Reading and Leeds Festival Headliners Timeline – a chronology of headline acts at this festival, held over August Bank Holiday weekend
1961 National Jazz Festival – Richmond
Saturday 26th August – Alvin Roy’s Saratoga Jazz Band
Sunday 27th August – Alex Welsh and His Band
Sunday 27th August – Alex Welsh and His Band
1962 National Jazz Festival – Richmond
Saturday 28th July – Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
Sunday 29th July – Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen
Sunday 29th July – Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen
1963 National Jazz Festival – Richmond
Saturday 10th August – Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
Sunday 11th August – Acker Bilk’s Paramount Jazz Band
Sunday 11th August – Acker Bilk’s Paramount Jazz Band
1964 National Jazz Festival – Richmond
Friday 7th August – The Rolling Stones
Saturday 8th August – Chris Barber Band
Sunday 9th August – Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
Saturday 8th August – Chris Barber Band
Sunday 9th August – Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
1965 National Jazz and Blues Festival – Richmond
Friday 6th August – The Yardbirds
Saturday 7th August – Manfred Mann
Sunday 8th August – The Animals
Saturday 7th August – Manfred Mann
Sunday 8th August – The Animals
1966 National Jazz and Blues Festival – Windsor Racecourse
Friday 29th July – The Small Faces
Saturday 30th July – The Who
Sunday 31st July – Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
Saturday 30th July – The Who
Sunday 31st July – Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
1967 National Jazz and Blues Festival – Windsor Racecourse
Friday 11th August – The Small Faces
Saturday 12th August – The Nice
Sunday 13th August – Cream
Saturday 12th August – The Nice
Sunday 13th August – Cream
1968 National Jazz and Blues Festival – Sunbury
Friday 10th August – The Herd
Saturday 11th August – The Nice
Sunday 12th August – Traffic
Saturday 11th August – The Nice
Sunday 12th August – Traffic
1969 National Jazz and Blues Festival – Plumpton Racecourse
Friday 8th August – Pink Floyd
Saturday 9th August – The Who
Sunday 10th August – The Nice
Saturday 9th August – The Who
Sunday 10th August – The Nice
1970 National Jazz and Blues Festival – Plumpton Racecourse
Thursday 6th August – Jellybread
Friday 7th August – Family
Saturday 8th August – Taste
Sunday 9th August – Deep Purple
Friday 7th August – Family
Saturday 8th August – Taste
Sunday 9th August – Deep Purple
1971 Festival of Arts – Reading
Friday 25th June – Arthur Brown
Saturday 26th June – East of Eden
Sunday 27th June – Colosseum
Saturday 26th June – East of Eden
Sunday 27th June – Colosseum
1972 – Reading Festival
Friday 11th August – Curved Air
Saturday 12th August – The Faces
Sunday 13th August – Quintessence
Saturday 12th August – The Faces
Sunday 13th August – Quintessence
1973 – Reading Festival
Friday 24th August – Rory Gallagher
Saturday 25th August – The Faces
Sunday 26th August – Genesis
Saturday 25th August – The Faces
Sunday 26th August – Genesis
1974 – Reading Festival
Friday 23rd August – The Alex Harvey Band
Saturday 24th August – Traffic
Sunday 25th August – Focus
Saturday 24th August – Traffic
Sunday 25th August – Focus
1975 – Reading Festival
Friday 22nd August – Hawkwind
Saturday 23rd August – Yes
Sunday 24th August – Wishbone Ash
Saturday 23rd August – Yes
Sunday 24th August – Wishbone Ash
1976 – Reading Festival
Friday 27th August – Gong
Saturday 28th August – Rory Gallagher
Sunday 29th August – Osibisa
Saturday 28th August – Rory Gallagher
Sunday 29th August – Osibisa
1977 – Reading Festival
Friday 26th August – Golden Earring
Saturday 27th August – Thin Lizzy
Sunday 28th August – Alex Harvey
Saturday 27th August – Thin Lizzy
Sunday 28th August – Alex Harvey
1978 – Reading Festival
Friday 25th August – The Jam
Saturday 26th August – Status Quo
Sunday 27th August – Patti Smith
Saturday 26th August – Status Quo
Sunday 27th August – Patti Smith
1979 – Reading Festival
Friday 24th August – The Police
Saturday 25th August – The Scorpions
Sunday 26th August – Peter Gabriel
Saturday 25th August – The Scorpions
Sunday 26th August – Peter Gabriel
1980 – Reading Festival
Friday 22nd August – Rory Gallagher
Saturday 23rd August – UFO
