BIG Dog wrapped up two weekends on the festival trail playing opposite to the most hyped band of the summer.

Having played V2001 the week before, the group -- made up of Oswaldtwistle pair Mark Jones and Ged Lynch as well as former Black Grape rapper Kermit and Danny Williams -- Big Dog arrived on the dance stage at the Leeds/Reading Carling Weekend up against The Strokes.

But whereas many bands would consider such a billing the short straw, for Big Dog being against the New York punksters simply upped the stakes.

Guitarist Mark Jones said: "Leeds was the best gig of the lot, including the V festivals.

It went really well, both in terms of our performance and the crowd reaction.

"At Reading the tent was opposite the main stage so we seemed to lose a few to The Strokes but at Leeds the crowd filled out as we went along."

Around 2,000 fans packed into the dance tent to see Kermit deliver a passionate performance of material from their debut album Solid Nourishment.

Elsewhere, American shock merchants Eminem and Marilyn Manson headlined the main stage with Travis and the Manic Street Preachers.

But for those looking for bands of the future the Carling stage was the place to be.

Haven are the new guitar band being guided by former Smiths manager Joe Moss and their big jangly guitar sound, mixed with the majestic vocals of Gary Briggs, was awesome.

Fuzz Light Years, who walk a tightrope between punk and pop, and Hell is for Heroes with their shambolic bouncing guitar rock promised much for next year.

But the two performances of the weekend belonged to New York's The Moldy Peaches, whose whimsical, innuendo-filled humour was stunning as was Elbow's soul wrenching acoustic approach.