Reading Festival Tickets

Tickets for the Reading Festival are guaranteed to sell out in minutes of when they go on sale (as yet unconfirmed for 2009 – but check back for details as soon as it is announced), so where – but more importantly when – should you get your tickets?

Well, the official outlets are the only place that Reading-Festival.net endorse – these are TicketMaster, SeeTickets, Ticketline & Gigantic.

The problem with these is that they will sell out in minutes, and from experience the websites all seem to crash under the demand when they do actually go on sale.  So, what can you do to make sure that you get ahold of your tickets?  The best thing to do, as antiquated as it sounds is make sure that you are there online at least twenty minutes in advance and as it gets closer to the official onsale time, make sure that you press refresh every minute so that when they do become available you can get your place in the queue.

What happens if you DONT get tickets? Well – thats the million dollar question, that more often than not ends up in disappointment Im afraid to say.  Whatever you do, DONT buy tickets on eBay or an unofficial website as you are almost sure to be disappointed.  Last year around 5,000 people bought tickets on a scam site, each paying hundreds of pounds and each and every one of them were scammed out of their money.

If you do have to buy tickets on the secondary market, then do NOT rely on picking them up at the door as you will most likely be disssapointed in the experience, and might not either a) get into the festival or worse still b) end up with fake tickets.

If you are buying on the secondary market, the only people that we recommend are www.seatwave.com – they have a near perfect record for fullfilment of orders and are about three times larger than the nearest competition, which also ensures that they will have the best prices!

Closer to the time we will be reviewing each of the sites where you are guaranteed to get tickets – and posting links to the exact pages where you can get tickets from.

Please bookmark this site NOW and come back frequently, especially over the next few weeks as we will be profiling different places you can get tickets in the near future!

**UPDATE**

we have been checking over the internet over the last few days and the illegitimate sites have already started springing up, its extremely important that you guys dont get scammed, as we work out that well over a million pounds was lost last year to these scam sites, and if you buy off any non official source or seatwave then chances are you are going to lose your money.

Please please take the time to research where you are buying tickets from, make sure that you read about them by googling their name first, and if you dont find much information about them the DO NOT BUY TICKETS OFF THE WEBSITES!

The Festival Republic is the organizer of The Reading Festival held annually during the 3 day Bank Holiday during August. The festival embodies the free human spirit today as much as it did in years gone by. In keeping with tradition, it remains an outdoor event, which is a large part of the entire musical experience. Man bonds with nature once again under the starry skies and connects with multitudes of music lovers in an outdoor setting, around campfires or breaking out in a musical frenzy with likeminded souls. The only boundary set between one’s private space and the crowds is a tent, which provides shelter in the August rain or when the human body needs its rest to re-energize for the next day.

With every passing year, the organizers make positive changes (such as better equipment for toilet facilities). However, a planned survival guide can eliminate a lot of distress during the event. The entry to the festival is guaranteed by purchasing tickets from authorized sources and a car permit allows the car’s entry as well! Tickets, therefore, become the first essentials on a “What to take” list. The type of tent follows, with due consideration given to its size, ease of set- up, the amount of abuse it would be subjected to, during the event or on any future trip. A hammer makes sure that the camping tent is firmly tethered to the ground.

The sleeping arrangements follow. A sleeping bag or inflatable mattresses are some ideas. While the sleeping bag may prove to be really hot during the August humid heat or the perfect choice on a cold night, the mattress offers another alternative. However, the mattress is rendered useless without its accompanying pump. Insect repellant, matches, a torch and a disposable camera are some more suggestions to survive the event. Plenty of toilet paper is a must and so is plenty of beer and cans of food to ensure that the entire cycle of consumption and excretion is not interrupted!

Can openers, stoves, some plates, plastic ware, the bare number of pots or pans, fuel for the stove, firewood for campfires are some other ideas of “what to take’. A pen knife may prove handy and a small money bag to make sure that any money is on one’s person and not in the car or the tent is an essential item.

Clothes are important because most people at the festival don’t run around naked! Personal toiletry items ensure a person is not repulsive to one’s own self, in addition to what others see or smell. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant are some suggestions to avoid or mask the emanation of mouth or body odor.

Once the physical and personal guide is taken care of, the other requirements for the event are social. Good friends, likeminded music lovers, a free spirit, an attitude of sharing and enjoyment to the fullest extent possible can do everything to complete the much- awaited musical experience!

The Reading festival of 2008 did not see many early birds as campers as the volume of early arrivals was lower. However, by the end of the festival, 80,000 or more had let the musical event and its festivities rejuvenate the cores of their being. The imperfections of shabbily pitched tents did not take away from the ambience of The Reading Festival of 2008.The toilets were better. Music lovers had come from all over to connect with others and become a part of the unique experience.

The headliners were “Race against the Machine”, “The Killers” and “Metallica” and they brought their messages in lyrics and music with indie, rock and metal. The crowd went wild and pulsated with the loud beat. The beer helped and the passionate frenzy of the crowd found its way once again in the hearts and coursed through the veins of the crowd.

Six different stages had been set up for the performances, but the stages themselves were just platforms for expression. It was the actual expression of music and the charisma of the musicians that the crowd either worshipped and moved with or rejected with “boos” and the throwing of bottles! The crowds, hungry for rock, let their displeasure be known to Plain White T’s. More than a hundred bands played and were put to the test. The verdict was given by the listeners.

Slipknot and The Avenged cancelled at the last minute and The Cribs and Babyshambles were the substitutes with the onerous task of displaying their talents as heavy metal headliners. They played to move the crowd and the crowd “moved”! The euphoria of those “moved” was unmistakable!

