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While there are something like 150 bands who actually are playing this weekend, as ever it's the ones who've pulled out who seemed to get the most press, the White Stripes for instance, although this came with the news that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were signed up to fill their place. Shortly before this came the word that Lostprophets had pulled out. At some point Courtny Love fell by the wayside and there are non-confirmed Rumours that Funeral For A Friend have secretly pulled out just days before they're meant to be on.
The last person to pull out was Jay-Z deciding to stay at home to release his upcoming (and possible last) LP, 'The Black Album' at the end of November, however, reports circulating in the US suggest he is writing a book, 'The Black Book', to accompany the album. This promotes The Darkness to a higher Main Stage placing, with the kids who bought tickets just for the Norfolk boys able to swap their day tickets thanks to the Mean Fiddler changing the rules for the band.
But anyway, you've paid your money, you'll be trying to avoid this year's train trouble and you're looking for a good Reading/Leeds Festival weekend, that's where DiS comes in...
First, to get you in the mood you might want to check out the collection of last year's reviews or join DiS new boy Matthew Gregory in 'The Reading Festival: The Day That Revolution Came Up For Air'.
Next, with so many bands on over the 3 days you'll want some kind of guide to the weekend, a form of quality control if you will... that's where our Carling Weekend Previews come in handy:
Reading Friday/Leeds Saturday preview
Reading Saturday/Leeds Sunday preview
Reading Sunday/Leeds Friday preview
And finally general festival info & stuff:
Weather - The BBC Weather Forcast for Reading is looking good, temperatures up to the mid 20s all weekend so take some suntan lotion. Leeds is looking a little colder and more cloudy, but it is in The North, what do you expect?
Survival - Are you Girly or are you Hardcore?
Travel - Train services are somewhat reduced to Reading this year, check the official Reading Festival Travel page for links and last minute information if you're still working out a way to get to the site. Leeds has a little train delay trouble over the usual festival in/out traffic, and remember that it's an a new site this year. Hit Leeds Festival Travel site for all the latest info, and do try not to burn the place down this year...
That's about it, any last minute changes to the bill will be disclosed on DiS before the last of us set off for the weekend. We're also putting together a wee guide for you to print out and take along with you - who needs a costly necklace thing with the wrong lineup on it when you have us, eh?
DiScuss: What have you got on your must see list for the weekend? Going to run up to us and demand a badge/kiss? Do you actually like the taste of Carling?
