Reading Festival 1980s Decade

Reading Festival followed a similar format to that established in the late 1970s during this decade, with large crowds flocking to see the era's leading rock and heavy metal acts perform on the last two days, on the opening day, with a more varied lineup including punk and new wave bands.

The Conservative Party-led local council effectively banned the festival by reclaiming the festival site for 'development' and refusing to grant licences for any alternative sites in the Reading area in 1984 and 1985. The promoters tried in vain to salvage what they could but a proposed move to Lilford Hall in Northamptonshire failed (the proposed bill was published in Soundcheck free music paper issue 12 as: Friday 24th August - Hawkwind, Boomtown Rats, Snowy White, The Playn Jayn, Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, Wildfire, Chelsea Eloy, Tracy Lamb, New Torpedoes (sic); Saturday 25th - Jethro Tull, Hanoi Rocks, Steve Hackett, Nazareth, Twelfth Night, Thor, Silent Running, New Model Army, IQ, The Roaring Boys, She; Sunday 26th - Marillion, Grand Slam, The Bluebells, Helix, Clannad, The Opposition, The Enid, Young Blood, Scorched Earth, Terraplane). The resulting gap in the British festival calendar kick-started the rise of the minor CND benefit event at Glastonbury from obscure beginnings as a "hippie" festival in the 1970s.

In 1986 after Labour regained control of the council, permission was given for fields adjacent to the original festival site to be used, with a line-up put together at just three months notice. The following year saw a record attendance at what was considered by some to be the last of the "classic" rock years of the festival, with headlining acts such as The Mission, Alice Cooper and Status Quo. Disastrous attempt to take the festival in a mainstream commercial pop direction in 1988, dominated by the likes of Starship, Squeeze, Bonnie Tyler and Meat Loaf (who was "bottled" off stage), and the ensuing recriminations eventually saw the ousting of original festival promoter Harold Pendleton by the Mean Fiddler Music Group organization.

Pendleton initially tried to continue at a new site near Newbury using the name "Redding Festival" but this failed to take off. Meanwhile, the official Reading Festival, now under Mean Fiddler guidance, continued at the Thames-side site in Reading, pursuing an almost completely Goth and indie music policy that alienated much of the traditional fan base and saw attendances continue to fall. The future of the festival looked in doubt at this point. However, things were to improve from 1992 onwards as the festival broadened its musical policy and attendances gradually increased.

Reading Festival 2011 was held on 26 August 2011. Now get ready for Reading Festival 2012 with new passion and enthusiasm on 23-26 August 2012. So secure your Reading Festival Tickets from our registered Gigsport site at cheap prices.

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Reading Festival - An Overview

Reading Festival is a popular music festival that takes place annually at Little John’s Farm on Richfield Avenue (near Caversham Bridge) in central Reading, England. The Reading Festival is the most popular and oldest music festival around the globe which still exists. The festival changed name to National Jazz and Blues Festival in 1964 and was held at Windsor Racecourse, Kempton Park and Plumpton, before reaching its permanent home at Reading in 1971. During 1998-2007 it was known as the Carling Weekend: Reading for promotional purposes. The organisers welcomed "Reading Festival reclaiming its prestigious name" when the sponsored title was abolished after 9 years in November 2007.

The Reading Festival is very historic. Reading Festival is original and senior leg as compared to Leeds Festival. Reading Festival originates from National Jazz Festival. Which was conceived by Harold Pendleton (founder of the Marquee Club in London) and was first held at Richmond Athletic Ground in 1961. The line-up settled into a pattern of progressive rock, blues and heavy metal during the 1970s. It did dabble with punk rock in 1978 when The Jam, Sham 69 and Penetration played. The festival attempted to provide both traditional rock acts and new punk bands, leading to clashes between the two sets of fans. Although The Ramones played the following year, the festival gradually became known for focusing on heavy metal and rock acts. Reading Festival had various musical phases over the years; predominantly by rock, alternative, indie, punk and metal in the twin-site era. The capacity of the Reading Festival site was 87000 in 2011, an increase of several thousand from previous years. Reading Festival 2011 was held on 26-28 August 2011 with headliners being My Chemical Romance, The Strokes, Pulp and Muse.

Reading Festival will return for 2012 at Richfield Avenue, Reading on 23-26 August 2012. Reading Festival 2012 will have another blockbuster line-up, to be announced in spring 2012. Reading Festival fans get some fresh air and rock out. A list of renowned bands will top the bill at Reading Festival 2012. Reading Festival will be back in lovely Reading fields with a lot of top class artists and loads of talent for 2012. Festival goers get ready for Reading 2012 with new passion and book your Reading Festival Tickets from Gigsport at affordable price. Gigsport is good marketplace to grab Reading Festival Tickets with great seats.

Reading festival Tickets - £125

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