The Carling Weekend: Huge UPDATE!!!!

THE CARLING WEEKEND: READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS 2006

NEW NAMES ADDED TO THE MAIN STAGE AND THE RADIO ONE / NME STAGE!

With all weekend tickets sold out, this year’s Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals is already the hottest ticket of the summer. There are still a few day ticket left for each day at both sites but with this announcement of yet more of the biggest names in rock and the most talked about new acts in the world, those are sure to be gone very very soon.

Organisers, Mean Fiddler, continue to make the weekend the greatest festival in the world and are proud to announce the following superb additions to this year’s bill.

Friday 25th August at The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival

Saturday 26th August at The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival

ON THE MAIN STAGE

FIGHTSTAR take to the Main Stage following an exhilarating start to 2006 that has seen them release their debut album, "Grand Unification" in March and headline the London Astoria to a totally sold out and suitably awed crowd. With dates with Funeral For A Friend coming through May in the UK and the release of second single from the album, "Hazy Eyes", in June, the boys are sure to be busy through the summer to these shows. With The Fly proclaiming "Grand Unification" "exhilarating" and Kerrang declaring the debut "an amazing record" it’s small wonder that FIGHTSTAR will be on many to see lists at this year’s event.

ON THE RADIO ONE / NME STAGE

DIZZEE RASCAL returns to Leeds and Reading this year after destroying all competition a few years back. First appearing in his early teens as a jungle DJ, Dizzy D, then as a pirate radio phenomenon, before becoming a part of the talent-spouting Roll Deep Crew, DIZZEE RASCAL became the hottest name on London's grime underground with his groundbreaking debut album, "Boy In Da Corner". Critical shock and awe followed, both here and in America; winning the Mercury Prize; selling over 250,000 copies and scoring top a 20 hit with "Fix Up, Look Sharp". But while all that was happening, Dylan Mills was writing lyrics, making tunes and recording his next album - the angry, funny, sonically-staggering 14 tracks that made up the follow-up album, "Showtime", which dropped just a year after his first. Since then, he has set up his own record label, Dirty Stank, and has set about recording his third album, "Maths and English", which is due this Autumn on XL Recordings. DIZZEE RASCAL continues to tear up all the rule books and set the music world alight with his raw talent. His thought-provoking lyrics, distinctively piercing and poignant delivery, and original production have made him one of the hottest stars of the urban scene, and yet one impossible to pigeonhole.

With debut album, "Now Here Is Nowhere" (2004), Texan born but NYC resident SECRET MACHINES proved themselves worthy inheritors to the US tradition of ‘pysche rock’ as pioneered by the likes of Galaxie 500, Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips. That debut saw the band win fans in the UK with The Guardian proclaiming "each track is astonishing". Touring added to that fan base and the band ended the year with fellow New York residents Interpol on what many regarded one of the tours of 2004. With new album, "Ten Silver Drops" (2006), SECRET MACHINES have continued their quest to make expansive, intelligent music with NME declaring "these Texans are special". With fans as disparate as Noel Gallagher (who offered them support slots with Oasis) and David Bowie (who interviewed the band for his bowienet website) SECRET MACHINES are a band that seem destined for the kind of attention and adulation that only the very few attain.

MYSTERY JETS have eschewed the vogue for skinny ties and clipped three minute songs since they first appeared from Twickeham’s Eel Pie Island last year. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences from the most English (The Smiths, The Teardrop Explodes, Dexy’s) to the most international (Can and Krautrock) and the newest (their well documented links to other West London acts) to the oldest (early Pink Floyd), the band seem at odds with the prevailing UK current. All the better for it, Mystery Jets have lit up the recent past with gems of singles such as "Zoo Time", "Alas Agnes" and the irresistible "You Can’t Fool Me Dennis" whilst recently released debut album, "Making Dens", felt very much like the start of a long musical journey. With a slot on the NME’s recent Awards tour bringing them to a much bigger audience and sold out debut tours of Europe (with Arctic Monkeys) and the US under their belts, MYSTERY JETS continue to set their own path with these shows at the festivals. You’d be well advised to join them.

PEACHES is a phenomena; the self-made, self-produced, do-it-yourself leader of the electro punk movement and master of the original dirty lyrical classic (check "Fuck The Pain Away" and "Shake Yer Dix" for confirmation). Unique with her minimal pumping beats and loved by true innovators as diverse as Deborah Harry, Iggy Pop, Bjork, Josh Homme, Lil Kim, Kelis, 2 Many DJs, M.I.A. and LCD Soundsystem, not to mention the entire fashion and art world. Her live shows are legendary and 2006 marks her return to the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds - only this year, there's a difference. To date she's been a one-woman Kiss concert but now, with the advent of her new album, '"mpeach My Bush", she has formed a band. Samantha Maloney (Hole, Courtney Love band, Motley Crue, Eagles of Death Metal) on drums, ex-Courtney Love guitarist Radio Sloan and JD Samson from Le Tigre (on keytar and sequencing) have all signed up to create an unstoppable all-girl onslaught. Are you ready for the next level?

GOGOL BORDELLO’s very own gypsy punk counter-culture swept through the States last year, and arrived kicking and screaming in the UK in December. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength including two sold out UK tours, a Pet Sound Record Of The Week on the Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1 with their anthem "Start Wearing Purple", and a performance on BBC 2's Later scheduled for June. With fans including Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Paige Hamilton (Helmet), Dave Allen (Gang Of Four), actors Elijah Wood and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Meg White (White Stripes), and the NME calling their live performance "barmy, charming and utterly utterly brilliant", frontman Eugene Hutz and his band of immigrant punks show exactly what all the fuss is about at the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals in August.

With the web buzzing over reactions to their recent live shows, GUILLEMOTS come to the festival in high spirits. Emerging last year with debut single, "I Saw Such Things In My Sleep", the four piece have revelled in their disparate influences and flamboyant stage performances that are in stark contrast to the studied cool of many contemporary bands. Second single, "We’re Here", released in March of 2006 has continued to build expectation for their debut album and, for those yet to see the band, these performances are a perfect way to enter the world of GUILLEMOTS.

Following a string of triumphant independently released singles including such future classics as "Separated By Motorways, Appropriation (By Any Other Name)" and "Giddy Stratospheres", THE LONG BLONDES are one of the most talked about bands of the year. Kate (lips), Dorian (licks), Reenie (hips), Screech (sticks) and Emma (high kicks)'s journey so far has been jam-packed with razzmatazz and heady thrills: supporting fellow Sheffield darlings Arctic Monkeys at their legendary Leadmill gig, being handpicked by Steve Lamacq to open for Arcade Fire at Lamacq In The City, sold out gigs throughout the UK, personal support requests from Franz Ferdinand, Maximo Park and Sons & Daughters and crowned by winning NME's Philip Hall Radar Award . They are now hard at work on a new single with PULP's Steve Mackey forthcoming on Rough Trade records.

Saturday 26th August at The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival

Sunday 27th August at The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival

ON THE MAIN STAGE

Formed by Dublin-born singer/ guitarist Dave King in 1997, FLOGGING MOLLY have developed a rabid following by melding traditional Irish folk with anarchic punk rock. The Los Angeles-band's live show, a ferocious tornado of fists, beer bottles and stage dives, collides with guitar, fiddle and accordion, continually leaving the sweaty masses in awe. Their popularity and formation is chronicled in their forthcoming feature-length DVD, "Whiskey on a Sunday". Shot over two years and in seven countries, the feature-length documentary is an intimate portrait of the seven personalities that make up FLOGGING MOLLY. The film tracks the group of musicians from their bar- band roots to their current success, including footage of the band in the studio, on tour, at home and at their sold-out homecoming performance at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. With more than a million records sold worldwide and thousands of shows under their belt, FLOGGING MOLLY have established themselves as one of the leading touring attractions in the world.

ON THE RADIO ONE / NME STAGE

In the past 12 Months, COHEED AND CAMBRIA have gone from cult band that ‘you just have to see live’ to million selling New Prog Hero’s! Following sell out shows at The Astoria and Brixton Academy in London among others across the country, the New York 4 piece returned to their native USA and are currently touring the country on a co-headline tour with Avenged Sevenfold. The tour takes in a massive 33 cities before COHEED AND CAMBRIA return to Europe to play a host of headline shows prior to these appearances. The bands critically acclaimed 3rd long player, "Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness" was released in Autumn 2005 and has been gathering momentum ever since. On their return to the UK this summer, COHEED AND CAMBRIA will release "Welcome Home", the second single from the album on May 29th which will be closely followed with a Special Edition ‘Fan Pack’ of the album on June 5th. The Fan Pack includes an amazing bunch of extras for even the most discerning rock fan such as bonus DVD including music video’s from the album, "A Favour House Atlantic" the movie, animated vignettes for each track on the album and even some video outtakes.