Sunday 24th August – Whitesnake
Saturday 23rd August – UFO
Sunday 24th August – Whitesnake
1981 – Reading Festival
Friday 28th August – Girlschool
Saturday 29th August – Gillan
Sunday 30th August – The Kinks
Saturday 29th August – Gillan
Sunday 30th August – The Kinks
1982 – Reading Festival
Friday 27th August – Budgie
Saturday 28th August – Iron Maiden
Sunday 29th August – Michael Schenker Group
Saturday 28th August – Iron Maiden
Sunday 29th August – Michael Schenker Group
1983 – Reading Festival
Friday 26th August – The Stranglers
Saturday 27th August – Black Sabbath
Sunday 28th August – Thin Lizzy
Saturday 27th August – Black Sabbath
Sunday 28th August – Thin Lizzy
1984 – Reading Festival
The festival was cancelled by the town council
1985 – Reading Festival
The festival was not held
1986 – Reading Festival
Friday 22nd August – Killing Joke
Saturday 23rd August – Saxon
Sunday 24th August – Hawkwind
Saturday 23rd August – Saxon
Sunday 24th August – Hawkwind
1987 – Reading Festival
Friday 28th August – The Mission
Saturday 29th August – Status Quo
Sunday 30th August – Alice Cooper
Saturday 29th August – Status Quo
Sunday 30th August – Alice Cooper
1988 – Reading Festival
Friday 26th August – Iggy Pop
Saturday 27th August – Starship
Sunday 28th August – Squeeze
Saturday 27th August – Starship
Sunday 28th August – Squeeze
1989 – Reading Festival
Friday 25th August – New Order
Saturday 26th August – The Pogues
Sunday 27th August – The Mission
Saturday 26th August – The Pogues
Sunday 27th August – The Mission
1990 – Reading Festival
Friday 24th August – The Cramps
Saturday 25th August – Inspiral Carpets
Sunday 26th August – The Pixies
Saturday 25th August – Inspiral Carpets
Sunday 26th August – The Pixies
1991 – Reading Festival
Friday 23rd August – Iggy Pop
Saturday 24th August – James
Sunday 25th August – The Sisters of Mercy
Saturday 24th August – James
Sunday 25th August – The Sisters of Mercy
1992 – Reading Festival
Friday 28th August – The Wonder Stuff
Saturday 29th August – Public Enemy
Sunday 30th August – Nirvana
Saturday 29th August – Public Enemy
Sunday 30th August – Nirvana
1993 – Reading Festival
Friday 27th August – Porno for Pyros
Saturday 28th August – The The
Sunday 29th August – New Order
Saturday 28th August – The The
Sunday 29th August – New Order
1994 – Reading Festival
Friday 26th August – Cypress Hill
Saturday 27th August – Primal Scream
Sunday 28th August – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Saturday 27th August – Primal Scream
Sunday 28th August – Red Hot Chili Peppers
1995 – Reading Festival
Friday 25th August – The Smashing Pumpkins
Saturday 26th August – Bjork
Sunday 27th August – Neil Young
Saturday 26th August – Bjork
Sunday 27th August – Neil Young
1996 – Reading Festival
Friday 23rd August – Rage Against the Machine
Saturday 24th August – Black Grape
Sunday 25th August – The Stone Roses
Saturday 24th August – Black Grape
Sunday 25th August – The Stone Roses
1997 – Reading Festival
Friday 22nd August – Suede
Saturday 23rd August – Manic Street Preachers
Sunday 24th August – Metallica
Saturday 23rd August – Manic Street Preachers
Sunday 24th August – Metallica
1998 – Reading Festival
Friday 28th August – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Saturday 29th August – The Beastie Boys
Sunday 30th August – Garbage
Saturday 29th August – The Beastie Boys
Sunday 30th August – Garbage
1999 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 27th August Reading- The Charlatans
Saturday 28th August Reading- Blur, Leeds – The Charlatans
Sunday 29th August Reading – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leeds- Blur
Monday 30th August Leeds – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Saturday 28th August Reading- Blur, Leeds – The Charlatans
Sunday 29th August Reading – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leeds- Blur
Monday 30th August Leeds – Red Hot Chili Peppers
2000 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 25th August Reading – Oasis
Saturday 26th August Reading – Pulp, Leeds – Stereophonics
Sunday 27th August Reading – Stereophonics, Leeds Pulp
Monday 28th August Leeds – Oasis
Saturday 26th August Reading – Pulp, Leeds – Stereophonics
Sunday 27th August Reading – Stereophonics, Leeds Pulp
