Reading Festival early arrivals soak up the sun

It was a tale of two festivals when revellers arrived at Reading and Leeds today.

Music fans in the south arrived in high spirits by boat while their northern counterparts trudged through thick mud to reach the site.

Festival-goers were seen hauling crates of beer, pop-up tents and sleeping bags as they came bright and early ahead of the three-day festival starting on Friday.

Acts this year include Kasabian, Eminem, Muse, Major Lazer and Liam Gallagher.

However there are fears the Leicester rockers might pull out after a last-minute cancellation to their Belfast show due to lead singer Tom Meighan coming down ‘with severe vomiting’ which meant he could ‘hardly stand up let alone sing’.

The group shared the news minutes before they were due to perform at Customs House on Tuesday night and only a day after tweeting that they were ‘buzzing’ for the show. 

A message on the Leicester-based band’s official Twitter account last night read: ‘It is with great regret, due to illness, we cannot perform at Customs House Belfast. Kasabian.’

LEEDS FESTIVAL 

Early arrivals at Leeds festival push a car through thick mud as the ground was churned up following weeks of wet weather

Revellers in wellies waded through thick mud as they arrived bright and early for Leeds festival, which starts on Friday 

Revellers in wellies waded through thick mud as they arrived bright and early for Leeds festival, which starts on Friday 

A festival-goer gives a thumbs up to the camera as she arrived at the soggy Leeds festival today 

A festival-goer gives a thumbs up to the camera as she arrived at the soggy Leeds festival today 

A music fan weighed down by luggage carefully picks her spot as she wades through the muddy field 

A music fan weighed down by luggage carefully picks her spot as she wades through the muddy field 

A topless festival-goers tries to push his friend's car through the thick mud at Leeds festival 

A topless festival-goers tries to push his friend’s car through the thick mud at Leeds festival 

Two festival-goers squelch through the mud as they arrived at Leeds under dark skies today  

Two festival-goers squelch through the mud as they arrived at Leeds under dark skies today  

A group of girls make their way to the festival site at a muddy Leeds festival this afternoon 

A group of girls make their way to the festival site at a muddy Leeds festival this afternoon 

A festival-goer splashes through the mud after torrential rain left the site as a quagmire when revellers arrived today 

A festival-goer splashes through the mud after torrential rain left the site as a quagmire when revellers arrived today 

One young man was wearing wellies as he pulled his bag and crate of Carling lager across the mud at Leeds festival 

One young man was wearing wellies as he pulled his bag and crate of Carling lager across the mud at Leeds festival 

READING FESTIVAL  

Revellers at Reading festival were in high spirits as they arrived at the site by boat on a muggy day in the south 

Revellers at Reading festival were in high spirits as they arrived at the site by boat on a muggy day in the south 

A music fan arrives for Reading festival on a sunny and warm day ahead of three-day extravaganza 

A music fan arrives for Reading festival on a sunny and warm day ahead of three-day extravaganza 

A reveller reclines on her luggage and soaks up the sun ahead of the beginning of Reading festival on Friday 

A reveller reclines on her luggage and soaks up the sun ahead of the beginning of Reading festival on Friday 

Around 100,000 revellers are expected to attend Reading, pumping more than £30million  into the local economy

Around 100,000 revellers are expected to attend Reading, pumping more than £30million  into the local economy

Around 100,000 revellers are expected to attend Reading, pumping more than £30million into the local economy

A music fan puts her thumbs up as she and her friends arrive in a jubilant mood at the festival in Berkshire 

A music fan puts her thumbs up as she and her friends arrive in a jubilant mood at the festival in Berkshire 

A young reveller in a black hoodie is patted down by security as his friends watch on 

A young reveller in a black hoodie is patted down by security as his friends watch on 

A group of revellers beam for the camera as they prepare for three days of fun at the festival 

A group of revellers beam for the camera as they prepare for three days of fun at the festival 

A group of youths pose for the camera as they prepare to enter the festival site ahead of the music event

A group of youths pose for the camera as they prepare to enter the festival site ahead of the music event

Festival-goers line the river bank as they prepare to arrive at the music event 

Festival-goers line the river bank as they prepare to arrive at the music event 

Reading festival is expected to attract around 100,000 music fans during the three days 

Reading festival is expected to attract around 100,000 music fans during the three days 

Music fans will see the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kasabian, Bastille and Lethal Bizzle at the festival 

Music fans will see the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kasabian, Bastille and Lethal Bizzle at the festival 

Revellers were in high spirits as they arrived early in warm conditions for the start of Reading festival

Revellers were in high spirits as they arrived early in warm conditions for the start of Reading festival

Revellers were in high spirits as they arrived early in warm conditions for the start of Reading festival 

Festival-goers arrived in droves for the start of this year's Reading Festival

Festival-goers arrived in droves for the start of this year’s Reading Festival

Music fans wait patiently to enter the festival grounds in Reading ahead of the three-day extravaganza 

Music fans wait patiently to enter the festival grounds in Reading ahead of the three-day extravaganza 

Festival-goers at Reading wait patiently in the queue as they prepare to begin the festivities 

Festival-goers at Reading wait patiently in the queue as they prepare to begin the festivities 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk