Reading Festival Given The Go-Ahead To Expand Capacity

The Reading Festival will expand over the next two years after councillors backed a proposal to increase its capacity by 6,500.

The capacity next year will 82,000 – up 4,999 from this year's 78,500 ticketholders. The 2011 festival capacity will be 85,000.

According to the BBC, organiser Melvin Benn was also successfully granted for the number of early arrivals to rise from 7,500 to 20,000.

The proposals include a condition to ensure noise levels are kept at an “adequate” after local residents voiced concerns.

This year's festival, which takes place next month, will be headlined by Radiohead, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys.

For more information, check out the Gigwise Festival Guide.