Three years ago, JET played at the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Weekend prior to the release of their debut album, "Get Born". Back then they were flying their freak flag high, playing feral, pounding rock 'n' roll music early in the afternoon to the masses who'd been turned onto the band via their single "Are You Gonna Be My Girl". Now, after four and a half million album sales worldwide and tours with The Rolling Stones and Oasis, they return to UK festivals prior to the release of their second long player, currently being masterminded in a Los Angeles studio with super producer Dave Sardy (who, after producing "Get Born", went on to scrub up records by, amongst others, Oasis, Primal Scream, Wolfmother & Dirty Pretty Things). "After six months working on our studio tans, we think we might be ready for playing Reading & Leeds..." said drummer Chris Cester. JET will level the tent on Saturday (Reading) & Sunday (Leeds).

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH are a great example in the real tradition of DIY. Having generated over 25,000 sales of their debut album through word of mouth and touring in the US, the band then hand packed every order as it came in. As word spread, the band became the focus of a veritable A&R scrum as labels tried to catch up with the kids. With a deal inked with Wichita, home of Bloc Party amongst others, "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah" was released at the beginning of the year to massive critical acclaim and the band capped an incredible year’s rise with a sold out show at London’s Forum. With the NME calling them "the most exciting new band on the planet" and a release for standout album track "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth" on July 10th, CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH are destined to come to the festivals as a priority set for the discerning festival goer.

What can you say about THE FALL? John Peel’s favourite band ever, the "Mighty Fall" in Peel terms, the last band standing of the amazing post punk years that saw Manchester (and Salford) produce some of the greatest music ever and still making provocative and challenging music that puts much younger bands to shame. This and more are THE FALL. Lead singer and, in essence, THE FALL, Mark E Smith has been heralded as many things over their near 30 year career from poet to genius, difficult to plain awkward but the legions of fans know that Smith and his ever revolving cast of members are the spirit of music incarnate, the greatest band the world has ever known. Littering music history with such gems as "Totally Wired", "Dead Beat Descendant", "Hit The North", "Touch Sensitive" and we could go on forever, THE FALL are an embodiment of the qualities that make British music the best in the world. And you wouldn’t want to miss that.

THE SHINS come to the festivals with anticipation high at the autumn release of their as yet untitled third studio album. Debut, "Oh, Inverted World" (2001), was one of the word of mouth successes of the year and saw the band talked of in reverent tones across the underground music scene whilst becoming one of GQ’s 40 Best Albums of the 21st Century. With second album, "Chutes Too Narrow", the underground heroes came overground, lodging at Number 1 in the US CMJ chart for months and ending the year in countless Best Of charts with NME declaring frontman James Mercer "a song writing genius", With Mojo weighing in with the opinion that "Chutes" was "an incredible pop record" it is no wonder that the news that THE SHINSare to return to UK shores for these shows is sure to brighten the day for the more than 300,000 folk that have bought both albums.

BE YOUR OWN PET came kicking and screaming out of South By South West in 2004 with a fair bucket load of plaudits. NME were immediately on the front foot, proclaiming the band worthy heirs to the US alt rock crown and heralding the release of first single "Damn, Damn Leash" as a year zero for music. Live, singer Jemima Pearl is a frenzy of movement whilst band members Nathan Vasquez, Jonas Stein and Jamin Orrall whip up a noise second to none. Self describing their music as a "kick in the ass" on their MySpace site, the teenagers debut album for XL Recordings, home of fellow festival attendees The Raconteurs amongst others, has seen NME describe Pearl as "the first inspiring rock'n'roll woman for a half-decade".

