Carling Weekend - Even More Bands!

CARLING WEEKEND - MORE BANDS ANNOUNCED!

The Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals is proud to announce more additions across both The Main Stage and the NME / Radio One Stage, adding to an unrivalled bill of the best and biggest names in rock.

With tickets for The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival TOTALLY SOLD OUT IN RECORD TIME and weekend tickets for The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival SOLD OUT IN RECORD TIME it is clear that music fans across the UK recognise that the twin sites are the only place to be for the serious music fan over the summer. SOME DAY TICKETS for THE CARLING WEEKEND: LEEDS FESTIVAL are still available at time of writing but be quick as these are sure to be gone very soon.

Skiddle.com will have it's very own festivals site online by the end of the week, with all the latest info, updates and opinions on this years events. Check back shortly!

Adding to a bill that includes PIXIES ONLY UK SHOWS THIS YEAR, IRON MAIDEN’S ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCES THIS YEAR and a host of other exclusives, organisers MEAN FIDDLER are proud to announce the following additions:

Friday 26th August at The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival
The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival is at Little John’s Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading

Saturday 27th August at The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival
The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival is at Bramham Park, Leeds

ON THE NME / RADIO ONE STAGE

Currently recording their second album, Reading boys COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE return to the live arena after a significant absence. When 2002’s debut album, "See This Through And Leave" broke through to the top of the UK charts it was a victory for a band that had followed the old tradition of touring hard and building up a huge, and incredibly dedicated, fanbase. Rave reviews from NME amongst others and a string of hit singles including what is sure to be a singalong moment at this year’s shows in "Who Needs Enemies" cemented their position as one of the most important new bands in the UK. With NO OTHER SHOWS CONFIRMED at time of writing, these performances will be a first chance for everyone to hear the new songs and are sure to be a triumphant return for the local lads.

Having recently toured the UK with fellow festival attendees Funeral for a Friend MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE come to the festivals with the distinct feeling that they are about to go massive. Long term support from Kerrang has now been complemented by coverage from NME and the band’s ever growing fanbase seems to suggest that this set could be one of those moments at this year’s festivals akin to the Foo Fighters in 1995 and Nirvana in 1991. With 2003’s debut album "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love" finding new fans at every turn, be sure not to miss these sets which may well be the start of something very special.

FIGHTSTAR have proved their critics wrong with great EP sales of"They Liked You Better When You Were Dead", a sold out debut UK tour earlier this year and another well on its way to repeating that success next month.

Now with their decision to record the debut album with acclaimed producer Colin Richardson (Machine Head, Napalm Death)their stock is set to soar. But it's Fightstar’s debut festival appearances this summer that will seal their reputation as a stunning live act and cement their longevity as a great British rock band.

Currently celebrating their debut in the singles chart with "Oh Yeah", THE SUBWAYS come to the festivals with Zane Lowe, NME, The Fly and just about everyone else tipping them to be one of the sensations of the year. Currently recording their debut album with Ian Broudie in Liverpool, the three piece who are still all in their teens first gained attention when Michael Eavis invited them on to the Glastonbury bill last year and they haven’t looked back since. Melding a pop take on rock to great effect, live they are a whirlwind of energy and excitement. Catch this set before they move up to the bigger stages next year.

Saturday 27th August at The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival
Sunday 28th August at The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival

ON THE NME / RADIO ONE STAGE

HOT HOT HEAT first burst onto the UK scene with the pop perfection that was (and is) "Bandages" in 2003. Taken from the album "Make Up The Breakdown", their second but the first to really impact on UK audiences, the four Canadians saw themselves heralded by NME, Kerrang and Radio One as one of the best new bands to emerge that year. "Oh No Not Now" and "Talk To Me, Dance With Me" followed "Bandages" into the charts as the album ended the year high on every critics poll. With new album "Elevator" due for release this month, single "Goodnight, Goodnight" to follow in May and a UK tour on the horizon the band look sure to pick up where they left off and these shows are sure to be a highlight of the weekend.

With second album, "No Wow", earning plaudits across the board THE KILLS come to the festivals in fine form. From debut "Keep On Your Mean Side" in 2003, the duo of Hotel (boy) and VV (girl) have gloried in stripping rock ‘n’ roll to it’s barest essentials to create a sound that is direct and immediate. Live, the pair share a chemistry rarely seen in modern rock performing with an untethered rage that owes as much to classic ‘50’s rock ‘n’ roll as the art ethic of the 60’s (Velvet Underground especially) that informs the pair’s idea of what their band is. A stunning live band and, further, a band that are developing from record to record, THE KILLS should be top of the list for anyone planning to see the best of what this year’s festivals have to offer.

THE OTHERS won the inaugural NME John Peel Award For Musical Innovation for their guerilla gigs on the tube, on the legendary Abbey Road zebra-crossing, in Radio 1's lobby, and up a tree. With these gigs and the mini riots and dedicated fans that come with them, and a frontman who gives out his mobile number to anyone at their shows, THE OTHERS have, in a short time, forced their way to the front of the UK music scene in a way not seen since Malcolm McLaren met a young John Lydon. Anthems like ³This Is For The Poor² and ³Lackey² on Alan McGee¹s Poptones label backed up the hype with entries in the singles chart. No band in recent memory has divided opinion as much as THE OTHERS. Love them or hate them, you can't ignore them. No doubt these shows will see maximum attendance from uber-fans the 853 Kamikaze Stage Diving Division and, as ever, there should be no doubt that both performances will be one of the talking points of the weekend, as they were last year.

