. Most people sat on shoulers (that I saw) suddenly bcame fixated on the screens. For ***** SAKE they were right in front of the band, they coudln't get a better view? People also kept screaming seemingly randomly during songs, which I later realised happened whenever the huge crowd camera was pointing at us.
JohnnySPal
You may have been near me for KoL then. I was sat down at the centre, immediately in front of the barrier so I could recover from the beating I took at the front; but I soon went nuts for Four Kicks
I refused to sing along to Sex on Fire and Be Somebody on principle. They're **** songs. Bleh.
Another thing that pissed me off about people up front at Reading: People were far too concerned about getting TV coverage. Most people sat on shoulers (that I saw) suddenly bcame fixated on the screens. For ***** SAKE they were right in front of the band, they coudln't get a better view? People also kept screaming seemingly randomly during songs, which I later realised happened whenever the huge crowd camera was pointing at us.
I refused to sing along to Sex on Fire and Be Somebody on principle. They're **** songs. Bleh.
Another thing that pissed me off about people up front at Reading: People were far too concerned about getting TV coverage. Most people sat on shoulers (that I saw) suddenly bcame fixated on the screens. For ***** SAKE they were right in front of the band, they coudln't get a better view? People also kept screaming seemingly randomly during songs, which I later realised happened whenever the huge crowd camera was pointing at us.
haha i don't think i was, i was by the white sound tent thing a fair bit back, but it just shows we had a fairly similar experience.
CasinoBrawl
This saddens me.
i got her up on my shoulders for like 10-15 minutes but i'm not exactly hench so couldn't really have done much more. no one around seemed to give a crap either 
Leeds Fest was awesome!! First Leeds Fest but loved every single minute of it!! Deffo off again next year!!!
amazing weekend! saw the temper trap, who were unbelievabley good. also i loved marina and the diamonds, florence was brilliant, jamie was so good as well. was dissappointed about prodigy, nearly got crushed and still couldnt hear a thing until everyone started singing.
arctics were way better than i expected, although when everyone fell over at the start it was horrible. i was sat on by 2 huge men and i couldn't shout my friends to get me up as i've totally lost my voice.
kings were brilliant, although the crush getting into the arena was absolutely awful, i thought i was going to stop breathing
arctics were way better than i expected, although when everyone fell over at the start it was horrible. i was sat on by 2 huge men and i couldn't shout my friends to get me up as i've totally lost my voice.
kings were brilliant, although the crush getting into the arena was absolutely awful, i thought i was going to stop breathing
nnnomi
I managed to shove my way to the front of the arctic monkeys at reading. Being a tall girl really helped - and also being drunk. So many bruises, but so worth it
Most amazing sets include - Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and the SURPRISE OF DAVE GROHL oh i almost cried
Most amazing sets include - Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and the SURPRISE OF DAVE GROHL oh i almost cried
I died when Dave Grohl came on at Leeds. Me and my friends were walking to the exchange point for cups and bottles (the major source of income for the 5 days we were there) and I saw Dave Grohl's face on the screen outside the NME tent. I literally threw the cups in the air and starting screaming and running. Then I saw Josh Homme as well and it made my entire festival.
i just love Dave so much 
I figure this is worth a try here; does anybody know the set Fightstar played at Reading? Would like to know what songs I missed by arriving a bit late, cheers.
brokenheroes
i agree that the guys down the front are usually only down there to be at the front though. i was like 1 person back from the barrier for brand new and me and my friends were literally screaming every single word back to jesse, while everyone around us stood still and silent. wtf is the point? and least, you know, bop along to the music or something.
i agree that the guys down the front are usually only down there to be at the front though. i was like 1 person back from the barrier for brand new and me and my friends were literally screaming every single word back to jesse, while everyone around us stood still and silent. wtf is the point? and least, you know, bop along to the music or something.
might've been next to you in brand new, doing the same. was ridiculous sticking them between the view (who were utterly awful) and vampire weekend (who probably were too).
on the nme barrier front it was there last year as well.
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