Pulling from all of Punktastic’s very favourite genres, it’s one of our most anticipated times of the year, and 2019’s line-up had us drooling with excitement for months before the bank holiday weekend rolled around. Regardless of the weather, we love Reading, and this year the sweltering heat (coupled with litres and litres of water), made for an unforgettable weekend – one we can’t wait to repeat all over again in 2020.

Words: Yasmin Brown [YB], Catie Allwright [CA]; Images: Tash Greene, Matt Higgs

White Reaper

Sunday kicks off with a little indie-rock provided by the wonderful White Reaper. It would be brilliant (and well deserved) if everyone in The Pit / The Lock Up tent was here to see the band on stage, but realistically, a large portion of the crowd are sitting down and seeking respite from the sun. Either way, they couldn’t have chosen a better band than White Reaper to accidentally stumble upon. Upbeat, summery garage punk, they’re a little bit heavier than your standard indie band with some rock and roll riffs from vocalist and guitarist Tony Esposito, guitarist Hunter Thompson, and bassist Sam Wilkerson. Everyone taps their feet along to the beat of Nick Wilkerson’s drums and you can’t help but dance to Ryan Hater’s keys. The set peaks, however, during the performance of ‘Judy French’, taken from their 2017 album ‘The World’s Best American Band’ – it’s clearly their best-known track, perfectly setting Reading up for another afternoon of fun. [CA]

SWMRS

If there’s any one band on today’s lineup that was built to open main stage slots at festivals such as Reading and Leeds, it’s SWMRS – at least in regards to their fanbase. Their early main stage slot brings in the masses, all of whom seem unconditionally loyal and dedicated to this band. Accompanied by weird and wonderful background graphics, SWMRS are perfectly in sync with one another, highlighting the time spend perfecting this set. Met with an insanely loud crowd, SWMRS are given the opportunity during this set to be the pop-punk/rock band they aspire to be, and while there are moments where it feels authentic, when you take away the enthusiasm of the crowd, there are moments in which this label feels forced and disingenuous. The band’s music does stand out among the masses, particularly with hits such as ‘Trashbag Baby’, but it may be a while before SWMRS find their feet in regards to performing in a way that seems defined by them, rather than fitting into a label with which they’d like to identify. [YB]

Mayday Parade

Comparatively, Florida’s favourite pop-punk band, Mayday Parade, know exactly who they are after over a decade of writing and playing music together. The main stage backdrop simply reads, ‘Mayday Parade is an emotion’, and boy do we concur. As always, frontman Derek Sanders bounces across the stage barefoot, donning a t-shirt that bluntly states, ‘Thank God for good people’. Again, we are in agreement. Despite the fact that the band’s longtime drummer, Jake, isn’t in attendance, the band are as put together as ever, blasting through their hits during a set that feels far too short for a band of this calibre and who have so much more to share with this Reading crowd. It’s a shame, then, that they use 3 of their precious minutes to play a cover of The Killers’ ‘Mr Brightside’, rather than pulling another song from their own lengthy discography, however it works in getting passive bystanders involved, and so while it’s a shame for fans, Mayday Parade definitely know how to command a festival crowd. [YB]

The Faim

As you wander around the festival grounds, it’s impossible to miss the endless promo for Aussie pop punk band The Faim. The hype pays off, too, as there’s a big crowd and even bigger energy at the BBC Radio 1 stage during their early afternoon slot. Josh Raven’s vocals sound extremely similar to Brendon Urie – which can only be a compliment – with the instrumental quality and a sense of fun from the band to back him up. Raven dances, jumps and runs through the crowd amidst orange and yellow strobe lighting, matching his yellow jumpsuit and the huge band logo, met only with enthusiasm before the set finishes with the 2018 track ‘Summer Is a Curse’, rounding off a memorable performance with a bang. [CA]

Stand Atlantic

Everyone seems to know the opening track from Stand Atlantic, a pop punk quartet from Sydney. Vocalist Bonnie Fraser encourages us to crowd-surf, with guitarist David Potter threatening to come and show us how it’s done. Somehow, the majority of The Pit / The Lock Up tent ends up sitting in lines on the ground and rowing. Demanding this level of movement from the crowd seems to work, as everyone is having a good time and singing along to tracks from last year’s album release, ‘Skinny Dipping’, and the 2017 EP ‘Sidewinder’. Overall – kudos to their ability to work a crowd, but the music itself doesn’t stand out as anything spectacular. [CA]

Yungblud

The sun continues to beat down on the main stage as Yungblud takes to the stage in a black, silk slip, which is just about all anyone can bear to have on their bodies in this heat. His energy is unwavering from the very first to the very last moment of his set, and his pure happiness at the scene in front of him is contagious, with each grin that spreads on his face quickly appearing on the faces of the crowd members, too. A definite highlight of the set comes as Machine Gun Kelly appears to perform the pair’s collaboration (alongside Travis Barker), ‘I Think I’m Okay’ – an appearance that sees the crowd lose their minds even more than they had been just seconds earlier. The more Yungblud gives, the more his fans reflect this energy. Yungblud is clearly overwhelmed by the turn out, and by the number of fans screaming back the lyrics, and he gives his all, pushing through the heat as though it’s not awfully uncomfortable to be leaping around the stage as he is. This all goes a long way in making him all the more likeable, and while his music is certainly niche, there’s simply no way you could walk away from this set without your heart feeling a little warmer for this Yorkshire lad. [YB]

nothing, nowhere.

