The monolithic musical gatherings that complete change the landscape of Reading city centre and a field a short distance outside Leeds need little introduction. You would be hard-pushed to find someone who hasn’t either attended one of the festivals since their inception in the early 1960s, or knows someone who has. Although the format the public have come to love took some time to emerge from both festivals’ jazz and classical beginnings, Reading and Leeds are now world famous.
This year, Reading and Leeds promise yet another collection of veteran and grassroots bands from across the globe. Alongside the ever-present mix of young and old, family and debauched teen away from their parents for the very first time, punters can expect a wealth of excellent music spanning almost any genre imaginable (not classical though in the traditional sense).
Primarily dominated by guitar bands, festival organisers have this year expanded to four headliners, with Paramore and Queens Of The Stone Age sharing a joint billing on the Friday at Reading, and the Saturday at Leeds. With the headline slots taken by Arctic Monkeys and pop-punk masters blink-182, there’s, as ever, a lot to look forward to on the main stage.
As with any festival, it’s not just about the main stage – there’s plenty of bands to catch across all the stages. With so many acts on offer, here’s our guide detailing who will be pushing our buttons come the 22nd, 23rd and 24th August.
Our Guide To: Main Stage, Radio 1 / NME Stage, Lock Up / The Pit, Festival Republic Stage, 1Xtra Stage, BBC Introducing Stage
Main Stage
As in previous years, the festival’s main stage is home to a dizzying selection of guitar driven bands, in addition to the sneakily billed hip-hop stars Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Reading Festival will be treated to Queens of the Stone Age taking the main duties in the co-headlining deal with Paramore, while the latter enjoys the accolade in Leeds.
It would be inconceivable not to mention blink-182’s return to the festival, following their recent confirmation of new material and the release of ‘Neighborhoods’ since they last enjoyed their billing back in 2010. Enter Shikari, You Me At Six and A Day To Remember also return to the festival – each with their highest placement to date.
It’s further down the bill where the main stage gets really exciting. Long-time Punktastic favourites Gnarwolves open proceedings on Saturday in Reading and Sunday in Leeds. For a band who thrive on a smaller stage, seeing them tear up a stage of this size is undoubtedly going to be a sight to behold. Early morning crowd surfers and human pyramids could be on the cards.
Hacktivist, Crossfaith, Pulled Apart By Horses and The Story So Far playing first thing over the three days is also destined to wake up the crowds, while Australian melodic rockers Tonight Alive should incite a fair few sing-a-longs on the Sunday in Reading, and the Friday in Leeds.
Radio 1 / NME Stage
The festival’s second stage, housed inside the biggest tent we have seen at any festival, is primarily home to some of the lighter acts on the bill – synonymous with the stage’s promoters. That said, the recent popularity of some melodic alternative acts on Radio 1 is mirrored on the line-up, with both Twin Atlantic and Mallory Knox taking to the stage on the Friday in Reading and Saturday in Leeds.
There’s also a few surprise gems dotted about – not least the excellent La Dispute playing a lunch time set ahead of the aforementioned Radio 1 favourites. With their most recent ‘Rooms of the House’ LP taking them in a slightly different direction, it’s likely to make for an equally mesmerising and harrowing experience.
Gerard Way also makes his solo debut on the same day. With the first track from his forthcoming album continuing along ‘Danger Days…’ lines, it’s an early must see for both My Chemical Romance fans and curious punters.
On other days, the second stage plays host to another Punktastic favourite, Marmozets, whose most recent release arguably presents their most accomplished work to date. Straight off the back of Warped Tour, Reading and Leeds provide the perfect ground for them to showcase the experience gained.
Don Broco and Lower Than Atlantis also return to Reading on the Saturday and Leeds on the Sunday – both presumably with new material, and new merchandise if recent Don Broco social media posts are anything to go by, in hand. Lower Than Atlantis’ energetic ‘Here We Go’ could easily prove to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
Last, but by no means least, Lonely The Brave and DZ Deathrays will both be showcasing material from their respective new albums. ‘Black Rat’ by DZ Deathrays is one hell of a dirty, electro-infused punk record and one not to be missed.
Lock Up / The Pit
With alternative music spreading across the entire site from time to time, the former spiritual home for any punk fan at Reading and Leeds has developed serious competition. That probably still won’t stop certain punters from religiously hanging around this smaller tent. Headlined by Jimmy Eat Word, who are also scheduled to play a greatest hits set on the main stage, Of Mice & Men and Gogol Bordello, there’s definitely variety on the Lock Up and Pit bill.
With so much diversity, it’s neigh-on impossible to select possible highlights, however Brody Dalle’s return to Reading and Leeds (and first solo appearance) is likely to go down a storm. Basement also return following their hiatus, off the back of their recently released ‘Further Sky’ EP, shortly before Chino Moreno plays another set at Reading and Leeds, this time fronting †††on Saturday in Reading and Sunday in Leeds.
There’s a handful of smaller bands who have been gathering attention in recent months, including Muncie Girls opening on Friday in Reading and Saturday in Leeds. The amazing Lock Up bill on Reading’s Sunday and Leeds’ opening day also sees Canadian punk-rockers PUP, whose debut self-titled album is one of the best we have heard this year, Masked Intruder and Dillinger-esque time-signature fucking Baby Godzilla. Acting as main support to Gogol Bordello, Frank Turner – certainly no stranger to Reading and Leeds – fronts hardcore noise-makers Mongol Horde on the same day.
Although often noted for their relation to Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Emily’s Army are also set to prove that they are more than just famous offspring, sandwiched between Blacklist Royals and the aforementioned PUP.
Festival Republic Stage
The smaller stages at both Reading and Leeds this year are once again more geared towards indie fans, than those with a heavier persuasion. Palma Violets, recent 2000 Trees headliners Band of Skulls and Augustines take the headliner slots, with a wealth of up-and-coming guitar driven bands hot on their heels.
There are a few treats dotted around for punk fans, with the emo tinged Mayday Parade offering main support to Augustines on the Sunday in Reading and the Friday and Leeds. Earlier in the same day, grunge inspired Southampton duo Dolomite Minor are set to engulf their onlookers in scuzzy reverb.
Alongside hotly tipped ones to watch in the indie world, Wolf Alice, and rock club crossovers We Are Scientists, there’s bound to be some other up-and-comers hiding on this showcase stage.
1 Xtra Stage
Why would we ignore the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage but still give a little mention to the 1 Xtra Stage? Bad Rabbits. That is all.
The crossover funksters have just enjoyed a stint across the US with the Vans Warped Tour, and have joined the likes of Don Broco on the road in the UK. Their justifiable placement on the 1 Xtra Stage is presumably down to their urban influences, but there’s more to Bad Rabbits than just that.
BBC Introducing Stage
The BBC Introducing Stage has provided a substantial platform to new talent emerging across the UK, having in previous years homed Lonely The Brave, I Divide, Hawk Eyes, Max Raptor and this year’s featured artists Marmozets and Don Broco. Outside of the punk world, it also hosted the likes of Bastille and Jake Bugg ahead of them hitting the big time.
The regional BBC Introducing teams are heavily involved with curating the Reading and Leeds stage, handpicking exciting artists. Although, like many, we are yet to hear all the artists on the stage, the stage will host blink-182 support act Prides, recently announced Marmozets and Lonely The Brave tour support Allusondrugs, and punks Bloody Knees.
For any lull in proceedings, or to hear something new, this is the place to be.
Reading Festival is fully sold out, but you can still get your hands on Leeds tickets here.
Check out the ‘Punktastic: Reading and Leeds 2014‘ Spotify playlist for 46 tracks from across the line-up.
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