Reading and Leeds festivals to add more stages in 2013

Kasabian headlined last year's Reading and Leeds festival

Reading and Leeds festivals may add up to three new stages, with organisers saying they want to "add more music" to the event in 2013.

The increase in entertainment could see the number of stages in the arenas increase from six to eight or nine.

The crowd capacity of the events will not be increased.

"Within those additional two or three stages there will be a lot more diversity of music," said organiser Melvin Benn.

Festival changes

"We're changing the arena at Reading and Leeds quite significantly.

"I've got quite a strong buzz and feeling in myself in the changes that I'm making there. I'm still formulating the ideas.

"There will quite a bit more dance music, quite a bit more other bits and pieces."

Reading and Leeds will take place between 23-25 August in 2013.

"Reading and Leeds are going to be going out on sale before Christmas, but we'll have the full [set] on sale in March next year where we announce most of the bill," said Benn.

"I'm looking at probably announcing certainly one of the headliners before Christmas."

This year 87,000 fans at Reading's Richfield Avenue site and 75,000 at Leeds' Bramham Park saw performances from headliners Foo Fighters, The Cure and Kasabian.