The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds, England. The events both happen on the bank holiday weekend in August (on Friday, Saturday, Sunday), and share the same bill (occasionally with one or two exceptions). The festival's origins date to the Beaulieu Jazz Festival (1956–1961) which became the National Jazz Festival in 1961 (The National Jazz and Blues Festival in 1963) and settled in Reading in 1971. In 1999 a second leg was added at Leeds.
The following is a list of acts that have played at the festival.
1961 Main stage Richmond Saturday Richmond SundayAlvin Roy's Saratoga Jazz Band Bob Wallis and his Stureville Jazzmen Bruce Turner Jump Band Chris Barber's Jazz Band Don Rendell Quintet Fairweather-Brown Allstars Gerry Brown's Jazzmen Johnny Dankworth and his Orchestra Joe Harriott Quintet Johnny Dankworth Quartet Jazz News Allstars Mike Cotton Jazzmen The Merseysippi Jazz Band Ottilie Patterson Ronnie Ross Quartet Tubby Hayes QuintetAlex Welsh and His Band Alan Elsdon and His Jazz Band The Back O' Town Syncopators Clyde Valley Stompers Dick Charlesworth and His City Gents Jackie Lynn Ken Colyer's Jazzmen Ken Sims' Vintage Jazz Band Original Downtown Syncopaters Sutton Chicago Jazz Group Terry Lightfoot Tony Russell Student Orchestra
1962 Main stage Richmond Saturday 28 July Richmond Sunday 29 JulyChris Barber's Jazz Band Ottilie Patterson Humphrey Lyttelton Band Alex Welsh & his Band Bruce Turner's Jump Band Bob Wallis and his Storeyvile Jazz Band Coe-Picard Quintet Gerry Brown's Jazzmen Keith Christie-Wally Fawkes Cyril Preston's Jazz Band Festival Big Band – dir. by Chris Barber & Humphrey LytteltonKenny Ball's Jazzmen Johnny Dankworth Quintet Terry Lightfoot's Jazzmen Joe Harriott Quintet Dick Charlesworth Band Tubby Hayes Quintet Forrie Cairns & The Clansmen Ronnie Ross Quartet Back o' Town Syncopaters Don Rendell Quintet Alvin Roy's Jazz Band New Orleans Brass Band led by Ken Colyer
1963 Main stage Richmond Saturday 10 August Richmond Sunday 11 AugustChris Barber and his Jazz Band Ottilie Patterson Alex Welsh Band Humphrey Lyttelton Band Dill Jones Trio Rustix Ginger Johnson's African Drums Graham Bond Quartet Georgie Fame Group The Mastersounds Tubby Hayes Quintet Joe Harriott Quintet Ronnie Ross Quartet with Bill Sage Frank Holder John Williams Big Band Mike FalanaAcker Bilk's Paramount Jazz Band Terry Lightfoot's Jazzmen Freddy Randall Band Blue Note Jazz Band Cyril Davies' Rhythm and Blues Allstars Long John Baldry The Rolling Stones The Velvettes Night Shift (incl. Jeff Beck)
Notes The third NJF Festival saw the first non-Jazz acts appear, notably the Rolling Stones and Long John Baldry on the Sunday afternoon. The Sunday afternoon session featured the final heats of the National Amateur Jazz Contest featuring twelve jazz bands chosen from semi-finals held across Britain.
1964 Main stage Richmond Friday 7 August Richmond Saturday 8 August Richmond Sunday 9 AugustThe Rolling Stones The T-Bones (incl. Gary Farr) Val McCallum and the Authentics The Grebbels Night ShiftChris Barber Band Ottilie Patterson Alex Welsh Band Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men Manfred Mann Memphis Slim Jimmy Witherspoon Ronnie Scott Quartet Johnny Scott Quintet Dick Morrissey Quartet Tubby Hayes Big BandKenny Ball and His Jazzmen The African Messengers (incl. Ginger Johnson) The Graham Bond Organisation Humphrey Lyttelton Band Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames The Yardbirds Mose Allison
Notes The Festival expanded to three days with the addition of a rhythm & blues themed Friday evening session. The Sunday afternoon session featured the fourteen best jazz bands from a National Amateur Jazz Contest chosen from regional contests held nationwide.
