ARCTIC MONKEYS - ARCTIC MONKEYS TO RETURN AT LEEDS/READING 2009

ARCTIC MONKEYS TO RETURN AT LEEDS/READING 2009

Sheffield four-piece Arctic Monkeys are to play their first set in the UK for two years as headliners at Leeds/Reading Festival 2009, it has been announced.

Alex Turner's band are expected to showcase material from their hugely anticipated third album alongside old hits during performances on Friday August 28th in Leeds and Saturday August 29th in Reading.

Seminal indie rockers Radiohead are the surprise act to take to the Main Stage on the Saturday and Sunday respectively, while double Brit-award winning US group Kings of Leon – who proved their potential as rock's biggest new band in a career-defining set at Glastonbury last year - complete the list of headliners.

The bands set to warm up festivalgoers before the main events on each night are legendary dance act the Prodigy, post-punk four-piece Bloc Party and the Kaiser Chiefs.

Despite the big-name line-up not showing the metal credentials that the festival is well-known for, a number of heavier acts are also set to appear over the August Bank Holiday weekend, including Gallows, Deftones and New Jersey punks the Gaslight Anthem.

In addition, Glasvegas, Gossip, Maximo Park, Fall Out Boy and the hotly-tipped Florence and the Machine will play over the course of the three-day event, while further acts will be announced for areas including the Radio One/NME Stage, The Lock Up and the Dance Stage in the near future.

Organiser Melvin Benn claimed the line-up would cement Leeds and Reading's reputation as "the world's ultimate rock 'n' roll weekend".

Tickets went on sale at 19:00 BST today, with weekend tickets costing £175 and day tickets priced at £70.