It is a strongly rock-oriented festival. A typical festival will feature a main stage with a variety of popular acts, a BBC Radio 1 stage with less well known rock acts. There are also tents for punk, dance, new bands, and comedy.

The festival is run by Mean Fiddler, currently sponsored by Carling, and has a sister Leeds Festival which shares the same bill.

List of Headliners

• 2003: Blink 182, Blur, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Metallica, Linkin Park, System of a Down
• 2002: Foo Fighters, Muse, Offspring, Pulp, Prodigy, The Strokes
• 2001: Eminem, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Green Day, Manic Street Preachers, Marilyn Manson, Travis