PREVIEW: Reading Festival 2012 Saturday

By Tom Aylott

With Reading festival just around the corner, we’re going to delve deep into the line up with our top picks from each stage, and to break convention we’re going to go for a preview of Saturday first…

Main Stage

ENTER SHIKARI
After destroying the main stage at Reading and Leeds last year, Enter Shikari are back, slightly higher up than last year, and It could be another career defining moment for them. Expect massive sing-alongs and a lot of absolutely knackered kids to emerge from the main stage pit(s) afterwards.

THE SHINS
Playing just before Enter Shikari is The Shins. It’s been a while since they were in the UK, and they should be welcomed back with open arms in the afternoon sunshine (< please).

LOS CAMPESINOS!
Having spent most of the summer rocking crowds in America, Cardiff indie rockers, Los Campesinos! Return to open up Saturday’s main stage and it’s going to be great, ultimate festival anthem ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ is sure to shake off those hangovers.

Radio 1 Stage

AT THE DRIVE IN
Aftern announcing their reunion earlier this year, At The Drive In will be back in the UK next week. Expect the Radio 1/NME tent to be bursting as the band take the crowd through a retrospective look at their wonderful and manic back catalogue.

BILLY TALENT
It’s been quiet over in the Billy Talent camp until recently, but fear not, they’re bound to be an absolute riot with an arsenal that include some brand new material

TWIN ATLANTIC
Having released their incredible album ‘Free’ last year, Twin Atlantic’s popularity has risen and risen, and this could be one of the biggest moments of their career so far. Not to be missed.

Festival Republic Stage

YOUNG GUNS
They opened the weekend back in 2010, and will now take to sub headlining the Festival Republic stage on Saturday this year.Young Guns will provide a fine alternative to the traditional indie led Saturday, and we’re sure that the tent will be one of the loudest and busiest on the site while they’re on.

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS
It’s been a massive year for Lower Than Atlantis. They’ve bagged themselves some awesome support slots (including a few shows with Blink 182) and are going to embark on their biggest tour later in the year, so if you’re late to party – fix your mistake at Reading this year.

WE ARE THE IN CROWD
Having shaken off all Paramore comparisons by making bloody brilliant music in their own right, We Are The In Crowd are sure to put on one of the most entertaining sets of the weekend. Expect big sing-alongs for their anthem ‘Rumor Mill’ and lots of bouncy chorus-driven pop punk.

DON BROCO
What more can be said about Don Broco? The true pioneers of ‘lad rock’ will be playing their biggest show to date on the Festival Republic stage now that their new album ‘Priorities’ has just landed. It’s brilliant and this set will be brilliant, so make sure you don’t miss it.

BBC Introducing Stage

HAWK EYES
They’ve bagged themselves a headlining slot on the Introducing stage this year and this is sure to be THE moment in Hawk Eyes’ careers so far. Expect lots of riffs and headbanging, they’re just that kind of band.

MAX RAPTOR
Having released their great ‘Portraits’ EP last year, Max Raptor will bring experience and tunes to the Introducing stage, so expect to see a confident and assured performance with massive possibility of being the highlight of the little stage’s weekend.

CHRIS MARSHMAN