Music

Review

Reading Festival 2024: as it happened

On the ground at Rockstar Energy presents Reading Festival for one of the UK’s biggest celebrations of live music


It was a mammoth weekend at Little John’s Farm, with tons of Britain’s best homegrown talent on the line-up, alongside some huge international names. From the unforgettable headliners to exciting emerging acts, here’s Rockstar Energy presents Reading Festival 2024, as it happened.

FRIDAY

Dasha gives us a warm welcome

What’s the best music in the world to have a good time to? “Country music!” beams Nashville’s next star, during her weekend-opening performance on the main stage. Midday on Friday isn’t too early for her to gather a substantial crowd – recent viral hit ‘Austin’ has made her an act not to be missed, and Dasha proves there’s far more where that came from, delivering a half hour packed with earworm country pop and considerate songwriting. This will be the first – and only – main stage crowd doing any line dancing this weekend. Caitlin Devlin

Seb Lowe sends a message

Reminiscent in some parts of Jamie Webster and in others of Alex Turner, Seb Lowe’s politically charged, lyrically dense indie-rock is best-placed early in the schedule, whilst brains are still functioning. A good reminder to a bunch of GCSE-passers in the crowd that they might want to opt into a Politics A-Level. Caitlin Devlin

Chinchilla’s voice can’t fit in the BBC Radio 1 tent

The singer-songwriter’s powerful vocals are poised to take the roof off the place. It’s an emotional and triumphant set for the rising pop star, who brings a country-grunge aesthetic to the stage and proudly closes out with her breakthrough single, ‘Little Girl Gone’, which she claims is her favourite song she’s ever released. “I love this song. I love me for writing it,” she grins. Caitlin Devlin

Leostaytrill brings viral hit ‘Pink Lemonade’ to the Chevron stage

Photo: Yushy

The London rapper goes silent to let the crowd take over the lines that went viral on TikTok in the last couple of months. He’s an interesting reminder of just how quickly artists can gain legions of new fans these days thanks to a viral social media sound, and how artists lower down on festival line-ups might end up drawing in bigger crowds than anticipated by the time the event rolls around. Caitlin Devlin

G Flip belts Taylor Swift from behind their drum kit

Australian musician G Flip likes to identify as a drummer first and a singer second, but in truth both talents are equally as impressive. They alternate between the drum kit and the front of the stage throughout their set, but belting the bridge of Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ whilst drumming is perhaps the best demonstration of just how much of a star they are – and that’s before they’ve launched into an electric guitar solo… You’ll never see a live act quite like this. Caitlin Devlin

Beren Olivia radiates cool girl energy on the BBC Introducing stage

Before leading the crowd in a chant of “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire!” Olivia proves why she’s one to watch, singing through a catalogue of accomplished indie pop. The standout is closer ‘Read My Mind’, reminiscent of Madison Beer and Tate McRae. Caitlin Devlin

Spiritbox give us something heavy

Photo: Ben Awin

“I don’t know what to make of you yet,” says Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante, walking across the Reading main stage with a side eye to the crowd. To be fair, those who aren’t familiar with Spiritbox might still be reeling from the shock of her truly excellent screamo vocals, especially when she walked onstage looking like Dua Lipa’s edgy younger sister. “You guys like heavy music, right?” she asks. “Okay – let’s see what you’ve got.” What they have is a lot of enthusiasm for the otherworldly metal that the band is putting down. Caitlin Devlin

Two Door Cinema Club sing us into the evening

Photo: Becca Scarlett Wheeler

Alex Trimble is in his own world on the main stage, and we’re thrilled to be invited in. The Irish three-piece are always indie rock excellence, and they play through the transition from afternoon to evening with aplomb, warming the field up for an excellent first evening. Caitlin Devlin

