CARLING WEEKEND BILL REVEALED

NME.COM can exclusively announce the line-up for this year’s CARLING WEEKEND FESTIVAL – and there’s a few surprises.

NME readers’ favourite band The Strokes, winners of three NME Carling Awards this year, are to co-headline the main stage of the festival which takes place in Reading and Leeds over the Bank Holiday weekend of August 23-26.

The Strokes weren’t planning to return to the UK this year, but they have been persuaded to play the Carling Weekend and this will be the only chance to see the New Yorkers again in 2002. By August, the band should also be ready to unveil more new songs which are destined for the follow-up to their hit debut ‘Is This It’. The Strokes and Pulp are the co-headliners at Reading on Friday (August 23) and Leeds on Saturday (August 24), with Weezer and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club also appearing on those days.

The real surprise is the long threatened return of legendary rock band Guns 'N Roses, who are co-headlining the Carling Weekend at Leeds on Friday, August 23. Due to other commitments, though, Guns 'N Roses will not play Reading.

also return to play their first UK shows in four years, co-headlining Reading on Sunday (August 25) and Leeds on Friday (August 23). Their long-awaited new single, set to be ‘Baby’s Got A Temper’, is due for release in July. US rockers The Offspring appear on the same bill, co-headlining at Reading only.

Foo Fighters headline Reading on Saturday (August 24) and Leeds on Sunday (August 25). Also appearing on this bill are Muse[/url] (with their only UK shows this year), Ash, . The first act announced for the Dance Stage is [a][/a].



Tickets are priced £90 plus booking fee for the weekend, including camping and parking. Day tickets are priced £39 plus booking fee. For tickets call the NME Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. Calls are charged at national standard rate.