This year sees headline slots from American pop punk icons Green Day, one of the biggest Rap artists known to man Eminem and Scottish indie giants Biffy Clyro. But a festival is not just about the headliners it’s about the experience, the bands you discover and the memories you make.

Friday has an abundance of rock on the main stage, Sheffield’s finest While She Sleeps kick of proceedings quickly followed by Skindred who bring their unique style to the Reading main Stage for the first time and if there is one band you need to see on Friday make sure it’s Skindred. Frank Turner gets a chance to prove yet again why he is one of the best singer songwriters the UK has produced in a long time, American alt-metallers Deftones return to Reading for the 5th time. System of a Down return to the main stage for the first time since they reformed in 2010, and headliners Green Day make a quick return after last years “not so secret” set in the NME tent. 

The NME/Radio 1 stage plays host to some of the hottest acts championed by the UK’s music bible these include Skrillex, Bastille, Fidlar & kodaline

The Festival Republic Stage will be filled with indie anthems with the likes of Ms Mr, Temples, Chvrches and the mighty Crystal fighters

The Radio 1 Dance stage is sure to be the setting for some of the biggest dance acts around today and line up brings you up close and personal to Sub Focus, Friction, Clean Bandit & Bondax  to name a few

The Radio 1xtra stage showcases what the radio station tries to promote on a daily basis with the likes of Wiley, P Money, Stylo G & Murkage.

This year’s Lock up stage features the likes of Palm Reader, Gnarwolves, Feed the Rhino and Alkaline Trio

Saturday sees the main stage go from rock to indie to rap in about 12 hours, opening the stage are festival stalwarts Mallory Knox, followed by Lower Than Atlantis. South Wales based The Blackout will surely waste the main stage arena with their crunching riffs. Moving into the realms of black and white indie anthems White Lies will bring some of their finest songs to the reading hoards. Dance pioneers Chase & Status will make the main stage arena their own with their enigmatic rock infused electronic dance beats warming up the crowd nicely for the night’s headliner Eminem returning to headline the festival for the second time, he will be bringing 15 years of hits with him for our enjoyment.

The NME/Radio 1 Stage plays host to indie kings Alt-J headline, supported by wonder boy Jake Bugg, ex Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and Modestep.

The Festival Republic stage give us the best in indie pop featuring the likes of To Kill a King, The 1975, Merchandise, ex Charlatan Tim Burgess, Savages and is headlined by British Sea Power

Magnetic Man headlines the Radio 1 Dance stage, with a supporting cast of A-Track, Flux Pavilion, Redlight and Nightworks to name a few.

The Lock Up Stage sees the likes of Sharks, Off with their heads, Sonic Boom Six, US Punks King Prawn and Tomahawk. Over on the Radio 1xtra stage sees Devlin headline with Giggs, DJ Semtex, Lunar C and Etta Bond in attendance. 

Sunday sees the main stage headlined by the mighty Biffy Clyro who are sure to put on a spectacular show to end the festival for another year. Trent Reznor returns to English soil with his group Nine Inch Nails with a hotly anticipated new album and single, here’s hoping we hear some of that new material. Fall Out Boy are another band we didn’t think we would see again but here they are with some new material and a stack of hits. Don Broco are the ones to watch on the main stage with their hard hitting power and catchy tunes they never disappoint live. Bury Tomorrow get to shake you from your tents and blow your hangovers away another great way to start a day at a festival.

The NME/Radio 1 stage is headlined by French superstars Phoenix in what is sure to be one of the sets of the weekend, supported by Azelia Banks, Disclosure, Haim, Tribes and Alunageorge  the stage will be jumping and swaying and rocking all day long.

Wretch 32, Ms Dynamite, David Rodigan MBE, Mikill Pane and Ghostpoet will be doing their stuff at the Radio 1xtra stage throughout Sunday and if your after some hip tunes to dance too then this is the place to be.

The Festival Republic Stage has a distinct indie feel to the lineup with The Family Rain, Twenty One Pilots, Frankie and the Heartstrings, The Jim Jones Revue the excellent (and sharp dressed) headliners  Spector.

Sunday sees the return of the Rock Stage to Reading and what a line up they assembled, kicking off with the rowdy Bloody Knees followed by Hawk Eyes and Beware of Darkness. Macclesfield trio The Virginmarys bring their power to the Rock Stage in what is sure to be one of the sets of the day, catch them if you can especially if you like it hard, fast and loud. Heavens Basement also make an appearance with accolade from all corners of the music industry ringing in their ears, with new single “Heart Breaking Son of a Bitch” filling the radio airwaves at the moment they are another band you really shouldn’t miss. Crossfaith, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Gallows and Funeral for a Friend all have something to offer prior to the hotly anticipated Shikari Sound System taking and reworking Enter Shikari songs (and others) and spitting them out the other side with a twist of bass and volume of 11 this is another show you really don’t want to miss.

Reading Festival takes place over the weekend of 23-25th August

Reading Festival is Sold Out

Reading Festival Line up