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FAQ

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Carling Weekend / Carling Festival / Leeds Festival / Reading Festival, what’s with all these names?

The plethora names do indeed seem a bit daunting at first, so let me break it down for you:

So what links these two festivals? Leeds and Reading have exactly the same line up each year and are held at the same time (August Bank Holiday Weekend). The line up works by alternating the days. Sometimes there are differences but with the smaller stages or tents.

What is the Carling Weekend?

The Carling Weekend is a yearly Music Festival, consisting of two simultaneously running festivals; the Reading Festival and the Leeds Festival. It used to be a strongly folk-oriented festival, but is now more alternative / indie / punk / metal. The festival will typically have the following stages:-

When is the Carling Weekend?

The Carling Weekend typically takes place every year on the Bank Holiday Weekend of August, from the 23rd to the 28th. With music from Friday through Sunday, but camping from Thursday (or Wednesday with an Early Entry pass) through Monday.

Where is the Carling Weekend?

Reading and Leeds both take place at different sites. The actual venue of the Leeds Festival changes, but as the name suggests it takes place in or around Leeds, United Kingdom. The most recent Leeds Festival took place in Branham Park, Leeds. Reading Festival takes place at Little John’s Farm on Richfield Avenue in central Reading, near the Caversham Bridge.

Who runs the Carling Weekend?

The Carling Weekend is run and managed by Mean Fiddler, a Music Company owned by Clear Channel.

What about Riots?

Riots are a concern of many people, Reading has been very calm as of late but Leeds still has a stigma surrounding it. However, this year due to the “Love Not Riots” campaign and the late night entertainment provided there were absolutely no riots. So as long as this continues, there is nothing to fear!

Tell me about Tickets

Buy your tickets as soon as possible! Many, many people were caught off guard in 2005 and 2006 and missed out or were forced to spend hundreds on tickets at eBay. In 2004 the tickets didn’t even sell out, but 2005 they were sold out with in months and in 2006 the tickets sold out within hours. We have a pretty good tickets article that I would recommend reading

Tell me about Crime

When there are 50,000-70,000 people in a small area crime is bound to exist, but when there are 50,000 people the chances of you becoming a victim of crime are low. Basically, the only really crime you’re going to witness is illegal drug use. And the only crime you might fall victim to is theft. Here are some top tips for avoiding theft:

What’s this Early Entry thing about?

Early Entry was first used at Leeds in ‘05 and has been used in Reading for a while. For around £10 extra you get to get in to both festivals a day earlier, beating the crowds and the queues. Rumour is that you are stuck in the farthest field are not true, and everyone is left to camp where they please. I would definitely recommend getting the early entry, it saves a lot of hassle.

What’s the deal with Alcohol?

You ARE allowed to bring alcohol to Leeds and Reading, as much as you like. However:

Don’t believe anything anyone else tells you, excluding the main site. There are always rumours about Mean Fiddler banning alcohol but it never happens. Outside the arena a crate of Carling (24 Beers) is generally £23 and inside the arena a pint of Carling is £3

What about drugs?

As everyone will tell you, the law still exists inside the festival and drugs are still illegal. Herbal Highs may or may not be, in 2006 they were banned at Leeds because Mean Fiddler felt they could be blamed for some of the riots in 2005. There isn’t a police presence at either festival and the security can’t search everyone so of course drugs are all over the festival, but general safety advice is don’t buy them their, you could get bad drugs or ripped off and don’t bring enough to sell, if you get caught you could face serious jail time.

Where should I camp?

As close as possible to the arena! Honestly, where you camp isn’t too important. People say that certain camp sites can be more or less rowdy or violent, generally this isn’t true. Basically, if you’re closer than it’s quicker to get to places. That is all. Non-specifically though, stay away from water outlets as these will leak, stay away from walls and tree’s as people will leak upon them.

I’ve heard bad things about the Toilets

Braving the toilets at is no mean feat. Outside the arena there are stalls with a shared tank where the waste stews throughout the weekend. Inside the arena there are portaloos where waste builds up as people neglect to flush. The trick is to go as early in the morning as possible, bring toilet paper and hold your nose.

What about volunteering?

You can volunteer at Leeds or Reading and work on the campsite and you’ll get a free ticket, you can read more information and apply here: http://www.dcsiteservices.com/cats/