Arctic Monkeys to headline Reading and Leeds Festival 2014

The band will join acts including The 1975, Courteeners and You Me At Six

Alex Turner's Arctic Monkeys. The band have been confirmed to headline Reading and Leeds festival 2014 (Getty Images)

Arctic Monkeys have been announced as the second headline act for this year's Reading and Leeds festivals.

The band will join a host of other confirmed acts, including The 1975, Courteeners, You Me At Six, SBTRKT, Warpaint, Netsky, Annie Mac, Architects, Issues and Pusha B.

Arctic Monkeys first appeared at the festival in 2005 on a side stage, before making their debut on the main stage in 2006. They last headlined the festival in 2009.

The Sheffield band will join already confirmed headliners Blink 182, along with Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Metronomy, Of Mice & Men, Wilkinson and I Am Legion.

Speaking about headlining Reading and Leeds, band member Matt Helders told NME: “It’s the first festival we ever went to – we all went together as kids…we were 15 or 16 and it was a big deal going to a festival like that on your own.”

The band have also agreed to open the Brit Awards later this month, having formerly mocked the music industry’s corporate shindig or refused to turn up.

Reading and Leeds will take place this year over the weekend of 22-24 August. For more information about the line-up visit www.readingandleedsfestival.com.