Reading and Leeds is one of the biggest dates on the summer calendar. Year on year it thrills, provokes and delivers a thoroughly enjoyable, sometimes damp, three days of mayhem. This year’s bill stretches far and wide, but here are a few things we’ll be keeping an eye out for.
Kendrick Lamar - Main Stage (Reading/Sunday, Leeds/Friday)
Iconic stage, huge crowd and songs from the year’s defining album. That should do nicely.
Metallica - Main Stage (Reading/Saturday, Leeds/Sunday)
Metallica need no introduction. But that doesn’t mean the thrash metal pioneers are relying on reputation alone here. Festival organisers have confirmed that their stage show at Reading and Leeds will be one of the most elaborate ever assembled for the festivals, with a crew of over 100 people striving to put together lasers, pyrotechnics, stage risers and other cool shit.
The Gaslight Anthem - Main Stage (Reading/Sunday, Leeds/Friday)
If you want to see the Gaslight Anthem this is pretty much your only chance for a while. The quartet have announced that they will “step away from the band” following the conclusion of their European tour this summer, which means we could see Brian Fallon back with the Horrible Crowes soon. If you’re at Reading or Leeds, you won’t be in London to see them share the stage with Against Me! on the weekend, so this is it. Sing along, pump them fists and make like you love the radio.
Further Main Stage listening: The Libertines, Mumford and Sons, Bring Me The Horizon, Against Me!, The Cribs, Mariachi El Bronx, Babymetal, FIDLAR.
Modern Life Is War - Lock Up Stage (Reading/Friday, Leeds/Saturday)
Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of ‘Witness’, this is a relatively rare appearance for the hardcore heroes around these parts and theirs is poised to be one of the standout sets on the Lock Up Stage. ‘Fever Hunting’ proved that the original line up still have plenty of fire in their collective belly, so revisiting former glories is just fine by us. And ‘Witness’ still slays a decade on, so that helps.
Further Lock Up Stage listening: The Bronx, The Menzingers, Smith Street Band.
Vince Staples - BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage (Reading/Saturday, Leeds/Sunday)
‘Summertime ‘06’ is one of the year’s finest debut albums, both rich in a narrative sense and satisfyingly unpredictable in its sprawling production and execution. Staples is part of a stacked 1Xtra line up, a rising name with the goods to thrill those in the know and surprise those yet to catch up.
Further BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage: A$AP Ferg, Azealia Banks, Stormzy, Ratking.
Queen Kwong - The Pit Stage (Reading/Sunday, Leeds/Friday)
You may not have heard of Queen Kwong, in which case you’re in for a treat. The band is the brainchild of CarréCallaway, who was discovered by Trent Reznor when in her teens. Her band consists of Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit, Hayden Scott and Fred Sablan. Not bad, aye.
Further Pit Stage listening: Refused, FrnkieroandtheCellabration, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.
Clean Cut Kid - BBC Introducing Stage (Reading/Saturday, Leeds/Sunday)
You could say that Clean Cut Kid are on their way to being this year’s Cinderella story. Having only released a few singles the Liverpool four-piece have found themselves headlining the BBC Introducing Stage. You’ll probably have heard their debut single, Vitamin C, on the radio circuit this summer. Go and check them out, before they all turn into pumpkins.
Further BBC Introducing Stage listening: Demob Happy, Georgia, The Big Moon, Viola Beach
Reading Festival Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri August 28 2015 - READING Richfield Avenue
Sat August 29 2015 - READING Richfield Avenue
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