When MILBURN crashed into the Top 30 with their first ‘proper’ single, "Send In The Boys", many could have been forgiven for wondering where they had come from. To those in the know, the Sheffield four piece had been certs for a hit for some time. Building up a fanatical fanbase around Yorkshire the ‘old’ way; by touring and touring, MILBURN had been playing together for four years before fame came knocking. With a recent your with fellow Sheffield sensations The Arctic Monkeys adding to their ever growing band of admirers and work progressing steadily towards what will be a classic debut album, MILBURN look all set to end the year in the Best Of Polls.

PLAN B, aka Ben Drew, has already been one of the most talked about artists of 2006. Taking inspiration from US rap but also drawing on a broad range of styles, what really strikes home about PLAN B is that, whilst he can hold his own with any MC, he can also switch into a soulful tone and break your heart with his voice in the same song. Initial reaction to two very limited 7" singles, "Kidz" and "Sick To Def" which laid down a blueprint of lyrical tales of drugs, violence, death and underage sex in his home estates of Forest Gate, was bordering on hysterical and Ben found himself the subject of an unprecedented amount of record label attention. A modern representation of Britain’s youth and the varied influences that now power their music, PLAN B is set to be one of the new standard bearers of the British street with the release of debut album, "Who Needs Actions When You Got Words?".

From early comparisons to Mazzy Star and My Bloody Valentine on the release of their debut EP "Lemona", GIANT DRAG have been a band that have been praised in the highest terms by the press on both sides of the Atlantic. The duo’s performance at 2005’s South By South West saw more critical acclaim, with NME declaring of lead singer Annie Hardy, "the woman’s a genius". With debut album, "Hearts and Unicorns" gaining GIANT DRAG fans at every turn, these performances could be the moment when critical praise and underground support come together to provide one of those sets of the weekend that the festivals traditionally provide.

747’s are one of the hardest working bands in the UK. When friends, Ned (Oxford, England) and Oisin (Dublin, Eire) met busking in Dublin, the start of the tale was written. Picking up Massimo in his native Naples on drums and playing their first show at the anti-globalisation protests there to 5,000 people the story was complete on their return to Dublin where they recruited Freddie (Ellerhausen, Germany) on second guitar. Touring incessantly followed with the likes of The Futureheads, Brendan Benson and, most recently, The Raconteurs, bringing the 747’s to immediate public attention. With the band settled in London and a debut album due for release August 2006, 747’s second chapter looks all set to be as exciting as their first and these shows are only the opening pages.

Sunday 27th August at The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival

Friday 25th August at The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival

ON THE MAIN STAGE

For over 25 years, SLAYER have been a byword for the heaviest music and the instigators of what became known as black metal and death metal. Welding ultra fast riffs to thunderous drums and lyrics that talked of the darkest subjects, the band’s third album, "Reign In Blood", is still regarded alongside Metallica’s "Master of Puppets" as the benchmark for the heaviest of metal. With Rick Rubin on production duties, the album may have been ignored by the mainstream media but went on to sell ½ million copies in the US and continues to sell to new generations now. SLAYER followed this with continued bouts of touring across the globe, cementing their position at the forefront of the heavy metal scene through the late 80’s an 90’s. With 1998’s "Diaolicus in Musica", the band diverted from what many saw as their trademark concerns to good effect, gaining critical acclaim that continued through to latest album, "God Hates Us All". The only confirmed SLAYER shows in the UK for this year, this is a great chance to see one of the godheads of metal.

Now happy to be regarded as elder statesmen of the US punk scene, LESS THAN JAKE have been touring their infectious pop punk for over 14 years and show no signs of getting tired as yet. With new album, "In With The Out Crowd", following the best US chart placing ever for last album, "Anthem", the Florida based quintet are a sure fire bet for high octane stage antics and to the point pop songs with bite. Through drummer Vinnie’s label Fueled By Ramen, the band have also brought to prominence a host of bands, including fellow festival Main Stagers Fall Out Boy. With a fanbase that encompasses new fans that have just discovered the band through to those who have been with them since their formation in 1992, LESS THAN JAKE are a safe bet for one of the biggest crowds of the weekend and their sets are guarantee to be a highlight.

