Reading & Leeds Festival 2015: Artist survival guide!

With the countdown well and truly underway, until hundreds of bands take to the stage at Reading & Leeds Festivals, the time has come for fans to sort their ‘take it’ from their ‘leave it’ pile. Here are top survival tips and vital items that some of this year’s lineup swear by.

WHAT IS YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL ITEM YOU COULDN'T DO WITHOUT?

Lyndsey Gunnulfsen – PVRIS: “My Best Friends!”

Cyrus Bolooki – New Found Glory: It might be cliché but I’d have to say my iPhone. You can keep in touch with your mates, but it’s essential as band members – you don’t want to screw up the time and miss your set, or somebody else’s set, or an interview, or anything for that matter!

Becca MacIntyre – Marmozets: That would have to be Dry Shampoo!

Lucy Rose: My baseball cap! It keeps my dry when it’s raining but most importantly makes sure I don’t get too sunburnt.

Oscar Pollock - Sundara Karma: An oversized jumper that I don't mind wrecking!

Ellie Rowsell – Wolf Alice: A disposable camera! Take it with you to all of the shows, take pictures of your friends, and you’ll have memories to treasure forever when you’re older, and look back on the good times!

Hannah Wants: There's a few but the most vital are hand sanitiser and phone charger!

Carré Callaway – Queen Qwong: Hand sanitiser!

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WHAT IS YOUR TOP SURVIVAL TIP?

Lyndsey Gunnulfsen – PVRIS: Drink lots of water, and eat so you don’t pass out. And probably don’t forget your brain, coz you need that!

Cyrus Bolooki – New Found Glory: Remember it’s a weekend, so what you do on Friday might very well carry over through to Sunday! Let’s say for example Metallica is one of your favourite bands, and you can’t wait to see them on Sunday in Leeds. If you decide to go nuts on Friday night and party hard for the entire Deadmou5 set, how do you think you’ll feel by the time Sunday night rolls around? I guess the point is, pick your spots and know how to do it responsibly – but no matter what, make sure to have fun, because that’s what it’s all about!

Becca MacIntyre – Marmozets: Recently been to Russia and discovered, this almost like toothpaste in a tube, which you squeeze in to water, and it basically makes your stomach a lot better from any hangover, or intensive alcohol drinking from the night before. So I’d get on Google and type in this Russian toothpaste stuff if I were you.

Lucy Rose: Alka Seltzer! Upset tummy, headache, anything, they normally sort me out.

Oscar Pollock- Sundara Karma: Don't blow all your money on the first day. Stick to the bare essentials and maybe treat yourself to a pizza slice (or two) on the last day. There is nothing worse than running out of money at a festival, it really kills the vibe.

Ellie Rowsell – Wolf Alice: Make the most of your day and see as many bands as possible. My favourite festival experiences have been the ones where I’ve packed my day full of bands and music. Bands I don’t know, bands I do know. When the night time comes, whatever! You won’t feel guilty about anything in the morning if you’ve seen loads and loads of bands.

Hannah Wants: Disco naps! There's a strategy to it: 2 hours max to get through a weekend, anymore and you're a gonner any less and it doesn't work. This is tried and tested regularly by myself and is a definite survival tip.

Carré Callaway – Queen Qwong: Try to drink more water than whisky!

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WHAT TUNES WILL YOU BE LISTENING TO ON THE ROAD TO READING & LEEDS? Becca MacIntyre – Marmozets: Probably just some atmospheric chilled out music, that kind of makes you feel stoned just by listening to it. Maybe a little bit of Libertines to get in the mood!

Lucy Rose: I know I’ll be listening to the Maccabees new record on the way to Reading and Leeds!

Oscar Pollock- Sundara Karma: We plan on staying at the Main Stage for The Maccabees, Jamie T, Kendrick Lamar and The Libertines so they will all be on repeat in the van!

Ellie Rowsell – Wolf Alice: Ponds new album ‘Man It Feel Like Space Again’. Incredible riffs, beautiful Lyrics, fun production. A wonderful album that’s been playing in the van nonstop. Also Kendrick Lamar’s new album. He’s playing Reading and Leeds, which is a great festival booking, I’d absolutely love to see him. One of the best albums I’ve heard in a long time

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WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS ON HOW TO STAY LOOKING FRESH THE WHOLE WEEKEND?

Lyndsey Gunnulfsen – PVRIS: Lots of dry shampoo!

Cyrus Bolooki – New Found Glory: Baby Wipes! Seriously! They’re multi-purpose and a necessity, especially by Sunday evening when the toilets look like they’ve been through a war. Besides that, pace yourself. If all else fails, go and grab a pint, just forget about how you look. You’re not at a festival to watch other people, you’re there to watch bands, right?

Becca MacIntyre – Marmozets: You can’t get much fresher than a cucumber so I guess just try and smell like cucumbers!

Lucy Rose: I think going natural is your best route. No make-up, just embrace the natural vibes!

Oscar Pollock – Sundara Karma: Sunglasses and a hat. The more you can mask your faded looks the better!

Ellie Rowsell – Wolf Alice: Give up! If you’re having a good time, you probably won’t look fresh. That doesn’t matter, everyone there is having a good time, no one cares what you look like! No one cares if you’ve got mud on your shoes, on your face, in your hair. That’s all part of the fun of it. If you stay looking fresh, you’ve probably not had a good time, so go for it, go wild!

Hannah Wants: Dry shampoo for hair and no foundation! Make up looks so rough after a while best to go natural (mascara allowed) and keep up with the moisturiser.

Carré Callaway – Queen Qwong: Use a lot of dry shampoo!

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You can still buy select Reading & Leeds Festival tickets right here.

Photos: Sidney Bernstein, Marc Sethi, Jen O'Neill