Reading Bands For Reading Festival campaign latest
By Lorna Davies



LOCAL music fans are saying "yes!" to our Reading Bands For Reading Festival campaign.

After starting our petition to get at least five local bands at this year's Reading Festival we headed to culture vulture hang out The Oakford Social Club to find out what people thought of the current Reading Festival line-up and the idea of getting more local bands involved.

With legendary rockers Guns n' Roses topping the bill on Friday night it seems the festival is following the retro trend set by Glastonbury last year. Retail manager Jayne Cummings, 36, said: "I am going to the festival but I think last year was my year.

"There's quite a lot of older acts this year, which is retro for the youngsters but feels a bit old for someone like me."

Jayne was all for our petition, and added: "It's a good idea, it would be good to see what I can learn from new bands."

Carl Barat and Pete Doherty have put aside their differences to play as The Libertines on the Saturday night before headliners Arcade Fire.

Steven Bentley, 25, from Reading, said: "It's not a bad line-up, if the Libertines show up! I think it's a great idea to have local bands at the festival."

Other big acts include Weezer, Blink 182, Dizzee Rascal and Paramore.

Rebecca Viles, 24, a senior sales assistant from Reading, said: "I think the festival is a great opportunity to showcase local talent."

Oakford bar staff Paul Hodgson, 21, and Sam Watts, 25, are both hoping to go to the festival.

Paul said: "I definitely think local bands should be given a better chance at the festival - seeing as it is in Reading, it has to be done. They've got the BBC Introducing stage but it doesn't focus on local talent."

Manager Ahmad Chaaban agreed that local bands should be given some weighting when the line up is decided.

He said: "I definitely think local bands should be given precedence. The fact the festival is on our door step should mean bands get a platform show their talents."

Store manager of But Is It Art? Nico Adams, 26, said: "There are quite a few bands I would like to see, a lot of the smaller bands look really good. I can't make the festival but I'm gutted I'm missing Weezer!

"I think it's a really good idea to get local bands on board, such as Pete And The Pirates."

Sign the petition at www.readingchronicle.co.uk/reading4reading