Reading / Leeds Festival 2011: Live4ever’s Ten Essential Picks


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The annual arrival of the Reading / Leeds Festival always signals the beginning of the end for another hectic season of UK summer festivals, and it usually helps each year to go out with a bang, and with a bill that packs in homecoming heroes, some of the US’ finest, and a wide selection of bright young things, this year looks like being no different.

So, after wading through the many stages and many, many artists ready to descend on the twin sites in just over a week’s time, the Live4ever Ezine has picked out ten acts we feel you should not be missing over the course of the weekend – might take some manic dashing to fit them all in though…

(Stages and dates represent the Leeds leg of the festivals)

She Keeps BeesFestival Republic Stage, Sunday

While it’s an obvious statement, the feeling that this is The White Stripes in reverse is hard to resist, but when your raucous brand of stripped down blues lends itself to those comparisons, it makes you hard to ignore as well.

The National Main Stage, Sunday

There won’t be many other bands playing the Reading/Leeds weekend with the same amount of critical love The National have enjoyed over the course of five superb studio albums behind them. Thankfully, with the release of ‘High Violet’ last year, the public is now catching up too.

And So I Watch You From AfarFestival Republic Stage, Sunday



Their progress has been followed closely on Live4ever, and after witnessing them grow into one of the biggest bands of a burgeoning Northern Ireland scene, we certainly won’t be missing their growth on the other side of the Irish Sea – and you shouldn’t either.

Pulp Main Stage, Sunday

A long awaited home-coming for the Yorkshire band has been enough to bump them up one notch on the Leeds leg to headline status. Always a spectacular live act, Pulp’s return is not to be missed.

Craig CampbellAlternative Stage, Friday

It’s not all guitar music and moshing at Reading/Leeds; of the many stand ups descending on the twin sites at the end of this month, Craig Campbell’s high octane, sharp eyed delivery, which eerily evokes 1970s-era Billy Connolly, is one not to be missed.

Everything Everything NME / Radio 1 Stage, Sunday

Proving Manchester is still capable of producing original British guitar music, Everything Everything were first encountered by the Liv4ever Ezine at the 2010 SXSW Festival, and have recently turned more than a few Mercury Music Prize judges’ heads.

Pulled Apart By Horses NME / Radio 1 Stage, Saturday

What can you say about Leeds-natives Pulled Apart By Horses? Just that their live performances have to be seen to be believed really, so don’t miss them. Seriously, don’t. Got that? Good.

The MinutesBBC Introducing Stage, Saturday

Another Live4ever favourite, The Minutes released their debut album ‘Marcata’ earlier this year, which we described as “…a complete work, a real start-to-finish album, as a homage to the rock’n’roll greats, but totally their own at the same time.”

Twin AtlanticFestival Republic Stage, Friday

As part of our Two Fingered Salute showcase at this year’s SXSW, Live4ever witnessed first hand the intense rock anthems of Twin Atlantic which has seen the BBC dub them as ‘the new Biffy Clyro’. Now you should too.

Little CometsFestival Republic Stage, Friday

There’s a groove and spontaneity about a Little Comets live display which makes them a great live band. Debut album ‘In Search Of Elusive Little Comets’ is packed full of intelligent, catchy indie tunes which will no doubt make for a perfect festival experience.

Limited day tickets remain available for both the Reading and Leeds legs. Check out the Live4ever Ezine’s Sunday review coming soon.


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