Jorja Smith has fans spilling out of the BBC Radio 1 tent

Photo: Ben Awin

Waiting for a taxi at the night’s end, I asked the couple in line next to us who was their day one highlight. In unison, they responded, “Jorja Smith”. It was like a wave of fresh excitement hit the tired cue, the memory of Jorja Smith perking up their tired souls. Behind the couple, strangers were piping up with their agreement or grumbling (like me) that they couldn’t get into the BBC Radio 1 tent. “She was truly just incredible,” one girl said with a huge smile. Jorja even surprised fans with AJ Tracey joining her on stage for ‘Ladbroke Grove’.
I’d congregated with the hundreds outside the big top tent when the R&B star took the stage. The energy was heightened. Countless women were sitting on shoulders trying to scope a view. One fan scaled the pole holding up the BBC Radio 1 stage sign in the hopes of catching the action. I missed Jorja’s magic, but I certainly witnessed her impact. Róisín Kelly

Gerry Cinnamon warms our hearts

The pure feel-good energy emanating from the crowd at Gerry Cinnamon’s Reading set is exactly what festivals are about: collectively witnessing musical magic and making memories that will last a lifetime with your friends and loved ones. Thousands wrap their arms around each other and sway to Gerry’s charming folk tunes or stomp their feet and clap to his rousing Brit-pop moments. A heartwarming experience all around. Róisín Kelly

blink-182 bring the nostalgia

blink-182 deliver a nostalgic, emotionally charged performance at Reading 2024.  Their signature blend of pop-punk anthems, lyrical drama, provocative humour and pure angst provides a very fun, very cathartic release for the Reading crowd. Opening with ‘Feeling This,’ the band plays hits such as ‘The Rock Show’, I Miss You,’ and ‘Dammit’, showcasing their enduring legacy and connecting with fans across generations, as Gen Z, Gen X and Millennials all stand side by side, letting loose and belting their lyrics into each other’s faces. Read our full review here. Róisín Kelly

SATURDAY

The Last Dinner Party cover Sparks

“This town ain’t big enough for the both of us,” whisper-sings frontwoman Abigail Morris, from behind her hand, with a grin. Those fortunate enough to catch the group on the festival circuit last summer will remember the hype – it’s now a full-on fever, and no amount of rain is enough to deter the crowd that gathers in front of the main stage. The Last Dinner Party are the glam-rock stars that this generation deserves. Caitlin Devlin

Bleachers reveal that the real American dream is playing the UK

“Everyone said to me, be careful, they’ve just finished their exams and they’re gonna be fucking feral,” confesses Jack Antonoff. He doesn’t seem deterred though, speaking with a huge amount of love and gratitude about how long they’ve waited to play Reading. “Can you make our UK festival dreams come true?” he asks the crowd, encouraging as many people up on shoulders as they can get before launching into ‘Rollercoaster’. It’s a hugely fun set from the American indie pop outfit, with Antonoff just as ready to party as any Year Eleven in the crowd. Caitlin Devlin

Fontaines D.C. have everyone talking

Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten doesn’t speak a word to the crowd for 30 minutes and yet, he has every single one of us eating out of the palm of his hand, all transfixed by his undeniable presence. With tracks like ‘Jackie Down The Line’, ‘Boys in the Better Land’, ‘Favourite’ and the powerful closer ‘Starburster’, the 45-minute set showcases exactly why everyone’s talking about Fontaines D.C. The band are evolving in real time; from intriguing to true greatness. Reading has no doubt cemented Fontaines D.C.’s status as one of today’s most exciting bands. Read our full review here. Róisín Kelly

Raye reflects on her own teenage trips to Reading

Raye is overflowing with gratitude during her main stage set and does some reminiscing about her own time in the dance tent, “living my best life.” It’s hard to imagine that life could have been better than this one, though – Raye holds the undivided attention of the field as she guides us through a setlist that she’s thoughtfully curated to give both us and her the very best experience. Read our full review here. Caitlin Devlin

The Beaches get everyone moving

The Beaches set provides an hour where you could dance. The Aussie quartet were fun, wild and so effortlessly cool. Flawless harmonies flow through the entire set, decorated with guitar solos, spinning round and undeniable stage chemistry. They also throw an adoring mention to The Last Dinner Party, asking the crowd if they’d managed to catch their set (and of course, we had), “We love those guys”. The energy in Radio 1 tent reaches fever pitch during their last two songs. ‘Edge of the Earth’ and ‘Blame Brett’ has every last person jumping, head banging and throwing their hand-made signs in the air. Savannah Roberts