The performance of Tenacious D was immaculate but not spectacular. Despite the perfection, it was not able to bring the crowd to its feet. The popular experimental music of Crystal Castles became even more popular with the more than 80,000 attendees.

The 2008 Reading Festival lived up to the historical reputation of this event. The musical repertoire, the buildup of excitement from right when tickets hit the vendors until the Sunday the event starts folding up relived their phases of expression, planning and frenzy. A car park fire, spiraling smoke from campfires was just the expected and memories were relived once again during the three day weekend. The sludge and the rowdy disorder of the crowd were simple reminders of years past. Once again loud acoustics won applause while the tamer versions of bands were “booed” and made to feel unwelcome in passionate tones. While the nights brought out the fervor, frenzy and disagreements, the days were filled with hushed disco music, the ambience of a huge fair and some minor shopping. The festival, as in other years, drew the “young at heart” and made a body of over 80,000 people “one”.

The 2008 festival once again met high expectations and during the following week, the nostalgia had already set in. The crowd was already looking forward to the bank holiday in August of 2009

If you are going to attend any of the concerts held during Reading Festival, then the best experience you can have is by camping at the site. Don’t worry about all the stories that have been said about the campsite being crowded, the toilets unclean or the prices being too high. Once you get there and follow all the advice given to you, camping will seem like the best idea. After all, there’s no better way to make new friends and enjoy the great music Reading Festival always presents!

First of all, you should know that tickets can be exchanged for wristbands which have different colors. The color of your wristband depends on the kind of ticket you’ve purchased, such as yellow for the weekend ticket, blue for Friday, red for Saturday and green for Sunday. The important thing to understand is that the wristband is your access ticket to the campsite. Pack your bags carefully (don’t take too many clothes and other heavy things or you’ll have to carry them around until you find a spot) and go to the campsite. Take care not to leave your tent on the first place you see, like the road. It won’t take too long for the police to come and pick it up, thus leaving you without a tent.

Is there such thing like the perfect spot? Camping at the Reading Festival can be a very interesting experience but campers are strongly advised against pitching their tent next to the road/walkway, the toilet or bushes. In all of these situations, there is a high chance that someone will either fall or stumble on your tent which can be quite unpleasant. The toilet is not the most pleasant place to pitch your tent next to, especially during hot summer nights. As for the bushes, people might tend to use them instead of a toilet. If you want the perfect spot to camp out at Reading Festival, look for a big tree and pitch your tent right there. Remember, each part of the Reading Festival campsites has a specific color, depending on the ticked you bought in the first place.

The moment you’ve chosen a spot to pitch your tent, try and become friends with those who have their tents in close proximity. Sure, you never know whose going to be next to you, but making friends is a good idea regardless of person. Don’t leave any valuable items in your tent, especially your wallet or cell phone, as these can get easily stolen. Most people advise leaving valuables under the tent, as no thief would think to look in that place, but that idea is already known to the general public. If you still want to leave something valuable in your tent, padlock it and everything will be fine.

There are many ways one can enjoy the music played at Reading Festival and camping sure does offer one unique experience. Just make sure you camp near a tree, take down the tent in case of nasty weather and protect your belongings from suspect campers!

Each year, the town of Reading becomes the centre of attention, hosting one of the most popular music festivals in the world. Music fans arrive at Reading to enjoy a festival that is completely unique, having a tradition of over thirty years. Throughout time, bands like The Chemical Brothers, Foo Fighters, Oasis and Prodigy have taken part in Reading Festival. If this is the first time you’re considering taking part in this amazing festival, then you can certainly benefit from reading this article. It’s filled with helpful tips regarding Reading Festival, so do not hesitate to find out more about it.

Reading Festival has been held on an annual basis, with music enthusiasts coming at the site regardless of the weather. They’ve taken part in concerts held on rainy weather, sweated during extreme temperatures and got dirty in the mud. As experienced pilgrims, they’ve discovered the importance of taking the right set of clothes and other necessary items. You will have to carry two sets of clothing with you, with a particular emphasis on shorts and T-shirts. The truth is that warm clothes are not necessarily needed. There are camp fires that prevent one from being cold and having a top-notch sleeping bag is sometimes more than enough. Plus, you will want to keep your baggage to the lowest possible level. Why? Imagine yourself walking with a really heavy bag, trying to find a good camping spot!

You will need towels. First of all, you need one in case it rains, helping you to dry off. Another towel can be useful when the temperatures tend to rise up; just dip it in cold water and you will be cool in no time. Wet wipes are essential to have, for a wide range of reasons that you are about to discover without any doubt. Take sun scream and don’t hesitate to apply it, or you’ll risk some serious burns and you won’t be in any mood to enjoy the great bands taking part in Reading festival. If you like beer (and who doesn’t?!), take some from home. Prices can get quite high during the few days Reading festival takes place. Other items you might want to have: a hat (for obvious reasons), water (hydration is necessary), sunglasses, glow sticks and a waterproof hoodie in case it rains.

Your tent is another important issue you want to consider when going to Reading festival. The first and most crucial advice is to select a tent that you can easily recognize. If you fail to do that, you can risk opening the wrong tent, again and again. There are some places you might want to avoid when it comes to pitching your tent, such as the hedgerow (you can guess by yourself for what is going to be used) or the path set for walking. The best place to pitch your tent is near a tree and close to the arena where the band are going to play. Don’t forget to make friends, wear tight jeans and look cool!