Blur head for Reading

Britpop legends Blur will step firmly back into the spotlight this summer when they take centre stage at one of Britain’s main music festivals. The London-based band will play the Reading and Leeds Festival, set to be held on August Bank Holiday weekend (August 22-24), headlining the main stage in Reading on Saturday night and Leeds on the Sunday.

Blur have been one of Britain’s biggest bands since 1995, when a war of words with arch-rivals Oasis saw the two groups go head-to-head for the number one spot, a battle which caught the imagination of both music buyers and tabloid newspapers alike.

However, Blur have gradually withdrawn from the limelight since their clash with Liam and Noel Gallagher. Their new album Think Tank, scheduled for release in May, will be their first new material in over four years, and with founder member Graham Coxon leaving the band last year and speculation mounting that the record will be their last, tickets to see them in Reading and Leeds are likely to be much in-demand.

However, Blur will need to put on a dazzling display if they are not to be overshadowed at both shows by other artists. Much-touted US rock duo The White Stripes, whose latest album Elephant entered the UK album charts at number one last weekend, are set to play the festival’s main stage on the same nights as Damon Albarn and co.

Elsewhere on the bill veteran US metal act Metallica are likely to prove a big draw (Leeds on the Friday, Reading on the Sunday), while Californian nu-metal act Linkin Park head the line-up on Friday and Saturday at Reading and Leeds respectively. Beck, Placebo, Doves, The Music, The Streets and Courtney Love are also set to appear.

Tickets for the festival cost £95 for the full three-day weekend (including car parking and camping) or £40 for a single day, and can be bought through This Is London’s ticketshop.

The Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festival. August 22-24.