Melvin Benn To Bring More Dance, Grime, And Hip-Hop To Reading And Leeds Festival 2013
Monday, 03 December 2012
Written by Elliott Batte
As ever, the music scene across the world continues to change each coming year, with different genres of music exploding and dying out as left, right, and centre. Though you may not like it, festivals and events have to try and stay relevant and have to keep their line-ups up-to-date, otherwise they could die out as quickly as some of the genres that once graced our radios.
This is something Reading and Leeds Festival organiser Melvin Benn knows, and he’s already one-step ahead of the trend - which is why he’s announced that he’ll be bringing a much broader range of music (featuring more dance, hip-hop, and grime) than ever before, with even more stages lined-up too.
With dubstep and drum and bass becoming some of the UK’s (and undoubtedly the world’s) most-listened to music, and grime and hip-hop entering the mainstream, the addition of BBC 1Xtra and BBC Dance stages for Reading and Leeds Festival 2013 have been met with much happiness from fans.
Benn says of the decision: “This is a dynamic time for the festivals, not only do we have a fresh look for next year, but we are also adding to the fans’ experience of the festival with the introduction of more stages, different genres of music, including the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage dedicated to hip-hop and grime, and an increase in the numbers of artists playing across the weekend. I’m really thrilled about the additions we have planned and I’m committed to ensuring Reading & Leeds remain the highlight of the festival season for many years to come.
“The addition of the hip-hop stage and the extension of the dance line-up to a three day stage, whilst not losing the essence of what Reading & Leeds Festivals are about across the existing Main, NME/Radio 1, Festival Republic and Lock Up Stages, are the things that really excite me. The Reading & Leeds festival goers listen to a diverse range of music and with the likes of BBC Radio 1 offering specialist shows focused on rock and dance and BBC Radio 1Xtra now a station in its own right, this broad spectrum of musical genres reflects what the fans are into and what Reading & Leeds represents.”
Benn has already announced some of the acts which will be appearing at the 2013 festival - and names include drum and bass star Sub Focus, grime stars Wiley, JME, and Skepta (of the Boy Better Know collective), and even American alt-metal stars Deftones - who’ll be celebrating their 25th birthday.
Tickets for both Reading and Leeds Festival 2013 are on sale now - follow either of the links below to find tickets.
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