Photo: WENN
After the recent announcement of adding a possible three new stages to Reading and Leeds festivals, organiser Melvin Benn has added that there 'will be quite a bit more dance music'. Err, why, exactly?
Leeds and Reading are one of the only festivals left which actually have a great mix of rock and indie music. If you look at the stages individually then there's the main stage for the headliners and more mainstream acts, with the greatest appeal. Then there's the NME/Radio 1 stage and the BBC Introducing stage for unsigned talent - one of the things that Reading and Leeds showcase so well. Add in the Festival Republic for less popular acts, the dance and alternative stages for something a little different and the Lock Up stage for the more punk and hardcore acts, and there you go. It's pretty diverse already - and if there is something lacking, it really doesn't seem to be dance music.
The thing is, no one goes to Reading and Leeds dance music - that's not the point, and it's definitely not any of the appeal. The Lock Up stage, for example, only recently got extended to two days instead of one and has been flourishing ever since - there is an audience for the punk and hardcore aspect of the festival, and one that isn't reflected in dance music fans.
Leeds Festival: Could it soon see the addition of some dance stages?
It's not like they don't cater to that demographic at all; both Reading and Leeds have a tent which functions as a dance stage for one of the three days of the festival - and if the plan is to extend that to three days, while allowing the Lock Up (which currently shares days with the dance stage) to have their own three days, then it would be understandable. But there's no need for more than one stage of it.
And there are options for dance music festivals already - just look at Creamfields.
The most important point is that Reading and Leeds have mostly managed to retain their credibility as a festival so far, which isn't to be taken lightly - and it'd be a sad day if they went the way of V Festival which, despite still billing itself as a rock festival, featured Cher Lloyd, Olly Murs and Tulisa at the last event.
Reading and Leeds tickets haven't been selling out the last couple of years, so it's understandable that the organisers feel the need to make some changes. Here's an idea - why not announce the line-up (or at least the headliners) before tickets go on sale? One of the biggest criticisms is that people are reluctant to buy tickets for a festival when they don't know what they're paying for. But I'm willing to bet that people would be even less likely to buy tickets for Reading and Leeds if they were paying for dance music.
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