Despite dodgy sound and over-enthusiastic security, Pookie Hudson reckons it was . . .

This year's Reading Festival was the BIG one. Weekend tickets sold out weeks in advance. Unsurprising as the annual event boasted a phenomenal line-up.

So, with quality bands clashing on different stages, there were some tough calls to make througout the three days. Should you catch a bit of everything or just settle for the main stage acts?

Saturday opened with blazing sunshine and Ooberman on the main stage a great up 'n' coming act who would have probably benefited from a later slot on the Radio One Evening Session stage.

Next on my rough agenda were Robots in Disguise on the Carling stage. Two girls and an anonymous drummer belting out some interesting lo-fi, sci-fi, pop. They were followed by Elbow, who have a bit of a buzz about them currently. Good songs well performed, but all a bit generic. King Adora were in top form back on the Evening Session stage, camping it up to the max with their sleazy glam-tinged art-rock. Then it was off to the main stage for a bit of Asian Dub Foundation's fire 'n' brimstone set.

Later, Brassy kicked in with a solid set on the Evening Session stage, although after Muff Spencer & Co's performance, my attention apart from the occasional foray back to the Evening Session stage for a snippet of the superb Grandaddy and Shed Seven was focused on the main stage.

Here we found Limp Bizkit, The Bluetones, Foo Fighters and Primal Scream and Oasis were an absolute must of course.

It was a fantastic set, full of crowd-pleasing anthems which was just as well given the number of beered-up 'lads' in attendance. Even the heavens opening midway into their set did nothing to dampen spirits. Oasis were awesome.

Sunday got off to a soggy start thanks to some overnight storms. Kent got things underway on the main stage another band who would have benefited from a later slot on a smaller stage. With the rain still coming down the stages under canvas benefited. Ben's Symphonic Orchestra who have an Oxfordshire connection via Courtyard Studios gave a good account of themselves on the Carling stage.

Fifth Amendment exceeded all expectations their hard-edged brand of rock had the Carling tent packed beyond capacity. Singer Alli launched herself into the crowd to join in the mosh pit. Despite the sun briefly appearing towards the end of their set, the crowd stayed put. Rising stars? I reckon so.

There was time for a quick jaunt to the main stage to check out Idlewild, before heading back to the Carling stage for CO.UK. They were another band who impressed. Then it was the Deftones, who rocked the main stage. Elastica however, didn't seem to want to be on the main stage a contrast to their visit to The Zodiac earlier this year so I headed off to the Evening Session stage to catch a bit of the heavily hyped Queens of the Stone Age. You couldn't get close, it was so packed!

Needless to say, Graham Coxon's slot on the Evening Session stage was also over-subscribed by folk trying to catch to catch the Blur guitarists' side project.

Over to the Carling stage for At The Drive In, who caught security out with their mix of nu-metal and slacker-punk inciting a huge mosh pit, complete with crowd surfers.

Then it was time for Medal who turned in a five-star performance. Nice to see many Oxford types in the crowd supporting them.

Although it had rained all afternoon, The Wannabies brought some sunshine pop along with them for their main support slot on the Evening Session stage. On the main stage, Pulp brought things to a close with a sing-a-long-a-Jarvis set.

On to day three, Sunday. It was tough call first thing. Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi got the nod from me their effervescent brand of art-rock was a perfect antidote to the previous night's after show excesses! My Vitriol's main stage set, which was a wicked start to the main stage on what is known as rock day. I decided to stay put for Cay, who were suitably belligerent. Then it was back to the Evening Session stage for some of Linoleum's goth-tinged pop, while A gave a storming set of punk-tinged Brit-rock on the main stage. They overlapped with The Animalhouse on the Evening Session stage. Again a huge number of Oxford faces in the crowd.

The Animalhouse served up a sterling set. And that was despite writing off the front end of one of their vans leaving Leeds the night before.

The Clint Boon Experience were also on top form, the former Inspirals keyboardist even covering a classic Inspirals number it was ten years ago that Inspiral Carpets headlined at Reading. In between The Animalhouse and Clint Boon, pop duo Daphne & Celeste were driven off the main stage after a shower of plastic bottles well, it was rock day! American slacker-punk outfit Bowling For Soup absolutely tore the Carling stage apart with a storming performance.

The (lack of) sound from the struggling main stage PA made Slipknot's anticipated set a bit of an anti-climax for many.

It was the biggest main stage crowd of the weekend without doubt trouble was many of them could barely hear the band!

Bellatrix brought their brand of infectious punk-tinged pop to the Carling stage, while Ian Brown put the icing on the cake for a practically perfect festival.

OK, the queues for the disgusting toilets were ridiculous, the evening security staff were rude and confrontational and the main stage sound wasn't as good as it should have been.

But hey, Reading 2000 was still one of the best festivals I've been to this year possibly ever.