Barry Can’t Swim delivers pure joy to the Chevron

As the beautiful golden sun set on Reading’s new dance-focused Chevron Stage, Barry Can’t Swim delivers an hour of pure, undulated joy. The fast-rising DJ and producer has built a reputation for his captivating and immersive live sets, elevating his melodic house beats with live instrumentation and guest vocalists. His Reading set is no exception. Barry himself wins the crowd over with his lovable Scottish charm while playing euphoric hits such as ‘Sunsleeper’, ‘Always Get Through To You’ and ‘Deadbeat Gospel’ from his recent album, When Will We Land?. Róisín Kelly

Lana Del Rey builds a castle

Photo: Luke Dyson

After her team is finished constructing one of the most elaborate and beautiful festival sets ever seen, Lana floats onto the stage in a sundress and a smile. Her thoughtful, dreamy pop is at home amongst the ivy and stone staircases, and despite a slightly abrupt end to her set, she packs plenty of magic into her time onstage. A four-part harmony with her backing singers on ‘The Grants’ is a particular standout. Caitlin Devlin

The Wombats debut new music

Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett

Reading veterans The Wombats packed their headline set at the BBC Radio 1 stage with plenty of fan favourites, but it was the debut of new track ‘Blood On The Hospital Floor’ that caused particular excitement. Towards the end of the set they were also joined onstage by what looked like a group of dancing hippos, but we’ll assume from context clues were supposed to represent a different animal. Caitlin Devlin

Fred Again..

Ben Awin

In a word, transcendent. Fred Again..’s set feels like a very special moment in both Fred and Reading’s history, and as cheesy as this sounds, it was a privilege to witness. Knowing his audience (and remembering what it was like to be in the crowd himself when he was a teen), Fred’s set is fuelled by his biggest bass-heavy bangers: ‘Turn On The Lights’, ‘leavemealone’ and ‘Jungle’. Moving between a scissor lifted booth within the crowd and the main stage, Fred gifts us with the wildest party imaginable whilst simultaneously building a beautiful sense of harmony and connection between the tens of thousands of fans crowding around Reading’s main stage. Róisín Kelly

SUNDAY

Corella bring the sunshine back

With the rainclouds gone and the sun back out, Corella’s sunny indie pop feels like the perfect celebration. The Manchester quartet have graduated from the BBC Introducing stage to the main stage in just two years, and their feel-good setlist proves just how deserved it is. “Thanks for making our dreams come true,” frontman Joel tells the crowd in a brief, emotional speech. Caitlin Devlin

Crawlers liven things up

Crawlers frontwoman Holly Minto is a firecracker onstage, determined to pull as much energy as she can out of the assembled crowd – and it isn’t a hard task. “Are you with us Reading?” she roars, to an answering roar from the field, before the band play through half an hour of thoughtful, rousing rock. Caitlin Devlin

Paris Paloma creates community in the Festival Republic tent

Photo: Luke Dyson

There are no dips in Paris Paloma’s set, from the witch-pop of ‘the warmth’ to the gripping storytelling of folk-rock song ‘as good a reason’. But the high point is always the unifying power of her breakout single ‘labour’, which sees girls and women alike united in a cathartic, rallying cry against the world’s imbalances. It’s always a special thing to witness. Caitlin Devlin

Kingfishr make magic

The Irish folk trio play a stunning set in the Festival Republic tent, debuting new music and winning new fans. A standout is ‘Headlands’, a cinematic, stirring piece of music that speaks to generational pain and the way our actions and experiences ripple outwards. Lead singer Eddie Keogh’s rich, emotive vocals cut right to the heart. Caitlin Devlin

Reneé Rapp makes an impression

Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett

Whilst technical issues prevent us from getting as much of Rapp as we would have liked, what we do see is undeniable proof that the pop star is headed for bigger international success than she’s already achieved. The rousing Mean Girls-inspired track ‘Not My Fault’ is infectious, as is her endless energy. Caitlin Devlin

