Reading & Leeds Festival has a reputation: once a showcase of the best rock and alternative bands on offer, the festival has pivoted to include the best and brightest talent across genres, with pop, rap and grime artists taking centre stage.
Many have bemoaned the festival’s identity shift, but you can argue that this change has kept the festival at the forefront of the scene: regardless of opinions online, R&L has remained busy and bustling.
This year is no different, the lineup is jam-packed with some fantastic talent, across several stages and numerous genres.
Northern Chorus has picked some favourites across the three days – check out our selections below…
Nia Archives (Friday, Chevron Stage, 7:40pm)
Nia Archives is a local legend done good – her debut album, Silence is Loud has already earned the Bradford junglist a Mercury nomination, and a bucket load of critical acclaim. Her Glastonbury set was a gigantic sunday afternoon party, with Nia swapping from singing to mixing, to huge effect. This time, she is sure to set Friday Night alight.
Liam Gallagher (Friday, Main Stage, 9:30pm)
LG returns to the R&L stages in 2024, this time playing hits from Oasis’ 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe, which is sure to go down a treat amongst the bucket hatted masses. Northern Chorus caught his DM show at the Co-Op Arena earlier this summer (read here), which saw Liam on fine form in his home town. Take this mega show to a festival main stage, and watch LG soar, even if Noel isn’t playing ball.
Big Special (Saturday, Festival Republic, 12:40pm)
Big Special are a band on the up and up: their mix of melancholic soul and raw punk is seriously something to behold. Their boisterous tunes and renowned live shows have earned them festival bookings up and down the country as well as a massive Europen support slot with Pixies. One worth getting up early for.
KNEECAP (Saturday, Main Stage, 1:40pm)
Irish language hip hop extraordinaires, KNEECAP are taking the scene by storm this year: Their tunes are gigantic, 808-fed songs of protest, republicanism and getting fucked up beyond beleif. They have a fictionalised biopic in cinemas, a debut album to be reckoned with and even a tune with Fontaines frontman Grian Chatten.
Lambrini Girls (Saturday, Festival Republic, 3:25pm)
Who said Reading and Leeds doesn’t platform the best and brightest alternative rock talent? Lambrini Girls are simply unmissable, with raucous, raw punk tunes and the biggest mosh pits you’ve ever seen, they are UK punk distilled in a bottle of perry. They’re on a huge upward trajectory, so catch them at Leeds to ensure bragging rights when they’re huge.
The Last Dinner Party (Sunday, Main Stage, 2:20pm)
TLDP are a band that the music press has run out of superlatives for: they are quite simply sensational, and their meteoric rise is proof of their exceptional talent. Unashamedly feminine, their brand of Kate Bush-inspired rock and ballads is a breath of fresh air amongst the boys club of festival lineups.
Fontaines DC (Sunday, Main Stage, 4:35pm)
Surely a headliner in waiting, Fontaines’ fourth studio record will be landing on Friday. Romance is dark and moody, a real step up in terms of sound and heft. Their live show is already the stuff of legend, and this set will be no different.
The secret set… (TBC)
There is a glaring hole in the Leeds schedule, between 5 and 6:30pm, Saturday at the Festival Republic stage is seemingly empty. Rumours are circulating on Reddit and Twitter, with people espousing Courteeners for the set, as well as Charli XCX (what an end to our Brat summer that would be), as well as Soft Play and the newly resurrected Rizzle Kicks. Who knows? Not us…
Regardless of your genre preferences, Leeds fest this year is packed with fantastic talent, big names and exciting up and comers. Watch this space for the festival writeup.
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