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL are currently putting the finishing touches to the follow up to their million selling 2003 album, "A Mark. A Mission. A Brand. A Scar.". The as yet untitled album was produced by Don Gilmore and will be released on the 26th June. The lead single, "Don’t Wait", is their first since "Vindicated" which featured on the soundtrack to "Spiderman 2". The Florida based band fronted by Chris Carraba have come a long way since the release of "The Swiss Army Romance" in 2000. Signed to Vagrant it was on the label’s tour of the US in 2001 with acts like Alkaline Trio that saw them pushed into the limelight. They were firmly at the forefront of the burgeoning stateside ‘emo’ scene and their rise has continued ever since. DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL are well known for their stunning live shows and these dates, their first confirmed UK dates since 2004, are sure to be a highlight of the festivals for many.

With third studio album, "Louder Now" just in stores, TAKING BACK SUNDAY are all set to become one of the best known bands in the world. With second album, "Where You Want To Be" (2004) selling in excess of 700,000 copies and debuting in the US Billboard chart at Number 3 on it’s release, the band are already very big news in their native US. Succesive tours of the UK, (including their festival debut at the twin sites in 2004) have seen the band build an impressively vast and loyal fanbase here in the UK and these shows are set to continue that rise for a band whose use of intelligent lyrics backed by fierce twin guitars impresses both the hearts and minds of all who see them.

It’s fair to say that MASTODON are well on their way to becoming the biggest band in heavy metal. High praise indeed given the competition but not unfounded, as Rocksound said, "Goodbye Metallica, hello Mastodon". To UK fans, the rise of MASTODON may have seemed quick but the band began in their native Atlanta in 2000, paying their dues with a heavy touring schedule in the US, and then Japan through to 2003, when they first came to Europe. It was 2004’s "Leviathan" that really broke the band into UK minds and hearts, being acclaimed Album Of The Year by not just Kerrang but also Terrorizer and Revolver, a feat unparalleled by even the biggest names in heavy metal history. With a support jaunt around the US with fellow Main Stagers SLAYER prior to these dates and an ever growing awareness of the band, MASTODON look all set to be one of the names to emerge from this year’s festival as Ones To Watch for superstardom by the end of the year.

ON THE RADIO ONE / NME STAGE

With a debut Top Of The Pops performance under their belt, BOY KILL BOY are already rightly recognised as one of the most likely to’s of 2006. It was with first single proper , "Back Again", that BOY KILL BOY made that little piece of their own rock ‘n’ roll history, having already wowed Zane Lowe, amongst others with limited edition release, "Civil Sin". With debut album, "Civilian" due for release on 22nd May, the East Londoners memorably described by NME as "Rock’s most definitely going to" look all set to come to the festivals having lived up to such great expectations.

Centred around two key members, Kevin Drew and Brandon Canning, BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE are rightly credited with being at the forefront of the recent renaissance of Canadian music. With a revolving cast of members last counted at 17 who also play in each others acts, BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE’s new album, "Broken Social Scene" has been acclaimed by Q as "a triumph" whilst The Independent made the "pop prophets" their album of the week. Whilst debut album, "You Forgot It In People" (2002) attracted the attention of those in the know, it now seems that the biggest band at this year’s festivals in terms of numbers may also turn out to be one of the biggest in terms of success following these shows.

Mr Love Eggs: "Reading/ Leeds 06 is going to be life changing for GOLDIE LOOKIN CHAIN. Not only are we going to play one of Europe‘s biggest festivals and demonstrate some of Europe’s finest music artistry, but we are also bringing our unique brand of MEAT artistry to the world of live music." Since being quietly pushed to one side by the major label powers that be, GLC are now fending for themselves in the dog eat dog world of music by setting up their own record label. This will be fully financed by the advent of the non-police related ‘GLC Meat Wagon’*. "2006 sees GLC not only entertaining at the front of house to their 60 thousand adoring fans, but also sees us attempting to make a raise by feeding punters/artistes meat products via Britain’s only official Hip Hop BBQ."

The Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals 2006 – the gig to eat meat to.

*vegetarians also welcome.

