August 28, 2009 9:00

Arctic Monkeys torn over Reading And Leeds Festivals setlist

Band tell NME.COM they don't know what they'll play

Photo Gallery: Arctic Monkeys
Photo: Andy Willsher

Arctic Monkeys have told NME.COM that they are unsure of what songs to play during their headline slots at this weekend's Reading And Leeds Festivals (August 28-30).

The band play Leeds tonight (August 28) and Reading tomorrow (29), and in an interview you can read in this week's issue of NME (out nationwide August 26), they admitted that they still haven't decided what kind of set to play.

"I think at a festival you can't go on and play your new album back-to-back," guitarist Jamie Cook admitted. "It's not your show, is it? Well, you could do. We've been playing a lot of new ones."

Frontman Alex Turner agreed, but said it wouldn't feel right playing some of the band's older material.

"There's an impetus to want to play some of those older tunes and then there's others that seem a bit like your old homework, you know?" he said. "Dunno what to do about it really."

The band's 18-song set at their London warm-up earlier this week featured seven of 'Humbug''s ten tracks.

To read the full cover feature with Arctic Monkeys, see this week's issue of NME (out nationwide now).

Photo Gallery - Arctic Monkeys warm up for Reading and Leeds at London's Brixton Academy

NME.COM will be coming live from both the Reading And Leeds Festivals sites this weekend (August 28-30). Stay tuned to NME.COM/festivals for news reports, blogs, video interviews and photos from the event.

Get next Wednesday's (September 2) issue of NME for the ultimate Reading And Leeds Festivals review.

Plus have your say on this summer - fill in the annual NME Festival survey now to cast your verdict on 2009, and tell festival chiefs who you want to see next year.