It’s summer at last and summer means festivals! And of course the biggest and best of the lot is the Carling Weekend, held over the August Bank Holiday in both Reading and Leeds.

This year’s event features headline appearances by Eminem, The Manic Street Preachers and Travis. Beyond them is a cornucopia of rock, pop and rap: from Marilyn Manson, Iggy Pop, Queens of the Stone Age and the awesome System of a

The Manic Street Preachers - Carling Weekend headliners at Reading on Saturday the 25th of August and Leeds on Sunday the 26th.

Down to Run DMC, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Xzibit. Still not convinced? Then how about Eels, PJ Harvey, Papa Roach, a reformed Cult, Green Day and our very own Supergrass. Ah yes, now you really are getting excited. And that’s just the main stage. On the Evening Session Stage there’s Ash, Mogwai, and Mercury Rev who will be joined by Teenage Fanclub, Stephen Malkmus, Gene, Mark B and Blade, My Vitriol, Elbow, Gorky’s, Evan Dando, Amen and current coolest band on the planet The Strokes. Oh, and how could we forget Oxford boys and current Steve Lamacq faves Goldrush? We couldn’t of course.

So, any road up, that’s just a few of the hundred or so acts who will be appearing at both sites from Friday the 24th to Sunday the 26th of August, including the Concrete Jungle Stage which will be headlined by arch showmen Rocket From The Crypt.

Weekend tickets for both Reading and Leeds are £80, including camping and parking (subject to booking fee) and are available from the 24-hour Carling Weekend credit card hotline on 08701 500 044. But! Thanks to our chums at the Mean Fiddler, we’ve got a pair of tickets for Reading to give away! In a competition! How smart is that eh? But how do you go about winning them tickets? Why, you simply answer the simple questions below, put your answers on a postcard along with your name and address and post it to: Carling Weekend Competition, Nightshift, 65 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2BE. Sorry, no email entries. And the questions? Oh yes, here they come….

Q1: What is the title of Travis’ new album?
Q2: In which country did the Manics recently launch their new album, ‘Know Your Enemy’?
Q3: What is Eminem’s real name?

Simple! Deadline for entries is the 22nd of July. The editor’s decision is to drink eighteen pints of Carling Premier and propose marriage to PJ Harvey.