Come bank holiday weekend in August, Reading and Leeds Festival will be rolling
around once more. These days it’s a lot different to what it used to be. It’s a festival
that in the past used to primarily focus on the rock/alt rock and indie genres of music
when it came to its line up. In recent years following the cancellation of rival festivals
such as T In The Park and V Festival, R&L capitalised on this and has seen a shift
towards the more mainstream focused line ups, including more poppier, dance and
hip-hop names to their line ups. Whilst this has been met with the chagrin of die hard
R&L attendees over the years, it allowed the festival more room to grow over the
years. Without further ado, here are the ten artists you should check out at the
festival this summer.
Blink-182: To the surprise of none, pop-punk icons were announced as one of six
headliners just before christmas. Tom Delonge is back after a few years away from
the band and if you were lucky enough to catch them on their UK tour back in
October, you’ll full well know that the band are in the form of their lives. They’ll be
returning to the festival for the first time since 2014 armed with their latest (and
excellent) new album; One More Time. Expect legendary hits like The Rock Show, I
Miss You and All The Small Things to be smashed out at the main stage amongst
newer hits. It’s sure to be one of the best shows of the weekend. Don’t miss out.
Where to watch them: Main stage (Saturday)
Spiritbox: The Metalcore darlings will be making their R&L debut this summer and
it’s one that isn’t to be missed. The last few years has seen the band’s meteoric rise
to become one of the best live acts around currently. Expect huge mosh pit inducing
songs from Eternal Blue and latest EP; The Fear of Fear to transform the fields into
swathes of sweaty mosh and circle pits that will no doubt have the audience
screaming along to every lyric.
Where to watch them: Main stage (Saturday)
The Prodigy: For the first time since 2009, The Prodigy will be making their long
awaited return to the festival. After the tragic loss of Keith Flint back in 2018, many
thought the electro dance pioneers would call it a day. However, they persevered
and are just as good live as they’ve ever been. The spirit of Keith Flint endures
during their performances, so if you fancy something a bit different whilst at the
festival then the duo will be putting on one of the performances of the weekend.
Expect hits such as Omen, Firestarter and Out of Space to give you an experience
like no other.
Where to watch them: Chevron Stage (Saturday)
The Scratch: A four piece like no other. Hailing from Dublin, The Scratch take
inspiration from traditional Irish folk music and turn it on its head. Creating an
incredible fusion of folk/metal, their shows are as intense as they are incredible.
They’ve quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. They’ll be
bringing songs from their latest album; Watch Yourself to the festival for what is
going to be one of the more incendiary shows of the weekend. Get on the Guinness
and get yourself in the pit for a guaranteed great time.
Where to watch them: Festival Republic Stage (Sunday)
Denzel Curry: He’s no stranger to the festival, having brought the house down to
enormous crowds back in 2022, Denzel Curry is set to return in what is sure to be
yet another incredible performance with his fierce style of punk-rap. Get yourself to
his show early to avoid disappointment as it’s sure to be absolutely rammed for his
performances. Who knows, maybe one day we could see Curry himself headlining
the festival at some point in the future?
Where to watch them: Chevron Stage Friday (Saturday)
Lambrini Girls: The Brighton punks will be playing this year’s festival, bringing their
excellent riff heavy hits to the masses for what’ll be one of the best performances of
the weekend. The last few years has seen UK punk music in the best form its ever
been in and the Lambrini Girls have been one of the bands at the forefront of that,
creating safe spaces for those who feel like they don’t have a space for them
already. Lambrini Girls shows are for everyone, get to their show and have the best
time.
Where to watch them: Festival Republic Stage (Saturday)
Nia Archives: One of the hottest DJ acts in the UK right now. Bringing an excellent
mix of Jungle/Drum & Bass, Nia Archives’ set is a must see if you’re attending R&L
this summer. Her new album; Silence Is Loud is sure to bring many more hits and
propel her onto even loftier heights than she is now. She’s from Bradford too so her
show at Leeds will feel like a homecoming, and we can’t think of a better place to
celebrate that.
Where to watch them: Chevron Stage (Friday)
Raye: After winning what felt like every award at this year’s BRIT Awards, Raye will
be armed with a plethora of tunes from her stunning debut album; My 21st Century
Blues. The mix of pop and R&B will be one of the more chilled shows of the
weekend, but will absolutely bring one of the biggest crowds of the weekend.
Thankfully there’s plenty of room at the main stage where she’ll be performing. It
also won’t be long until we maybe see her headlining R&L in the future.
Where to watch them: Main Stage (Sunday)
Kid Kapichi: One the back of their excellent third album; There Goes The
Neighbourhood, the Hastings quartet will be looking to lay waste to R&L this
summer with bursts of punk anthems that look at the current state of the country and
hold those responsible to account. The blistering riffs and humorous lyrics will bring a
burst of energy that will turn the tent they’re performing in into a maelstrom of sweaty
bodies moshing like there’s no tomorrow.
Where to watch them: Festival Republic Stage (Sunday)
Lana Del Rey: Over the years, we’ve only had a handful of female headliners
gracing the main stages at R&L. This year however, we have Lana Del Rey making
her R&L debut in what is a well deserved headline slot. Becoming the fifth female
artist to headline the festival, she’ll be bringing what is sure to be a beautiful and
ethereal set packed with her hits from over her nine albums, this is not one to be
missed.
Where to watch them: Main Stage (Sunday)
