As we gear up for this yr’s Studying & Leeds Competition, it is a good time to reminisce on what the occasion as soon as was – with unbelievable line-ups from the primary stage proper all the way down to the tents

If there’s one factor you’ll be able to’t assure every year for the August financial institution vacation it is the sunshine however you’ll be able to be sure you see the Studying & Leeds Competition take over the nation for one more yr.

In all 54 years of the competition’s historical past, it is coated some enormous floor in terms of unbelievable artists and bands, however as audiences start to look extra disheartened by the line-ups, we’re reminded of the legendary units of the previous.

This yr’s headline acts set to take the stage August 21 to 24 embody Hozier, Chappell Roan, Convey Me The Horizon, Limp Bizkit, Travis Scott and D-Block Europe. The competition launched the thought of double headliners again in 2021 and hasn’t appeared again since, aiming to provide music followers extra bang for his or her buck.

Nonetheless, what audiences actually need is a standout line-up much like these from the competition’s early days. The principle stage has been performed by among the world’s largest names, and when it grew to become a twin competition in 1999, you could possibly see all of them for as little as £80 for a weekend ticket, in keeping with BBC Information.

1992

What a line-up this yr was – The Wonderstuff, The Public Enemy and Nirvana, in what’s believed to be their final ever UK efficiency. Enjoying that weekend have been additionally Nick Cave, The Manic Avenue Preachers of their debut efficiency on the competition, The Charlatans and PJ Harvey.

The 1992 competition noticed a thunderstorm on the Saturday night which utterly drenched the location, leaving festival-goers in ankle-deep mud. The intense climate additionally resulted within the comedy tent being blown away completely.

1996

Whenever you discuss legendary line-ups, this one has gone down in historical past. With headline slots on the primary stage from American rap steel band Rage In opposition to The Machine, adopted by Black Grape on the Saturday and a British indie staple band, The Stone Roses, closing the competition on the Sunday.

Additional down the lineup, ticket holders had the prospect to see performances from The Prodigy, Sonic Youth, Billy Bragg and Weezer. Followers have been capable of see all of those stars for lower than £100 for a whole weekend ticket.

1999

This yr noticed the competition tackle its twin places, with one up north and one down south, for the primary time, altering from simply Studying Competition to Studying & Leeds Competition, and it had a stellar line-up to make it much more fascinating. Headlining on the Friday have been The Charlatans, adopted by Britpop legends Blur, and shutting the competition on the Sunday was The Purple Scorching Chilli Peppers.

2000

Following within the footsteps of Blur, the yr 2000 noticed Oasis take the headline slot because the Gallagher brothers took the stage for the primary and solely time on the competition, though they might each go on to carry out there as solo artists. What’s extra attention-grabbing about this line-up is that the artists enjoying earlier on within the day went on to develop into enormous headliners in their very own proper.

Whereas the headliners have been made up of Stereophonics, Pulp and Oasis, the bands and artists enjoying earlier than them included Foo Fighters, Slipknot, Blink 182 and Limp Bizkit. In the meantime, different levels noticed Queens Of The Stone Age, Muse and Black Eyed Peas play.

2003

Because the competition went on, it started to department out into different genres, shifting typically away from rock and in direction of rap, hip-hop and pop acts. However this yr noticed a heavy rock lineup, with the likes of Metallica and Linkin Park after which softened by Blur on the Sunday.

Though the competition noticed the likes of Jay-Z play, earlier than he was sufficiently big to headline, Sum 41 and The Libertines – it was a yr for punk and rock bands. Good Charlotte, The Darkness, and Primal Scream have been all bands that took to the stage that weekend.

2009

2009 was the indie line-up of all line-ups, as Kings of Leon performed on Friday, adopted by Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead. Including to the indie vibes of the 2000s period have been Kaiser Chiefs, Vampire Weekend, The Courteeners, Florence and The Machine and Jamie T.

Because the music charts have modified, so has the Studying & Leeds line-up, as they proceed to try to transfer with the instances. Among the largest modern-day stars to have performed in more moderen years embody Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Lana Del Rey. Though, because the competition grew in each dimension, now having a mixed capability of 180,000 individuals, it grew in worth, with a weekend ticket now costing campers £325.