reading preview - saturday

So after the NME/Radio 1 stage dominated friday, the main stage really hits back on saturday....and how!! Saturday has the potential to be an all-time classic.  A whole bunch of my favourite bands including the return of the Libertines, which (if they turn up) will make my year (and not just the festival)!!

First up on the main stage are The Walkmen.  The NY indie rockers burst on the scene in the post-Strokes glow and dazzled with some great tunes like 'Little House of Savages' and 'The Rat'.  They've been away a while (or at least off my radar) but are back with a new album, 'Lisbon', this year so it'll be interesting to see what they have in store. 

Next up on the big one are everyones favourite mackems, The Futureheads.  Their spiky incisive post-punk has made them one of my favourite bands over the last several years.  Their self-titled debut album was a cracker and they followed it up with two more top long-players.  In April they released their fourth album, 'The Chaos'.  My hounds of love are most definitely calling!!

Little House of Savages - The Walkmen
Hounds of love - The Futureheads
Walking Backwards - The Futureheads

It's the job of The Mystery Jets to follow Sunderland's finest, but the quirky Eel Pie Islanders certainly have the charm and the tunes.  Returning with their third album 'Serotonin', the Jets will be hoping the main stage performance can help boost they're loyal following.

Now its the turn of one of my festival must sees, the Gaslight Anthem.  The Springsteen-loving New Jersey boys were my main discovery of Reading last year and since then their 2008 album 'The '59 Sound' has become a personal favourite.  Their new album, 'American Slang', is described as a bit different by frontman Brian Fallon, but from the evidence of the first single its gonna be a winner!

If you fancy a bit of shelter from the sun/rain (delete as appropriate) or you just enjoy a bit of new rave electro-punk (or noise as some of my friends call it) then head into the Radio 1 tent for a some Hadouken!  These kids sprung onto the scene in the wake of bands like the Klaxons and returned around the turn of the year with their second album, 'For the Masses'.

Half in love with Elizabeth - The Mystery Jets
Great Expectations - Gaslight Anthem
American Slang - Gaslight Anthem
Crank it up - Hadouken!

Then comes that bit of the day when a break in the schedule appears and there's a chance to see the new/unheard-of/ignored bands.  Some promising new candidates here are the twee acoustic folk charm of Villagers, nominated for the Mercury Prize for their debut effort 'Becoming a Jackal', I blame Coco, the daughter of Sting, with her reggage-tinged pop or New York indie folk newcomer Darwin Deez.  Alternatively, there are a couple of bands who i've never fully explored, south Londoners The Maccabees and Portland indie rockers Modest Mouse.

Becoming a Jackal - Villagers
Selfmachine - I Blame Coco
Radar Detector - Darwin Deez
Float on - Modest Mouse
About Your Dress - The Maccabees

Next up is my hometown boy, Frank Turner in the R1 tent.  His folk-punk won me over at the festival 2 year back and last years show on the same stage blew me away.  His latest album, 'Poetry of the Deed', was released a week after, and it still sounds just as good one year on!  Can't wait to hear thousands of people singing "We're definitely going to hell, but we'll have all the best stories to tell."

Following Mr Turner on the main stage are indie scene darlings the Cribs.  The Wakefield lads returned this week with a surprise new single, 'Housewife', with a zombietacular video.  Their riotous shows are always a hit with the crowds and with hits like 'Men's Needs' and 'Hey Scenesters' in their locker its easy to see why!  

The Real Damage - Frank Turner
The Road - Frank Turner
Men's Needs - The Cribs
Hey Scenesters - The Cribs

Then we have time for a bit of full-on electro-rave from Crystal Castles.  The Toronto experimentalists returned earlier this year with a second eponymous album and should always be good for a dance.  Then onto festival favourite, East London boy Dizzee Rascal.  The three time Mercury nominee (and one time winner) always brightens up a festival afternoon and he's got the tunes to get the party started.  But after all, he's just a rascal, dizzee rascal!

Air War - Crystal Castles
Jus a Rascal - Dizzee Rascal

.......What can i say?!?  I never thought i would see the day.  The boys in the band have been reunited and will once again grace the main stage.  The Libertines are my all-time favourite band and the passion and electricity they exuded in their live shows was unrivalled and must have been akin to the early days of punk.  The volatile chemistry between Pete and Carl was always on the edge and yet beautiful at the same time.  It has been a long time since i last had the privilege of seeing them live and Saturday 28th August 2010 cannot come too quickly.

What a Waster - The Libertines
Don't Look Back into the Sun - The Libertines
The Delaney - The Libertines

Onto the headliners and although it will be a near impossible act to follow what has gone before, there are two bands who are are in with a real shout.  The main stage will see the return of Arcade Fire to the festival for a third time.  The Montreal indie collective fronted by husband and wife duo, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, released their third album, 'The Suburbs', last week.  They have a great back catalogue to draw from and should put on a great show.

The alternative (and one i'm leaning towards at the moment) is in the Festival Republic tent where Downpatrick rockers Ash will surely have the place bursting at the seams with their plethora of classic tunes.  They released their last album 'Twilight of the Innocents' back in 2007 and have since been playing the old hits, including much from their classic album 1977.  Ash were one of the first bands i saw live and will always have a place in my heart.  Bring it on, let's get ready to Burn Baby Burn!!

Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Angel Interceptor - Ash
Orpheus - Ash

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