SOUTHAMPTON'S Creeper who play the city's 02 Guildhall tonight look likely to be in a celebratory mood after it was revealed they will play Reading Festival.

With their electric blend of goth and punk rock and their brilliant live reputation they are one of the most talked about bands of the moment and are not to be missed.

It is another feather in the cap of the band who are set to play Bestival this summer too and have been nominated for the Metal Hammer 'Golden God' Awards as Best New Band.

The mighty Reading Festival has a heavyweight lineup with five incredible headliners and a supporting cast of the very best in rock, indie, hip hop and dance. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Foals and Disclosure top the August Bank Holiday bill, with The 1975, Eagles Of Death Metal, Boy Better Know, Slaves, Jack Garratt, A$AP Rocky, Krept & Konan, Cage The Elephant, and The Vaccines among the stellar names already announced.

As with most apparent overnight success stories, Creeper’s current breakthrough is the culmination of years of dedication.

Inspired by the strength of their local music scene as well as the ethos and political awareness of hardcore, vocalist Will Gould and guitarist Ian Miles toiled in bands while their contemporaries were at university. Gould’s housemate Dan Bratton joined on drums once the vocalist realised that his friend – experienced in various melodic rock groups – could immediately master the energy, fury and precision that their sonic attack would demand. The line up was completed by bassist and former tech-death metal vocalist Sean Scott. Creeper’s core reference points reflect their roots – The Misfits, Alkaline Trio, The Damned – but their wider influences, from the doomed romanticism of Nick Cave to the crunch of Metallica and the flamboyance of Roxy Music and David Bowie, seep into their sound. It’s an antidote to the current trend of no-frills punk and hardcore.

Creeper said:

"We are incredibly excited to be playing Reading and Leeds festival this year. Members of our band have been attending these festivals since we were kids, it is an incredible honour to have been asked to play and we promise a very special show."

*The Daily Echo has a pair of weekend camping tickets to give away to Reading Festival, August 26-28, Bank Holiday Weekend.

Simply name one of the headliners of the Reading Festival and email this, along with your full name, address and telephone number to: hilary.porter@ dailyecho.co.uk

To reach us by midnight on Monday April 18. The competition is open to over 18s only (under 16s must be accompanied by an over 18).

For the full Reading festival lineup and to buy tickets visit www.readingfestival.com.