REVIEW: Reading Festival 2009

I Like Music headed along to Reading 2009 to chat to the crowd, find out their musical highlights, their 2009 festival delights and much more...

Random Moments
Ah, the joys that come with the no strings attached, forget-the-real-world, stay up past your bedtime party atmosphere of the festival. Simply cast your eyes away from the stage and you are sure to see something that defies explanation and exceeds utter brilliance all in one go...

We saw a man being arrested because he wouldn't let go of his beer. Simon, 18, Kent

Lots of men in dresses. Why do boys always wear dresses at festivals? Jess, 22, Winchester

We saw people doing human jousting. There were four guys on each others shoulders. The ones on top had beer boxes on their heads and sticks made out of taped beer cans. Mike, 16, Swindon

My mate was sick in his own hands during Placebo. Jack, 18, Woking

It's my friend's first festival, she got caught in a circle pit! She just wandered un-knowingly into the calm before the storm! Louise, 21, Oxford

Festival Opinions
From first timers, locals and veterans, we kept it simple - What's good? What's not?

This is my first festival. And I'll be coming back next year. And the year after that. James, 18, Basingstoke

I'd like to see more incorporation of Drum n Bass, I reckon it goes well with festivals and Rock. Alex, 30, Reading

I been coming for the last twenty years. It's gotten milder. Less heavy bands. Last year was one of the best though. Metallica were fantastic. Rage were incredible. Steve, 54, Cardiff

Prodigy should have headlined instead of Arctic Monkeys. Kaiser Chiefs should have headlined instead of Kings of Leon. Tom, 18, Basingstoke

Everyone's been really friendly. The toilets are a lot better here than at Benicassim! Penny, 23, Newcastle

The Arctic Monkeys debate:
The Saturday night headliners seemed to have caused a stir amongst most punters we chatted to. Though their third studio album Humbug went straight into the UK album chart at number one, some still needed convincing...

Arctic Monkey's were a bit of a let down after The Prodigy. They kind of bowed out. Basically they couldn't follow The Prodigy and I think they just gave a half hearted performance. A lot of people left. Jennifer, 24, The Wirrell

I came back for Arctic Monkey's. They were awesome, they sounded awesome! They were a bit slow and they didn't play all their biggest hits, which is perhaps why people didn't like them as much. Scott, 18, Surrey

They just played loads of stuff I'd never heard. Ben, 16, Brighton

I wanted to love them, but it just didn't live up. They didn't even play Mardy Bum. Tony, 34, London

Them Crooked Vultures Secret Gig
All hail the power trio of the recently formed super group. Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl on drums, Queens of The Stone Age's Josh Homme on vocals and guitar, and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones on bass. With rumours of an appearance circling after a last minute support slot for Arctic Monkeys the week before, the lucky few with their ears to the ground stumbled upon a Reading Festival first for Them Crooked Vultures.

I missed it and now I want to go home. Louis, 17, Kent

We worked it out from the line up. There was a free slot. Patrick Wolf had like two hours. During Eagles of Death Metal they showed Dave Grohl on the screen at the side of the stage, then they went toward the back and Josh Homme was there too. Mark, 17, Chichester

I got lots of drink spillt on me and I was nailed into the sides, but it was fucking quality. Stephen, 17, Chichester

It sounded quite like Queens of The Stone Age. Josh was good. Dave was better, everyone loves Dave. Alex, 18, Bristol

They played for about 45 minutes. They looked good, really together. Everytime Dave Grohl came on the screen everyone just went mental. They didn't say much, just the names of the songs. Jake, 20, Bath

Reading 2009 Crowd Choice Award...
As un-biased as we are, the I Like Music choice leans toward the greatness that is Radiohead, who stormed through what could be described as a greatest hits set, opening with Creep and including new track These Are My Twisted Words. We caught up with festival goers prior to the weekend's closing set to see who had royaly rocked their socks so far...

The Prodigy were absolutley epic. They were the best thing by far. You couldn't move! And there were loads of circle pits! Plus they played loads of their old stuff! Sarah, 23, Oxford

The Prodigy. The Prodigy. The Prodigy. Everyone was going mental! Dan, 19, Milton Keynes

The Prodigy are just one of those bands aren't they? They're so loud. They fucking go for it. You can't not love them. Tom, 20, Milton Keynes

The Prodigy should have headlined. The Arctic Monkey's didn't stand a chance after that. Dave, 21, Luton

Eagles of Death Metal were superb. Absolutley superb. Sam, 16, Newbury

Definitely Eagles of Death Metal. They absolutley caned it. Luke, 16, Bracknell

Eagles. By far my favourite all festival. Ed, 23, Norfolk

The Gaslight Anthem killed it. George, 18, Andover

Alexisonfire, I never thought I'd like them, but live they were incredible. Their singer/guitarist is really good. Rich, 18, Northampton

Placebo of course, me and my mate just stood mesmerised by the drumming. Matt, 18, Oxford

When I grow up I want to be Karen-O. Haha! Will, 18, Hertfordshire