HOPE OF THE STATES emerged with in 2004 with the release of "The Lost Riots". This introduced the world to a band that made vast, beautiful music built from walls of guitar. 'The Lost Riots' was released to massive critical acclaim and together with stunning live shows, HOPE OF THE STATES showed a level of ambition that set them apart from any other band. Having successfully toured America, Europe, Japan and Australia, the band returned to work and the result is 'Left'. Recorded in studios from London to Prague, "Left" is a triumph, demonstrating a band at the height of its powers. Shorter, sharper and more focused, 'Left' is more direct but keeping the beautiful noise they are known for. HOPE OF THE STATES have been touring and building toward the summer anticipation is at fever pitch for their performances at Reading and Leeds

Living in a two-faced, popular culture built on artifice that demands authenticity; THE DRESDEN DOLLS take the world stage, tear down the curtain, rip holes in the veneer and create their own rules, rhymes and reason. For the past five years, the Boston based duo has been climbing steadily out of the artistic trenches and into the mainstream of rock on their own terms. The Dolls thrive on their inherent juxtapositions. The musical-theater and New-Wave background of writer/singer/pianist Amanda Palmer mixes with drummer Brian Viglione's Heavy Metal roots to create a sonic smear of unclassifiable rock. Palmer wails; Viglione cackles. It is this dichotomy that supplies the band with a yin-yang quality that keeps them hurtling through space, pulling each other to and fro in an endless - and highly entertaining - match of musical wits. Their new album "Yes, Virginia..." is out now.

It's been a phenomenal year for Cowbridge's teenage four piece THE AUTOMATIC. Having wowed fans with a series of riotous gigs (including tours with Hard-Fi, The Ordinary Boys and fellow Welshmen the GLC), they've become one of the most hotly tipped new bands around and were recently confirmed to appear on the NME's May New Bands Tour. The band recently appeared everywhere from Top Of The Pops to The Friday Night Project, received daytime play on Radio 1 and their first two singles "Recover" and "Raoul" were NME single of the weeks. Their Steve Harris and Richard Jackson produced debut album "Not Accepted Anywhere" is released on 12th June and is preceded by a third single "Monster" on 5th June - another example of their raucous disco-punk that boats a chorus that's destined to be sung from playgrounds to football terraces.

¡Forward, Russia! first emerged in 2005 from the thriving Leeds music scene. Since then however, since initially being thrown in with the New Yorkshire scene, they've proved themselves to be far more than that. Their live shows have slipped into legend, being some of the most intense, electric gigs you'll ever bear witness to. Influenced by the likes of Fugazi and Sonic Youth, they're Steve Lamacq's current favourite band and continue to move onwards and upwards. With three sold-out singles under their belt and a top 40 hit in "Twelve", the band release their debut album "Give Me A Wall" in May and look set to get to conquer all before them this summer. By the time the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festival comes around you'll have to get there early to avoid disappointment.

TAPES ‘N’ TAPES were one of the big noises of this year’s South By South West with the UK’s Radio One and NME joining Stateside colleagues Rolling Stone and the New York Times (amongst a host of others) in acclaiming them as the highlight of the week. With a self made, self financed and self posted debut album, "Loons", having sold 10,000 copies from their bedroom already, the TAPES ‘N’ TAPES the four lads from Minnesota are set to be one of those ‘must sees’ of the weekend for anyone on the lookout for the next big thing.

STILL TO COME

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

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

THE LOCK-UP STAGE– The best of the punk, ska and skate scene take over for one day as ever. Always packed from noon to night and for the first time ever, at both sites for two days by popular demand.

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

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.

BOOKING INFORMATION

THREE DAY WEEKEND TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT FOR BOTH SITES

A limited number of day tickets, not including camping and parking, are priced £60 each subject to booking fee and are available from selected outlets. See below.

Car parking passes (subject to booking fee) must be booked with event tickets. One pass is available per household.

National Credit Card Hotline: SEE Tickets, Wayahead: 0870 060 3775

Online: DAY TICKETS ONLY

www.meanfiddler.com, www.readingfestival.com, www.leedsfestival.com, www.seetickets.com

In Person: DAY TICKETS ONLY

Tickets can be bought at face value, when paid for in cash, at all Mean Fiddler Box Offices. Please note that picture ID may be requested at the time of booking.

