Reading and Leeds Festival round-up

Foals at Reading & Leeds by Amiee Prefontaine

As August Bank Holiday came and went, the iconic Reading and Leeds Festival sprawled across their respective sites as around 90,000 fans descended upon the festival for three days of musical madness.

From old favourites to some fresh new acts, the festival had a lot to offer. While Reading and Leeds has introduced a more varied lineup in recent years with the Radio 1 Dance and Xtra stages, it’s clear after this weekend that Reading still rocks!

So, without further ado here is our round up of all things alternative that this year’s festival had to offer.

Day 1

Foals at Reading & Leeds by Amiee Prefontaine

The pit was open for Yard Act who brought the energy for their early billing. Playing the staples from debut album The Overload alongside latest single ‘The Trench Coat Museum’ which featured an enthusiastic routine from lead singer and trench coat lover James Smith alongside a crew of mannequin dancers. An unexpected start to the day but welcome all the same. 

From there we headed to the BBC introducing stage to catch Haunt The Woods (a band The Scene is particularly excited by). The Cornwall-based alt rock four-piece blend alternative, prog and folk to create haunting and ambient tracks. With vocals to rival that of Matt Bellamy and poetic lyricism to match, Haunt the Woods have created an epic sound we hope to see more of in the future with the release of their first album this month.

Next up was old Reading favourite Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Turner himself commented on the impressive track record the band has had at the festival. The band were having the time of their lives up there, bringing heart and soul to their performance and even having the crowd indulge in a little ballet with them. 

Tucked away in the Festival Republic tent, all female indie rock newcomers The Last Dinner Party packed their stage despite only having released two songs so far. The band bring an innate theatrically to their performance alongside pitch perfect vocals and regency era costuming. Finishing with their hit ‘Nothing Matters’ their set only goes to show the band deserve all the kudos coming to them. 

Foals at Reading & Leeds by Amiee Prefontaine

Barely enough time for a breather before Wet Leg graced Main Stage East. The nonsensical female-led indie rockers were out in full force, delivering a feel-good set to a delighted audience. This included a competition with Leeds to produce the ‘longest and loudest scream’ during ‘Ur Mum’. Who came out on top? Only the scream-o-meter can tell. 

As the evening drew nearer, we caught BBC introducing headliners ALT BLK ERA. The teenage sister duo put on an impressive performance on a small stage. Fresh and unconventional, the girls combine elements of metal, rock, punk, and rap in their very own freakshow. Upon entering their weird and wonderful world we can only scream for more. 

Lastly came headliner Foals to close out day one and what a show it was. The band have perfected their festival set list, presenting an arsenal of songs bound to get a crowd going. Opening with newer tracks ‘Wake Me Up’ and ‘2am’ amidst a technicoloured light display, Foals then transitioned to the unrelenting ‘Mountain at My Gate’ before delivering crowd pleasing hit after hit with ‘Inhaler’, ‘Black Bull’ and ‘What Went Down’. Lead Yannis Philippakis holds the crowd in his palm with the gut wrenching ‘Spanish Sahara’ before reawakening the pit for the final blow of ‘Two Steps Twice’. Not that the band have anything to prove but their headline set shows that after almost 20 years, Foals are still in their prime. 

Day 2

Saturday brought a less packed but still lively schedule. Kicking off with Irish indie rockers Inhaler headed by Elijah Hewson, the first son of U2’s Bono. Charming and catchy, Inhaler provided us with a pleasant start to Saturday. 

Nothing But Thieves played to an overflowing crowd next; delivering an incredible live set packed with favourites old and new. Opening with ‘Welcome to the DCC’, the title track from their most recent album, the band did not relent for the rest of their all-too-short 40 minutes on stage. Conor Mason’s vocals are equally as impressive live as in the studio as he captivates an excited audience in a positively electric atmosphere. 

To top off day two, “brought to you by way of the fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” The Killers delivered a masterclass in rock drenched in all the showmanship Brandon Flowers could muster. Offering banger after banger intertwined with some newer material, including a song only released the day before; The Killers offered up “some of the finest rock and roll on planet Earth”.

A particularly striking scene unfolded as Flowers welcomed upon the stage young teen Ozzy from the crowd to drum during ‘For Reasons Unknown’ after catching his sign. This culminated in an unforgettable moment for the teen and crowd alike who cheered him on as he performed with flair. Altogether a quieter but nonetheless triumphant second day of the festival. 

Day 3

The Amazons kicked off the final day. The Reading natives noted their personal journey “from 16-year-olds all the way to the festival main stage”. Matt Thomson smashes out each tune finishing with the iconic ‘Black Magic’ while draped in a Reading FC scarf in a homecoming that meant a lot to the band and its fans alike. 

Dashing over to Main Stage West we caught Hot Milk explode with furious guitar and fiery lyrics. Hannah Mee and Jim Shaw are a force to be reckoned with, reminiscent of 2000s pop punk with a distinctly modern and Manchester new wave sound. Freaky and fun, Hot Milk lead the crowd spinning into massive mosh pits, uncharacteristic for their early afternoon Sunday slot and leave us wanting more. 

Following a successful summer supporting the likes of Taylor Swift and Boygenius, Muna make their Reading debut and bring glimmers of sunshine with them. The indie pop trio hammer out queer anthems with silliness, sass, and sex, closing out with bona fide hit ‘Silk Chiffon’ to a delighted crowd singing along to every word. 

Foals at Reading & Leeds by Amiee Prefontaine

Going into the evening, the Festival Republic stage is packed for Ethel Cain. The indie singer songwriter gained a cult following from her debut ‘Preachers Daughter’ and the crowd is gathered in full force to hang onto her every word and phrase.

From emotional ballad ‘House in Nebraska’ to sad indie pop hit ‘American Teenager’ or moody rock slow burn ‘Gibson Girl’, her vocals are impeccable, and the devotion shared between her and the crowd warms the intimate space. Before you know it, the exciting ride is over before it feels like it really began. 

All in all

In the last few years, it could be argued that Reading and Leeds have gone soft, forgoing the heavier acts for a more teen friendly lineup consisting of dance, pop, and rap acts. If I have learned anything this weekend it is that the old guard still stands strong.

While the festival continues to be popular with teenagers fresh from GCSE results day, you can still find a variation of festival goers old and young raring to see their favourite artist or discovering a fresh new act. The spirit of Reading and Leeds still remains as the alt roots of the festival continue to be the building blocks of this historic event.