Monday 28th August Leeds – Oasis
2001 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 24th August Reading – Travis, Leeds Eminem (with D12)
Saturday 25th August Reading – Manic Street Preachers, Leeds – Travis
Sunday 26th August Reading – Eminem (with D12), Leeds – Manic Street Preachers
Saturday 25th August Reading – Manic Street Preachers, Leeds – Travis
Sunday 26th August Reading – Eminem (with D12), Leeds – Manic Street Preachers
2002 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 23rd August Reading – The Strokes, Leeds – Guns N’ Roses
Saturday 24th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – The Strokes
Sunday 25th August Reading – Guns N’ Roses, Leeds – Foo Fighters
Saturday 24th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – The Strokes
Sunday 25th August Reading – Guns N’ Roses, Leeds – Foo Fighters
2003 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 22nd August Reading – Linkin Park, Leeds – Metallica
Saturday 23rd August Reading – Blur, Leeds Linkin Park
Sunday 24th August Reading Metallica, Leeds – Blur
Saturday 23rd August Reading – Blur, Leeds Linkin Park
Sunday 24th August Reading Metallica, Leeds – Blur
2004 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 27th August Reading – The Darkness, Leeds – Green Day
Saturday 28th August Reading – The White Stripes, Leeds – The Darkness
Sunday 29th August Reading – Green Day, Leeds – The White Stripes
Saturday 28th August Reading – The White Stripes, Leeds – The Darkness
Sunday 29th August Reading – Green Day, Leeds – The White Stripes
2005 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 26th August Reading – The Pixies, Leeds – Iron Maiden
Saturday 27th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – The Pixies
Sunday 28th August Reading – Iron Maiden, Leeds – Foo Fighters
Saturday 27th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – The Pixies
Sunday 28th August Reading – Iron Maiden, Leeds – Foo Fighters
2006 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 25th August Reading – Franz Ferdinand, Leeds – Pearl Jam
Saturday 26th August Reading – Muse, Leeds – Franz Ferdinand
Sunday 27th August Reading – Pearl Jam, Leeds – Muse
Saturday 26th August Reading – Muse, Leeds – Franz Ferdinand
Sunday 27th August Reading – Pearl Jam, Leeds – Muse
2007 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 24th August Reading – Razorlight, Leeds – Smashing Pumpkins
Saturday 25th August Reading – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leeds – Razorlight
Sunday 26th August Reading – Smashing Pumpkins, Leeds – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Saturday 25th August Reading – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leeds – Razorlight
Sunday 26th August Reading – Smashing Pumpkins, Leeds – Red Hot Chili Peppers
2008 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 22nd August Reading – Rage Against The Machine, Leeds – Metallica
Saturday 23rd August Reading – The Killers, Leeds – Rage Against The Machine
Sunday 24th August Reading – Metallica, Leeds – The Killers
Saturday 23rd August Reading – The Killers, Leeds – Rage Against The Machine
Sunday 24th August Reading – Metallica, Leeds – The Killers
2009 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 28th August Reading – Kings of Leon, Leeds – Arctic Monkeys
Saturday 29th August Reading – Arctic Monkeys, Leeds – Radiohead
Sunday 30th August Reading – Radiohead, Leeds – Kings of Leon
Saturday 29th August Reading – Arctic Monkeys, Leeds – Radiohead
Sunday 30th August Reading – Radiohead, Leeds – Kings of Leon
2010 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 27th August Reading – Guns N’ Roses, Leeds – Arcade Fire
Saturday 28th August Reading – Arcade Fire, Leeds – Blink-182
Sunday 29th August Reading – Blink-182, Leeds – Guns N’ Roses
Saturday 28th August Reading – Arcade Fire, Leeds – Blink-182
Sunday 29th August Reading – Blink-182, Leeds – Guns N’ Roses
2011 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 26th August Reading – My Chemical Romance, Leeds – Muse
Saturday 27th August Reading – The Strokes, Leeds – My Chemical Romance
Sunday 28th August Reading – Muse, Leeds – Pulp
Saturday 27th August Reading – The Strokes, Leeds – My Chemical Romance
