The Arctic Monkeys are headlining this year's Reading Festival.

The rock extravaganza, which also has Blink 182 as headliners, with a third still to be announced,  runs over the bank Holiday weekend from Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24.

The Arctic Monkeys have been nominated as Best British Band at the BRIT awards this year and Best Live Act at the NME awards and they are no strangers to the Reading stage, having first performed at the festival in 2005.

This was the year they first released their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and from that moment the guys became rock heroes notching up hits with Do I Wanna Know? Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High and R U Mine.

Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys said the band were really pleased to be playing back at Reading. “We’ve got a lot of history with the festival. It’s the first festival I ever went to - we all went together as kids, with Nick as well. We were 15 or 16 and it was a big deal going to go to a festival like that on your own,’’’ he said.

Other big names at this year’s extravaganza are Blink-182, Jake Bugg, Disclosure, You Me At Six, Metronomy, Of Mice and Men, Courteeners and many more. Manchester’s finest the Courteeners burst on to the music scene in 2007 with St Jude.  

They have just released their third top ten album called Anna but are best known for such popular hits as Not Nineteen Forever and Lose Control.

The band became one of the breakout acts of last year and their single Chocolate was voted Number One Hottest Record of 2013.

Radio One’s Huw Stephens is a staunch supporter of You Me At Six and the rock quintet have just released their fourth album Cavalier Youth, which went to number one this week. This will be their fourth appearance at the Reading rock out.

Weekend tickets are currently £202.50 plus applicable booking fees, including camping. Car parking £5.

Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of four per person/address/payment card for those booking by telephone or online. Credit Card line 0871 231 0821 or online at: www.festivalrepublic.com www.readingfestival.com www.leedsfestival.com 

 

See Thursday's Entertainer supplement for a chance tow in camping weekend tickets to the Reading Festival