Sunday 28th August at The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival
Friday 26th August at The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival

ON THE MAIN STAGE

When ALKALINE TRIO first toured the UK in 2001 they found a fanbase waiting to greet them. Since forming in 1997, the band had toured the US incessantly whilst releasing, through cult indie Asian Man, two albums, 1998’s "Goddamit" and 2000’s "Maybe I’ll Catch Fire". The debut UK tour co-incided with their move to bigger indie Vagrant (home to Rocket From The Crypt amongst others) and 2003’s "Good Mourning" saw the band break though further in their native USA with appearances on the Letterman show and Late Night With Conan O’Brien, whilst the UK fanbase continued to increase at rapid speed. With new album, Crimson" set for release at the end of the month, this looks set to be ALKALINE TRIO’s year and these shows are certain to see yet more converts to that ever growing fanbase.

If you have never seen TURBONEGRO live then this year’s festivals are the ideal opportunity for an introduction. The Norwegian rockers have steadily built an incredible worldwide fanbase since they formed in 1989. The Turbojugend is more than a fan club, it is a society of like minds with individual chapters having their own social events and celebrations. With their blend of the dramatics of glam rock, the spirit of punk and the dynamics of heavy metal it has to be said that TURBONEGRO are unlike any other band on earth. Get down the front for this and who knows, you may be forming your own Turbojugend chapter by the end of the weekend?

It’s always hard to wake up on the last day at Reading, get out of your bed early and head over to the main stage for the first act of the day, but if ever there was a band worth making that effort for, it is Bullet for my Valentine. After a hectic year that has seen them support Anthrax, 36 Crazyfists, Atreyu AND have their own Kerrang sponsored headline UK tour, 2005 is shaping up to be the year the band explode. With a debut album ready for release, a UK tour with fellow Welsh metallers Funeral for a Friend, who’s betting against the guys being a lot higher up the bill next time?

ON THE NME / RADIO ONE STAGE

"BRITISH SEA POWER are the most Cumbrian band of them all. They have produced but two albums, but both have been praised to the high heavens, while David Bowie, Wayne Coyne, Julian Cope and Bill Oddie are all said to have the band's name tatooed somewhere of other. Time Out declared BRITISH SEA POWER their Live Band Of The Year in 2004 and now new LP Open Season is galvanising even the least attentive observer. Watch out for future possible radio-wave smash Please Stand Up and EEC plans to make BSP keyboard man Eamon an autonomous nation state. Fuck or a fight? Yes please."

One of the most interesting new artists of recent times, WILLY MASON has seen Zane Lowe at Radio One hammer his track "Oxygen" since the DJ stumbled across him performing in March of 2004. Having been introduced to Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) through a friend who heard him on a small radio station in his native Martha’s Vineyard, the singer / songwriter’s mix of blues, folk and gospel traditions saw him sign to Virgin and release debut "Where The Humans Eat in October of 2004. The album finished the year at the top end of countless "Best Of" polls meaning these performances are sure to be a highlight for many.

With their debut album, "Cuts Across the Land" scheduled for a May 23rd release, THE DUKE SPIRIT come to the festivals in fine fettle. From 2003’s self released debut mini-album "Roll, Spirit, Roll", the London 5 piece have been regarded as one of the most interesting UK bands of recent times. A recent date for NME at London’s Koko was a total sell out, demonstrating that the anticipation for the album was shared by both critics and public alike and all the signs are that the full length debut will nestle nicely in both the charts and the end of year polls.

MAXIMO PARK may take the drudgery of life in Britain as their starting point but over their debut album "A Certain Trigger" they weave that stimulus into some of the most exciting and direct pop music being made in 2005. Current single (and first chart hit) "Apply Some Pressure" almost took up residence on Radio 6, such was the station’s love of the track and that merely hints at the promise better demonstrated by the album. With their first appearances at the festival’s this most British of guitar bands, signed to Warp, that most electric of labels, like Pulp before them (who recorded some of their greatest moments for the label’s Gift imprint) are a sure bet for end of year heroes.

The line-up so far..........

THE CARLING WEEKEND:

THE KILLERS
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
THE CORAL
ELBOW
SPECIAL GUESTS TBA
DROPKICKS MURPHYS

KASABIAN
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
FIGHTSTAR
THE SUBWAYS

THE TEARS
BABYSHAMBLES
THE ARCADE FIRE
HOT HOT HEAT
THE KILLS
THE OTHERS

THE NME / RADIO ONE STAGE

BLOC PARTY
THE FUTUREHEADS
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
BRITISH SEA POWER
WILLY MASON
THE DUKE SPIRIT
MAXIMO PARK

STILL TO COME!

THE MAIN STAGE – More of the biggest names and exclusive performances

THE RADIO ONE STAGE – The bands as they break, future Main Stage headliners and classic performances that will enter Reading and Leeds folklore.

THE DANCE STAGE – The best and biggest names in the dance and hip hop world over two days.

THE CONCRETE JUNGLE – The best of the punk, ska and skate scene take over for one day as ever. Always packed from noon to night.

THE COMEDY STAGE – The best comedy, cabaret and outright strangeness to complement the bands and also offer late night entertainment.

THE CARLING STAGE – The cream of the new bands, the "ones to watch". There for you to watch on one stage for three days.