Heading for Reading? There's fun at the Fringe..

To lead up to the Reading leg of the Carling Weekend (25th - 27th August), a committee of bands, promoters and general enthusiasts from Reading's arts scene have clubbed together to arrange the Reading Fringe Festival, running from the 17th to the 24th of August.

Taking in comedy, film, dance and various workshops alongside the usual gigs, the line-up currently features over 50 events which, for a town sorely lacking venues, is quite impressive. More information on the Reading Fringe Festival can be gleaned by clicking enthusiastically here. So, at 5pm on Festival Thursday when you're bored out of your skull, your girlfriend has gone missing, your mates have collapsed from dodgy speed and the only people around the campsite nearest to you have England tattoos over their pink, fat torsos and an adequate supply of Stella, you may as well go off and sample the local delights.

On said Thursday night, your highlights are Alan McGee's Death Disco at Reading Fez Club in town - two floors of music, with Client and Olympus Mons playing live - or, on the industrial estate opposite the site itself, Plug N Play host Club Velocity, headlined by Heartwear Process. The highlight of my weekend, however, will probably be seeing who is bottled from the Main Stage fastest. Fall Out Boy and Fightstar are both strong contenders for the prize this year. Previous holders include Good Charlotte, 50 Cent and Daphne and Celeste.

DiScuss: Going to Reading or Leeds? Any particular bands you're excited about seeing?