2000s
After a successful first year in Leeds, a continued resurgence in the popularity of outdoor music festivals led to the Reading festival selling out more and more quickly every year. The Leeds leg, however, was plagued by riots and violence which led to problems in retaining its licence. The worst of these was in 2002, after which Mean Fiddler moved the festival to Bramham Park, near Bramham north-east of Leeds in 2003. Since then, security at both sites has increased and problems have been reduced. (Although the Bramham Park site presents more challenges to the stage builders, it is far better suited to the needs of festival goers).
The early 2000s saw a varied but predominantly rock line-up, though as the decade has progressed the Main Stage and Radio 1 Stage line-up has featured mostly Indie artists.
Despite being predominantly a rock festival certain hip-hop artists have played over the years, particularly when hip-hop was very popular in the early 2000s, including Cypress Hill (94/10), Ice Cube (94), Beastie Boys (98), Eminem (00/01), Xzibit (01), Jay-Z (03), 50 Cent (04), Dizzee Riscal (04/06/08/10), The Streets (04/06/11).
In 2005, the main stages at both Reading and Leeds were made larger, featuring unique cantilevered video screens.
Read more about this topic: Reading And Leeds Festivals