Since it began as a jazz festival in 1961, the Reading and Leeds festival has showcased some of the biggest artists and attracted crowds from across the UK.
It has journeyed through various musical phases, from jazz to rock to punk and metal, and more recently to hip hop and rap.
Attending Reading or Leeds fest has become almost a rite of passage for British teenagers interested in popular music and eager to experience the infamous silent discos, mud sliding, and crusty portaloos.
One of my favourite things about the festival is watching artists grow over the years from performing at 1 pm on a tiny unknown stage to headlining a Sunday night.
Below I rank some of the most iconic Reading and Leeds lineups and envy those who saw the big names on the small stages.
2007
A classic rock lineup, 2007 saw huge bands, the Kaiser Chiefs, Fall Out Boy, Muse, Pearl Jam, My Chemical Romance and Panic at the Disco crush the main stage.
Notably, the Artic Monkeys, who will once again be performing at the 2022 festival, put the cherry on top of this dynamic lineup.
5/5
2008
Following the 2007 lineup, the 2008 festival had big shoes to fill. Featuring the Killers, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine and Queens of the Stone Age on the main stage the creators of this lineup understood the assignment perfectly.
However, for me it was the acts on the BBC 1 and NME stages which stole the festival. The Wombats, Vampire Weekend, Manic Street Preachers, Justice and Foals are just a few of the brilliant acts on these stages.
4.5/5
2021
The 2021 lineup holds a special place in my heart as it was my first year at the festival.
Highlights for me included Gerry Cinammon, Sam Fender, Nothing but Thieves, Wolf Alice and Sea Girls, as well as, naturally the headliners Stormzy, Post Malone, and Liam Gallagher.
4/5
2022
Showcasing Dave, Meghan Thee Stallion, Arctic Monkeys, Bring me the Horizon and Maneskin, Reading and Leeds 2022 promises a vibrant fusion of hip hop, indie and rock acts. The festival begins on August 26.
3.5/5
1999
1999 was the first year Reading and Leeds festival adopted its two-city rock-inspired format.
From Blur to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, an array of classic 90s artists kicked off the festival as we know it with a bang and put Reading and Leeds on the map.