The BBC Introducing Stage at Reading & Leeds Festival will not return after 18 years, according to NME. The stage launched in 2008 and became known for giving emerging artists a platform before they broke through.
Over the years, acts including Ed Sheeran and The 1975 appeared there, and NME noted that roughly 70% of the UK artists on this year’s line-up had played the stage at some point. This year’s headliners Florence + The Machine, Charli XCX, Dave and Raye were also among those who performed on it in the past.
The change is part of a wider staging and arena overhaul described by organisers as the biggest in the festival’s history. Reading’s Little John’s Farm and Leeds’ Bramham Park will each have up to six stages, with the Main Stage being renamed The Grid and new stages called The Gallery and The Warehouse.
Festival Republic said it still has a strong focus on new talent and that the Canopy stage will be home to emerging acts. A BBC spokesperson said BBC Introducing stages would continue at other UK festivals this summer, and added that the corporation is exploring how it might work with Reading & Leeds in future.