Sunday 28th August Reading – Muse, Leeds – Pulp
2012 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 24th August Reading – The Cure, Leeds – Foo Fighters
Saturday 25th August Reading – Kasabian, Leeds – The Cure
Sunday 26th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – Kasabian
Saturday 25th August Reading – Kasabian, Leeds – The Cure
Sunday 26th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – Kasabian
2013 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 23rd August Reading – Green Day, Leeds – Biffy Clyro
Saturday 24th August Reading – Eminem, Leeds – Green Day
Sunday 25th August Reading – Biffy Clyro, Leeds – Eminem
Saturday 24th August Reading – Eminem, Leeds – Green Day
Sunday 25th August Reading – Biffy Clyro, Leeds – Eminem
2014 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 22nd August Reading – Queens of the Stone Age, Leeds – Blink-182
Saturday 23rd August Reading – Arctic Monkeys, Leeds – Paramore
Sunday 24th August Reading – Blink-182, Leeds – Arctic Monkeys
Saturday 23rd August Reading – Arctic Monkeys, Leeds – Paramore
Sunday 24th August Reading – Blink-182, Leeds – Arctic Monkeys
2015 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 28th August Reading – Mumford and Sons, Leeds – The Libertines
Saturday 29th August Reading – Metallica, Leeds – Mumford and Sons
Sunday 30th August Reading – The Libertines, Leeds – Metallica
Saturday 29th August Reading – Metallica, Leeds – Mumford and Sons
Sunday 30th August Reading – The Libertines, Leeds – Metallica
2016 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 26th August Reading – Foals, Leeds – Biffy Clyro
Saturday 27th August Reading – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leeds – Disclosure
Sunday 28th August Reading – Biffy Clyro, Leeds – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Saturday 27th August Reading – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leeds – Disclosure
Sunday 28th August Reading – Biffy Clyro, Leeds – Red Hot Chili Peppers
2017 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 25th August Reading – Kasabian, Leeds – Muse
Saturday 26th August Reading – Eminem, Leeds – Kasabian
Sunday 27th August Reading – Muse, Leeds – Eminem
Saturday 26th August Reading – Eminem, Leeds – Kasabian
Sunday 27th August Reading – Muse, Leeds – Eminem
2018 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 24th August Reading – Fall Out Boy, Leeds – Kings of Leon
Saturday 25th August Reading – Kendrick Lamar, Leeds – Fall Out Boy
Sunday 26th August Reading – Kings of Leon, Leeds – Kendrick Lamar
Saturday 25th August Reading – Kendrick Lamar, Leeds – Fall Out Boy
Sunday 26th August Reading – Kings of Leon, Leeds – Kendrick Lamar
2019 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 23rd August Reading – The 1975, Leeds – Foo Fighters
Saturday 24th August Reading – Post Malone/ Twenty One Pilots, Leeds – The 1975
Sunday 25th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – Post Malone/ Twenty One Pilots
Saturday 24th August Reading – Post Malone/ Twenty One Pilots, Leeds – The 1975
Sunday 25th August Reading – Foo Fighters, Leeds – Post Malone/ Twenty One Pilots
2020 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
2021 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 27th August Reading – Stormzy, Leeds – Liam Gallagher
Saturday 28th August Reading – Post Malone, Leeds – Stormzy
Sunday 29th August Reading – Liam Gallagher, Leeds – Post Malone
Saturday 28th August Reading – Post Malone, Leeds – Stormzy
Sunday 29th August Reading – Liam Gallagher, Leeds – Post Malone
2022 – Reading and Leeds Festival
Friday 26th August Reading – Dave, Leeds – The 1975
Saturday 27th August Reading – Arctic Monkeys, Leeds – Dave
Sunday 28th August Reading – The 1975, Leeds – Arctic monkeys
Saturday 27th August Reading – Arctic Monkeys, Leeds – Dave
Sunday 28th August Reading – The 1975, Leeds – Arctic monkeys
First published 2019; updated and republished Aug 31 2022 @ 9:13 am – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for Reading and Leeds Festival Headliners:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2019 – 2022). Reading and Leeds Festival Headliners. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/reading-and-leeds-festival-headliners. Last accessed [date]