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Arcade Fire give their view on festival co-headliners The Libertines
<-- END - caption -->Fans are braving bad weather and fields of mud to attend the Reading and Leeds festivals 27 August.
Eighty-seven thousand people will see Gun N Roses headline the main stage at Readings Richfield Avenue tonight.
At Leeds Bramham Park, Canadian rockers Arcade Fire top the bill on the first night alongside reformed London band The Libertines.
Californian pop-punk outfit Blink 182 complete the line-up, and the weather is due to improve over the weekend.
Festival dramaThe lead-up to this years event has seen its fair share of drama.
Last week, organisers were forced to quash rumours that Guns N Roses had pulled out after someone hacked into lead singer Axl Roses Twitter account and said the gigs were off.
Meanwhile, co-headliners Arcade Fire and The Libertines have enjoyed some friendly banter in the months running up to the event.
Speaking to Newsbeat last month about their joint billing, Arcade Fires Win Butler joked: "The Liber-what? Thats the one with that guy right?
"We dont have anything to do with that stuff. I mean, theyre an exciting rock band. I think itll be a good double bill."
Carl Barat, lead singer of the reformed Libertines, replied by saying: "Thats surprisingly nice of them. I didnt think they wanted it to be a double bill.
"I guess well see on the night. I know theyre a well respected band. This sounds like a boxing match. Theyre great - I like what they do."
The original four members of The Libertines - Peter Doherty, Carl Barat, Gary Powell and John Hassall - announced they were to reform to play the festivals during an inebriated press conference at a north London pub in March.
After performing a short acoustic set there, the band played two warm-up shows this week at Londons Kentish Town Forum - one for friends and family and another for the general public.
The spiritFans at Leeds festival seem most excited by the return of The Libertines after six years away.
Chris, 23, from Hull said: "Im really looking forward to The Libertines. Un-planned setlist - itll probably be mental."
Jack, 23, also from Hull, added: "I think its whether Pete [Doherty] can keep it together - thats the big worry. They might not get to Reading but that doesnt matter"
And their friend Steve said: "Theres more anticipation about The Libertines than Arcade Fire - theyre consistently good but with Libertines its hit or miss. Its exciting - the spirit."
Other bands playing the first day at Reading include Queens Of The Stone Age, Biffy Clyro, LCD Soundsystem, Mumford And Sons and Marina And The Diamonds.
Day one at Leeds will see Dizzee Rascal, Pendulum and The Cribs join The Libertines and Arcade Fire.
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