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It seems like aeons ago now, but the weekend before last saw the return of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds festival.

If you're *really* quick, you can still listen again on Ö÷²¥´óÐã iPlayer to Huw's Radio 1 shows from Wednesday last week and hear live tracks from the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing stage as well as a highlights from the main stage. [now expired, but the tracklistings are here and here]

Alternatively, try Bethan Elfyn's Radio 1 in Wales show for more live tracks, including some from Welsh wonderkids, Kutosis [expired now - tracklisting] or Rory McConnell's Northern Ireland show [also expired - tracklisting] for a focus on the performances from Beflast boys Not Squares and A Plastic Rose, who were both hugely impressive.

Our Reading and Leeds stages made their debut in 2008, with Dinosaur Pile-up, Attack! Attack!, General Fiasco, Flashguns, Fox Cubs and Pulled Apart by Horses all making a big impression and going on to bigger things this year.

This year, though, it was a triumph for our nationwide family of local shows, with around fifteen of them getting a local band they've championed on the bill. Many bands came to their attention and earned a slot on the line-up purely by uploading their music via our website.

There's loads of great festival coverage from local Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing shows to check out, so here's a round-up of links:

• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Berkshire
  Listen to with Reading-based band Sixty Watt Bayonets and take a look at some from the Reading stage.
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Essex
  Mike and Ollie talk to Essex-based rock-rap-funk band, British Intelligence ahead of the to date.

The day after we were asked to play the Introducing stage we got seven gig offers, it was really good!
Surprise...Fire chat to Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing in York

• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Humberside
  
  Read producer Chloe Davies' , a from local band Horse Guards Parade and check out of .
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Leeds
  
  Blast reporter Kate Prothero interviewed local duo The Old Romantic Killer Band ahead of their festival slot, before heading down to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing stage in Leeds with her camera.
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Lincolnshire
  
  Take a look back at The Living Daylights' interview and session from earlier this year with The Mix Introducing.
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Manchester
  
  Mancunians To The Bones spoke to Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing in Manchester and admitted they were "sore from celebrating" the news that they'd been picked to play.
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã Nottingham
  
  Kristi Genovese, Blast reporter for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Nottingham, was at the Leeds site to witness an impressive five local bands playing on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing stage. Read her report on how Frontiers, The Living Daylights, Minaars, What Makes You Beautiful and Lovvers got on.
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã York
  
  Ryedale-based band Surprise...Fire were put forward by Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing in York, so Blast reporter Joel James to get their reaction and to chat about the scene in their area.

Phew! Ok, enough with the links. That's it for another year. Don't forget you can watch all of the performances from the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Introducing stage (filmed at Reading) right here. See you next year!