Remember the first time? Pulp return to rock Leeds

The Sheffield band, led by frontman Jarvis Cocker, are among the main acts at this year’s annual three-day event, nine years after they last played the festival. They will be joined by US rockers The Strokes and Mercury Music Prize winners, Elbow.

Indie rock band Muse are headlining the opening day of the event, which is taking place as usual over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Bramham Park, near Wetherby, along with its sister bash at Reading.

They will be joined on the Friday by Elbow, Interpol and Friendly Fires.

My Chemical Romance are the headline act on Saturday and other names appearing at the festival include The National, White Lies, Madness, The Streets and Rothwell’s finest, The Pigeon Detectives.

Pulp, who announced they were reforming last year, will be one of the star attractions on the Sunday before The Strokes bring the festival to a noisy close.

This year’s capacity has increased by 5,000 to 75,000 and the festival organisers are confident the event will be another sell-out.

Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, called it a “phenomenal” line-up.

He said: “There’s something for everybody who likes to listen to great music and this is now the most important rock festival in the world, there’s no question about it.”

Mr Benn added: “This will be the final performance of Pulp in the UK so it’s fitting they will be playing in their home county.”

In recent years music fans have been warned about the risks of buying festival tickets from rogue websites and the organisers say people should only use authorised sites

“It remains a concern but the police and the authorities are addressing the issue,” said Mr Benn.

Weekend festival tickets, including camping and parking, cost £192.50 plus booking fees, while day tickets are £82.50 plus booking fees. Tickets are on sale now. Call 0870 060 3775, or visit www.festivalrepublic.com and www.leedsfestival.com.