Mean Fiddler Box Offices: DAY TICKETS ONLY

The Astoria, 157 Charing Cross Road, WC2

The Garage, 20-22 Highbury Corner, N5

Mean Fiddler Head Office, 16 High Street, Harlesden, NW10

In person at HMV: DAY TICKETS ONLY

Tickets are also available from selected HMV stores: (subject to booking fee, in person only, maximum two tickets per person, whilst stocks last, subject to availability, at participating stores only):

Reading tickets:

Bath, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Bristol (Broadmead), Guildford, Kingston, Newbury, Oxford, Portsmouth (Commercial Road), Reading (Oracle Centre), Reading (Friar Street), Slough, Southampton, Staines, Swindon, Trocadero Centre, Winchester, Windsor, Woking.

Leeds tickets:

Barnsley, Birmingham (High Street), Bradford, Doncaster, Grimsby, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds (Birstall), Leeds (Headrow Centre), Leeds (White Rose Centre), Liverpool, Manchester (90 Market Street), Newcastle, Rotherham, Scunthorpe, Sheffield (High Street), Sheffield (Meadowhall), Wakefield, York, York (Monks Cross).

Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of eight per household - for those booking by telephone or online - or a maximum of four per person for those purchasing tickets at the Mean Fiddler booking offices.

Children under 13 (12 and under) are admitted free but MUST be accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Please note there is no seperate children's area at this event.

ON SITE FACILITIES INCLUDE:

Bars, Cash Points, First Aid & Paramedics, Food & Non Food Stalls, Information Tent, Left Luggage, Meeting Point, Market Stalls, Merchandise, Showers, Welfare Tent.

DISABLED FACILITIES

Mean Fiddler produces a guide to Disabled Access and Facilities for all its festivals, which includes details of the 2-for-1 ticket scheme. Applications for the Reading 2-for-1 scheme must be received by Friday 29th July

Please request a booklet and application form on 020 8961 5490.

Mean Fiddler Information Hotline (Mon-Fri 10am - 6pm) 020 8963 0940

THIS YEAR’S RADIO SPONSOR

Radio 1 will be broadcasting a host of shows live all weekend from the Reading site and recording all the amazing music to be played out across the weekend. They'll be a Lamacq Live special on Monday 28th August and once again the Radio 1 / NME Stage will feature many fantastic acts. Colin Murray will host the main stage in Leeds, Huw Stephens will do the honours in Reading and Mike Davies will host The Lock Up stage.

THIS YEAR’S TITLE SPONSOR

Carling has been supporting live music through an extensive music programme for many years now via a whole host of unique music events from Carling New Kings to Carling Sessions to Carling Live 24 through to the ultimate festival experience. Last year Carling introduced Cold Beer Amnesty to both festival sites and following the success, it will be back even bigger and better this year. Carling’s Cold Beer Amnesty ensures that warm beer is a thing of the past by replacing ANY unopened can of warm beer with a cold can of Carling. The Carling Stage will be returning to the festival for the 8th year running and will again host the best collection of up and coming talent.

THIS YEAR’S MUSIC PRINT SPONSOR

The NME signing tent will once again be the most rock ‘n’ roll place to hang out at this years Carling Weekend Reading and Leeds festival. Giving music fans the chance to meet the hottest acts from this years line-up, bands will be signing autographs throughout the weekend at both the Reading and Leeds site. NME is the official music magazine of the festival and together with NME.com, will be the first with all the latest festival gossip, official line-ups and festival news all summer.

THIS YEAR’S ONLINE SPONSOR

Tiscali UK, one of the largest broadband providers in the UK, is the Official Online Partner for the CARLING WEEKEND: READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL 2006. Through its award-winning website Tiscali has always had a commitment to stream the best entertainment online. In 2002, Tiscali launched the first European legal music download site with the TISCALI MUSIC DOWNLOADS. In 2004 the TISCALI SHOWCASE began offering a platform for the best unsigned and emerging bands to perform - showcasing over 60 top acts in the last 18 months to both a live and online audience. 2005 saw the ground-breaking website cement its position in pioneering online music content by launching TISCALI SESSIONS at the CARLING WEEKEND: READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL 2005, as well as webcasting 11 acts from the mainstage over the course of the festival weekend. A series of exclusive sets, by recognised acts from around the world in the backstage TISCALI VIP TENT.

More more information on Tiscali and their commitment to music please visit www.tiscali.co.uk/music/

FESTIVAL SITES

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

The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival is at Bramham Park, Leeds