Reading and Leeds Festivals to Stage Third Leg Abroad?

Reading and Leeds Festivals may expand to a third site in 2011 -- with organisers hinting the new bash could be overseas.

Speaking to the Daily Star on April 24, Melvin Benn, of promoters Festival Republic, said he was considering taking the three-day event to foreign shores - but not necessarily warmer climes.

He said, "We may well develop a site but probably not in the UK ... but I can't say where it will be." However, Benn added, "It needs to be somewhere appropriate and exotic wouldn't be appropriate."

Taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend from August 27-29, this year's dual events are headlined by Guns N' Roses, Blink 182 and Arcade Fire. The line-up also boasts the only two reunion shows the recently reformed Libertines are set to perform.

Last year, NME reported on Festival Republic's bid to expand the Reading site, so that over three years the capacity would rise from 78,500 to 85,000 by 2011. As previously reported by Spinner, the company is also warning prospective festival-goers this year to only buy tickets from approved sources, due to a rise of fake 'phishing' sites claiming to offer them for sale.

With the addition of a third site, Reading and Leeds could become one of the world's biggest music events. Festival Republic already runs a host of festivals across the UK and Europe, including Latitude, the Big Chill, Ireland's Electric Picnic and Hove Festival in Norway.