1965 Main stage Richmond Friday 6 August Richmond Saturday 7 August Richmond Sunday 8 AugustThe Yardbirds The Who The Moody Blues The Mike Cotton SoundManfred Mann Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames Graham Bond Organisation Gary Farr & The T-Bones The Bruce Turner Jump Band Ronnie Jones and the Blue Jays Ronnie Scott Dick Morrissey Albert Mangelsdorff Quintet The New Jazz OrchestraThe Animals Spencer Davis Jimmy James and the Vagabonds Alex Welsh Band The Steam Packet with the Brian Auger Trinity Rod Stewart Julie Driscoll Long John Baldry Chris Barber Kenny Ball Ottilie Patterson Ken Colyer The Dedicated Men's Jug Band Johnny Parker Barry Martyn's Ragtime Band Keith Christie Bobby Wellins
1966 Main stage Windsor Friday 29 July Windsor Saturday 30 July Windsor Sunday 31 JulySmall Faces Spencer Davis The Soul Agents Mark Barry Marmalade Geno Washington and the Ram Jam BandThe Who The Yardbirds Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds The Move Gary Farr and the T-Bones The Summer Set Julian Covey and the Machine (Philip Kinorra) Jimmy James and the Vagabonds Chris Barber Alex Welsh Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits Kid Martyn's Ragtime Band with Louis NelsonGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames Cream The Action Diane and Nicky Alan Bown The Harry South Orchestra Bluesology Dick Morrissey Stan Tracey Ernestine Anderson Kenny Baker Ronnie Scott Keith Christie Bobby Wellins
Notes The Festival moved to the larger Windsor Racecourse venue in 1966 after five years at Richmond Athletic Ground. Cream were billed as 'Eric Clapton – Jack Bruce – Ginger Baker' as the band were still unnamed when promotional posters & advertising were printed.
1967 Main stage Windsor Friday 11 August Windsor Saturday 12 August Windsor Sunday 13 AugustSmall Faces The Move Eric Burdon and the New Animals Tomorrow Marmalade The Syn The Nite PeopleThe Nice Paul Jones The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Zoot Money Amen Corner Adams Recital Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation Ten Years After Timebox Al Cohn & Zoot Sims Graham Collier Septet Danny Moss Quartet Yusef Lateef Mike Carr Trio London Jazz FourCream John Mayall's Bluesbreakers P.P. Arnold Jeff Beck Alan Bown Denny Laine Pentangle Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac Chicken Shack Donovan Ottilie Patterson Al Stewart Piccadilly Line (Edwards Hand)
Marquee stage Windsor Saturday Windsor SundayAynsley Dunbar's Retaliation Ten Years After Timebox Richard Kent StylePentangle Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac Chicken Shack Blossom Toes
Notes Pink Floyd pulled out on Saturday evening due to singer/guitarist Syd Barrett's health problems and were replaced by The Nice. The Nice also acted as backing band for P P Arnold. A second "Marquee" stage was added on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Four bands played sets each night, three of which also appeared on the main stage on the same day.
1968 Main stage Sunbury Friday 10 August Sunbury Saturday 11 August Sunbury Sunday 12 AugustThe Herd Marmalade Taste Jerry Lee Lewis TimeboxThe Nice Jeff Beck Ten Years After The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Tyrannosaurus Rex Joe Cocker The Nite People Clouds Ginger Baker Deep Purple John Hendricks Ronnie Scott Quintet Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet Alan Haven Trio Mike Westbrook BandTraffic Spencer Davis John Mayall Fairport Convention Chicken Shack Jethro Tull Tramline The Incredible String Band Eclection Sonya The Johnstons Al Stewart & Fairport Convention Dynaflow Blues
1969 Main stage Plumpton Friday 8 August Plumpton Saturday 9 August Afternoon Plumpton Saturday 9 August Evening Plumpton Sunday 10 August Afternoon Plumpton Sunday 10 August EveningPink Floyd Soft Machine East of Eden Blossom Toes Keith Tippett Jazz Group Junior's Eyes The VillageBonzo Dog Band Roy Harper The Strawbs Breakthru' Jigsaw Peter HammillThe Who Chicken Shack Fat Mattress John Surman Aynsley Dunbar Yes The Spirit of John Morgan King Crimson Idle Race The Groundhogs Dry Ice The Wallace CollectionPentangle Long John Baldry Ron Geesin Jo-Ann Kelly Magna Carta Noel MurphyThe Nice Family London Cast of 'Hair' Chris Barber Keef Hartley Eclection Blodwyn Pig Circus Hard Meat Steamhammer Babylon Cuby's Blues Band
1970 Main stage Plumpton Thursday Plumpton Friday Plumpton Saturday Plumpton SundayJellybread Fox Samuel Purdy CastleFamily Steamhammer The Groundhogs Fat Mattress Rare Bird Audience Clark Hutchinson Patto Daddy LonglegsTaste Hardin York Jackson Heights Black Sabbath Keef Hartley Peter Green East of Eden Granny's New Intentions Magna Carta Strawbs Cat Stevens Fotheringay Gracious Made in SwedenDeep Purple Juicy Lucy Yes Hard Meat Van Der Graaf Generator Colosseum Every Which Way Chris Barber Band Turley Richards Incredible String Band Trevor Billmuss Matthews Southern Comfort Burnin' Red Ivanhoe
Village stage Village Stage Saturday Village Stage SundayThe Chicago Climax Blues Band Quatermass Wild Angels Brethren T2Da-Da Chris Barber Band Wishbone Ash Caravan
Notes The 1970 Festival was a four-day event for the only time in its history, with a South of England Local Talent session in the main arena on the Thursday evening. A 'Village' stage was added on Saturday and Sunday running from later afternoon to mid-evening.
1971 Main stage Reading Friday Reading Saturday Reading SundayArthur Brown Daddy Longlegs Warm Dust Bell & Arc Ricotti/Albuquerque Armada Accrington Stanley Anno DominiEast of Eden Sha Na Na Lindisfarne Ralph McTell Hardin & York Wishbone Ash Terry Reid Stud Renaissance Audience Genesis Gillian McPherson UniverseColosseum Rory Gallagher Al Kooper Iain Matthews Medicine Head Van Der Graaf Generator Osibisa Stray Demick & Armstrong Clark Hutchinson Storyteller Country Jug Colonel Bagshot Steel Mill
Notes In 1971 the Festival moved to its permanent home at Little John's Farm on the south bank of the River Thames in Reading, a venue it has remained at ever since (with the exception of two years in the 1980s when the Festival was banned by the Conservative Party controlled Reading Borough Council).
1972 Main stage Reading Friday Reading Saturday Reading SundayCurved Air Mungo Jerry Genesis Jackson Heights The Pretty Things Nazareth Steamhammer Cottonwood Good HabitFaces Electric Light Orchestra Johnny Otis If Jericho Edgar Broughton Band Focus Linda Lewis Man Solid Gold Cadillac Jonathan KellyQuintessence Ten Years After Mahatma Kane Jeeves Band Wizzard Stray Status Quo Vinegar Joe Stackridge Matching Mole String Driven Thing Gillian McPherson Sutherland Brothers
1973 Main stage Reading Friday Reading Saturday Reading SundayRory Gallagher Jo'burg Hawk Commander Cody Capability Brown Greenslade Stray Dog Alquin EmbryoFaces Andy Bown Status Quo Strider Sensational Alex Harvey Band Chris Barber Lindisfarne Magma Fumble Riff Raff Tasavallan Presidentti Quadrille Claire Hamill Dave EllisGenesis The Spencer Davis Group Jimmy Witherspoon Mahatma Jon Hiseman's Tempest George Melly Stackridge Medicine Head Jack The Lad Premiata Forneria Marconi Tim Hardin Ange John Martyn and Danny Thompson A J Webber
Notes Roy Buchanan and Bert Jansch were scheduled to appear, but they did not play.
1974 Main stage Reading Friday Reading Saturday Reading SundayThe Sensational Alex Harvey Band 10cc Camel Beckett Johnny MarsTraffic Ronnie Lane Greenslade JSD Band Blodwyn Pig Sutherland Brothers Heavy Metal Kids Trapeze G. T. Moore and the Reggae Guitars Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames John BaldryFocus Eric Burdon Barclay James Harvest Refugee Gryphon Strider Esperanto The Winkies Harvey Andrews & Graham Cooper George Melly Kiki Dee
1975 Main stage Reading Friday Reading Saturday Reading SundayHawkwind Dr. Feelgood U.F.O. Kokomo Judas Priest Joan ArmatradingYes Supertramp Ozark Mountain Daredevils Alan Stivell Thin Lizzy Snafu String Driven Thing Kursaal Flyers Alberto y Lost Trios ParanoiasWishbone Ash Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias Mahavishnu Orchestra Soft Machine Caravan Richard & Linda Thompson Heavy Metal Kids Babe Ruth Climax Blues Band
1976 Main stage Reading Friday Reading Saturday Reading SundayGong Mallard Mighty Diamonds Supercharge U Roy Roy St. John StallionRory Gallagher Camel Phil Manzanera Van Der Graaf Generator Manfred Mann Sadista Sisters Jon Hiseman's Colosseum Pat Travers Band