The festival season steps up a gear this weekend, with the daddy' of them all - Reading.

The Carling Weekend: Reading, is not only the biggest thing to kick-off in this part of the world, it is widely acknowledged to be among the best fests on the planet. And while its sister festival in Leeds shares the same bands, neither it, nor any other bash, comes close to this monstrous feast of music and mayhem beside the Thames.

For festival organiser Melvin Benn, the Carling Weekend's appeal goes beyond its always-impressive line-up - which this year includes the likes of Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gogol Bordello, left, and Maximo Park. It is also the site's heritage of hedonism. And he should know: he first came here as a punter, in the early 70s. "The music bill is what sells the event and it has a greater integrity than any other festival," he told the Guide.

"Our musical and cultural heritage is fundamental to us. There is a lot of talk about festival-goers being a more diverse range of people, but the profile of Reading hasn't changed since the 70s."

As many people put it: Glastonbury may have the vibes, but Reading has the bands. And with those killer acts come the joyful exuberance and freewheeling abandon you would expect from an overwhelmingly young crowd who are just nuts about music.

Among the 150 bands playing on six stages between now and Sunday night are some of Oxford's most exciting - The Young Knives, Youthmovies and Foals. Joining them is former Oxford party organiser James Lavelle of UNKLE.

And the presence of these local heroes explains the beauty of the Carling Weekend. Yes, there are massive bands, but the festival also provides a huge service to new and diverse bands by giving a coveted platform for cutting edge talent, much of it on the smaller Carling Stage, which is where some of the hottest action of the weekend can be found.

While not the prettiest of festivals - particularly when compared to the pastoral surroundings of Glastonbury, Bestival or Cornbury - the focus is squarely on fun.

Though, as Mr Benn, Carling Weekend promoter, explains, this year's ludicrous weather has tested the organiser's patience and technical expertise: "When we got on site on July 25, part of the site was waist-high in water from the floods. Some parts I couldn't get to and some was just part of the river!

"We have recovered to a large extent but not fully and a fair amount of the site is still not campable."

His team have worked hard to ensure the show goes on - including turning one of the car parking fields into a campsite.

He added: "We will be able to stage the world's greatest rock festival, despite what climate change and the weather have thrown at us.

"I always said the festival was more important than the weather - though the forecast for the weekend is actually quite good - too late to dry the land but at least we can enjoy some sun!"