Artemas covers Prince on the BBC Radio 1 stage

TikTok famous musician Artemas plays to a packed crowd at the BBC Radio 1 stage, and slips a brief and especially sultry ‘Kiss’ cover in-between his own material. His languid, laid-back stage presence is captivating rather than low-energy, and when he closes out with viral track ‘I like the way you kiss me’, he has the whole tent jumping. Caitlin Devlin

Good Neighbours play a surprise set

A crowd began to buzz around the BBC Introducing Stage on Sunday evening, theories flying around as to who the surprise set could be. Turns out, Good Neighbours are ready to treat Reading yet again, just two hours after their Radio 1 slot. They show us all their shades with an intimate yet electric setlist, bouncing from new material to TikTok smash-hit to a delectable ‘Espresso’ cover. The set proves to be magnetic with crowds being pulled from every direction of the Arena, beelining to the Introducing cornucopia. Good Neighbours keep the good times coming with a bonus encore, giving us ‘Daisy’ and a satisfying stick-hitting, cymbal shaking finale as the frontman climbs up on the drum set. Savannah Roberts

Only The Poets play a homecoming set

The Reading pop rock group reminds the crowd early on in their set that whilst so many artists dream about playing Reading festival, the fact that the festival grounds are in their hometown make it that much more special. A little further into their set, they ask “Who’s drunk?”, to cheers. They really do know their audience. The band keep them well fed with upbeat, uplifting indie tracks. Caitlin Devlin

21 Savage makes his first Reading memorable

Photo: Luke Dyson

After a warm-up from the charismatic Marc B, 21 Savage took the Reading stage to a huge response from the field. Opening with ‘No Heart’, the energy hardly took a dip for the next 50 minutes, with Savage paying respects to Drake, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott and Post Malone. Caitlin Devlin

Catfish and the Bottlemen prove they could headline in silence

Ryan McCann take a tech issue as an opportunity to prove just how well the Reading crowd knows Catfish and the Bottlemen by leading them in an acapella chorus of ‘Cocoon’. The moment is magical – but the return of Catfish in full sound is even better. Read our full review here. Caitlin Devlin

Rachel Chinouriri charms the Festival Republic tent

Rachel Chinouriri steps out onto the Festival Republic Stage with an undeniable presence. The positivity emanating from the tent was unlike anything else I had witnessed all weekend. She creates a space dedicated to love, comfort and joy, so much so that I see a surge in comraderie in the crowd. Rachel is ecstatic to be performing tracks from her freshly released debut, What A Devastating Turn of Events. From tracks where you couldn’t help yourself but jump along with Rachel (‘Never Need Me’) to a sobering song that brings about a respectful calm (‘Robbed’), she gave Reading her all. Her vocals never fault and her sunshine never dulls. Of course, she closes with earworm and bonafide bop, ‘All I Ever Asked’. The best way to convey the atmosphere for that final song is describing how myself and the stranger to my left jump in tandem and scream in synchronised cheers, hugging at the end of that electrically warm set. That’s the Rachel Chinouriri effect. Savannah Roberts

The Japanese House play an unforgettable swan song

Their final live performance for the foreseeable, The Japanese House was a hotly anticipated act closing out the Festival Republic Stage. Atmospheric and otherworldly, Amber set the tone with ‘Touching Yourself’. Her instantly recognisable production style shining through in live performance feels like a unique treat to experience IRL. She comments multiple times throughout that she was not expecting a large turnout, yet the crowd stretched all the way to the very back of the tent and only grew. The band has as much as fun as the crowd, with signs being read, hearts being thrown up and ‘I love you’s exchanged by both audience and musician alike. Saxophone solo, phone torches on, hands never not in the air – the vibes are spectacular. Savannah Roberts

Liam Gallagher closes us out

Photo: Joseph Okpako

There are some memorable song dedications across Gallagher’s set, but none more so than the dedication of ‘Half The World Away’ to his brother Noel. No matter what’s really going on, Gallagher’s grin confirms that he enjoys fueling the speculation. His set is a loving tribute to Oasis’ first album, with a Beatles cover to boot. The perfect end to the weekend. Read our full review here. Caitlin Devlin


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