The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival

This year's headliners, during the three days during the August Bank Holiday in the Richfield Avenue site, are three of the biggest names in rock.

On Friday it's the return of The Pixies. The indisputable titans of the alternative music scene and the band, Chris Martin of Coldplay credits as inspiring him to get up on stage and perform.

Make sure you get down to the front of the stage on Saturday as the Foo Fighters a band that epitomises all that festivals represents take to the stage.

Then it's hold on to your rock-hats on Sunday as veteran rock band Iron Maiden are on the stage with all the explosive theatrics fans expect from this band.

These three bands are but a taste of the whole festival and there are plenty more bands for live music lovers to indulge their fancy.

Take for example the calibre of artists on the main stage on Friday including: The Killers who have punctuated this year with a succession of superb hit singles plus being nominated for two Brits, three Grammys and winning the NME Award for Best International Band.

The Queens Of The Stone Age who are a true rock n' roll band in every sense of the word.

Then there's the genre-defying six-piece The Coral who, are rightly regarded as one of the most innovative bands with their chart-topping pop gems Topped off by Elbow who can count John Cale co-founder of the Velvet Undergrounds as a fan.

And punk legends, the Drop Kick Murphys, are already looking forward to a return to the Main stage.

So too are The Wedding Present.

But that's not all.

Take a look at Saturday. If you missed them before they were famous at the White Horse, High Wycombe, then you'll get a chance this time to see the Kings Of Leon.

There's a chance to see Razorlight too the winners of both the Q Award and the NME Award for Best New Band. Rock n' Roll survivors in the best possible sense, The Charlatans, come to the festival a full 15 years since their debut Number One album, Some Friendly.

The voice of urban Britain is heard through the hip hop, ragga style lyrics of Roots Manuva.

Further additions include two bands who have been doing rather well supporting the bigger named bands but will be playing their debut UK appearance on the main stage.

These include the Transplants who have been rocking the US with the Foo Fighters and Simple Plan who have been pop-rocking it with Good Charlotte and Green Day.

Don't miss The All American Rejects.

Sunday is a real rock night and no event would be complete without the vital artist Marilyn Manson and his cabaret.

Joining him is a band who have been at the forefront of the US alternative rock scene, Incubus.

And proving the older generation know how to rock there's Iggy & The Stooges. Peddling their fast and furious punk rock will be NOFX. Alongside punk and metal artists Funeral For A Friend. Not forgetting Alkaline Trio, Turbonegro and Bullet For My Valentine.

The fun on the Main Stage is not only what's happening during The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival. There's also the NME/Radio One stage that hosts the new bands that are about to break and possibly make next year's Main stage.

Here are some of the highlights. On Friday, there's Kasabian, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Reading boys The Cooper Temple Clause.

And it may be the start of something special when My Chemical Romance take to the stage. Joined by Fightstar who proved their critics wrong with their debut EP They Liked You Better When You were Dead. Young teenagers, The Subways will also be performing.

The new music continues on Saturday with The Tears, Babyshambles, The Arcade Fire, Hot Hot Heat, The Kills, Juliette And The Licks and The Others who will all unleash their rock n' roll rage.

For a gentler, more surreal form of entertainment look at the Sunday line up for the NME/Radio One stage. Bloc Party, Futureheads, LCD Soundsystem and British Sea Power who have all been praised to high heaven.

Then there's Willy Mason who successfully mixes blues, folk and gospel traditions.

The Duke Spirit are already selling out tickets for their London shows.

Maximo Park have a bag full of direct pop which makes them a sure bet for greater things before the end of the year.

For those who can't stop dancing there's the Dance Stage featuring the best and biggest names in the dance and hip hop world during Friday. You can get to hear Lemon Jelly (aka Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen) and they won't disappoint. And causing sonic havoc within the confines of the Dance Stage will be the Audio Bullys.

On Sunday on the Dance Stage, expect a set that includes the hit singles Drop The Pressure, Destroy Rock And Roll and In My Arms from Mylo.

The Carling Stage features the cream of new bands the one's to watch during the weekend. Highlights include Ladytron and Charlotte Hatherley on Friday; The Go! Team and The Raveonettes on Saturday and Echo & The Bunnymen and Adam Green on Sunday.

There is an extra stage on Saturday called the Radio One Lock-up stage headlined by rockers Bad Religion. All-in-all it's a pretty jam-packed weekend for music lovers.

For further information visit www.meanfiddler.com or www.readingfestival.com or www.seetickets.com.

Weekend tickets have sold out for the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals but there are a limited number of day tickets still available for both sites online or by calling the hotline 0870 060 3775.

Win a pair of weekend tickets for The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival