Three US headliners for Reading, Leeds

Festival organiser Melvin Benn has revealed that Reading and Leeds will have three American headliners this year.

Benn, who is managing director of concert organiser Festival Republic, told BBC 6 Music that for the first year he could remember there would be no British acts topping the bill.

He said: "Interesting this year is that, probably for the first time, in my memory, we're actually going with three American headliners."

According to eFestivals, two of the headliners will be Metallica and Rage Against The Machine.

Benn also revealed that the festival would not be replacing Carling, which ended its sponsorship of the annual bash last summer.

"I wanted it to be, as I'm sure fans wanted it to be, slightly less corporate," said Benn. "I wanted to reclaim the name Reading Festival and the name Leeds Festival. I wanted them to return to their roots, so to speak.

"I didn't want the events to be called after a sponsor. I'm not asking another sponsor to come in."

Reading and Leeds Festivals take place on August 22-24. A full lineup announcement is expected in March.