Sadly, over in The Pit, nothing, nowhere. is held up, meaning that what should have been a 30-minute set is just four songs long. That said, he gives his all to what little time he’s able to offer us, slowly gaining confidence and moving his eyes from the floor to the crowd in front of him. It’s a shame we’re not able to enjoy this set for longer, as nothing, nowhere. proves himself to be even more fierce on stage than on record, inciting more emotion than you could think possible through the power of his voice combined with the hard-hitting lyrics of songs that explicitly broach his struggles. ‘hammer’ undoubtedly receives the greatest response from the crowd, and by this point, nothing, nowhere. is seemingly more comfortable on stage and encourages a pit – a request to which fans are quick to oblige. With faultless execution of each of his songs, never missing a breath as he raps through his four most popular songs to date, the set brings about emotions that you feel yourself holding onto long after nothing, nowhere. walks off stage. Our only criticism is that it wasn’t longer. [YB]

Amazons

If you haven’t made it to the Radio 1 tent with plenty of time before the Amazons take to the stage, you’re out of luck, as the tent overflows to the point that there are just as many fans watching the screens outside as there are watching the stage under cover. For the Amazons, this is a hometown show, and it’s clear their southern fanbase is overjoyed to catch them on such a momentous occasion. The band is powerful, and it’s evident that in the past 12 years, as they’ve gone from fans crushed against the barrier to performers on this very same stage, they have grown and matured monumentally over time. With a surprise appearance from Yonaka’s Theresa Jarvis, the set reaches its peak shortly before it draws to a close, at which point fans watch as Amazons’ drummer Joe Emmett proceeds to all but destroy his kit. Actions like this make it hard to respect bands, particularly when most start as artists struggling to afford even one kit, and it puts a dampener on an otherwise spectacular set. [YB]

Anteros

In contrast to Amazons’ disappointing finale, Anteros are truly a pleasure to watch. Laura Hayden floats around stage in a black puffball outfit, flicking her hair and singing from the front barrier while adorning the crowd’s bucket hats. Anteros’ debut album ‘When We Land’ was released a few months ago, featuring funky indie pop gems like ‘Afterglow’, ‘Fool Moon’, and ‘Breakfast’, which pepper their Reading set list. Naturally, many artists use their Reading platform to send a message – Anteros’ is that we need more women in music, more festivals supporting female artists, and more women supporting women to give them freedom to be whoever the fuck they want to be. Amen to that. [CA]

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes

19 years ago, Frank Carter came to Reading Festival as a “small, ginger, much less tattooed man”. Third on the main stage lineup were Foo Fighters. Fast forward to 2019 and the Foos are headlining with Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes taking the third spot, which also happens to be the last night of their tour together. As this legendary British punk rock band deserves, the crowd is vast, and Carter has the charm to command it; cheekily blowing kisses, keeping us bouncing and introducing us to “the most beautiful girl in the world”, his daughter. Guitarist Dean Richardson is clearly having the time of his life, playing behind his head and joining Carter as he crowd surfs before returning safely to the stage: “We’re only as strong as our foundations. And if you people are our foundation, we’re going to be just fine”. ‘Wild Flowers’ is dedicated to the women in the crowd, particularly those who have suffered at the hands of men (including domestic violence, sexual harassment and misogyny), and women are encouraged up as the only crowdsurfers in a safe environment. The best moment of the set is during ‘I Hate You’ when, without any verbal explanation, a dedication to the UK government appears on screen, followed by reeling through quotes from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet. Let’s just say, these quotes don’t paint them in a favourable light. Carter’s music has always been politically charged, so it’s unsurprising that the closing screen is about how we can create change together, with a call to arms for people to register to vote. Given the younger audience of Reading Festival, this is exactly the kind of message they should be hearing and acting upon. [CA]

FIDLAR

There’s barely room to squeeze into The Pit / The Lock Up for FIDLAR, and the tent is filled with cameras as the LA-based punk rockers are allegedly filming for Netflix. Some post-festival research suggests this might be a regular trick to get the crowd hyped, but if that’s what it takes to get us chanting and causing a scene – so be it. Blasting tracks from the new album ‘Almost Free’, as well as some classics from 2015’s ‘Too’ and 2013’s self-titled ‘FIDLAR’, their lyrics strike a balance between drinking and partying, and the “tragedies and irritations of modern life”. It’s clear how much some songs mean to the crowd, judging by the sing-back during ‘40oz. On Repeat’: “Everybody’s got somebody, everybody but me. Why can’t anybody just tell me that I’m somebody’s?” Following in a similar vein to Frank Carter, lead vocalist Zac Carper opens a ladies-only mosh pit – and we’re at that point in the festival that everyone is exhausted, but only a few hours remain, so there’s nothing left to do but let loose and enjoy ourselves. [CA]

A Day To Remember

Despite arriving on stage 10 minutes late, A Day to Remember are an undeniable highlight of the day. They clearly know their audience well, pulling mostly from their older albums as they make their way through the set. The performance can be said to reach its peak as we’re treated to a surprise inclusion of ‘Sticks and Bricks’, as Jeremy notes that even “if you’ve seen our band before, you probably haven’t seen this before”. Cue a deafening roar emerging from the guts of each crowd member. From the (very) dangerous ‘crowd surfing on top of a crowd surfer’, to the copious amounts of pyrotechnics, to the momentary appearance of a t-shirt canon during ‘Degenerates’, to rolls of toilet paper flying around during ‘All Signs Point to Lauderdale’, this is a performance to remember. It’s not only a whole lot of fun, but it’s also well put together and thought out, with each song more well-received than the last – ensuring that as the set draws to a close, we’re only left wanting so much more. [YB]

Enter Shikari

Sunday is nearing its close now, and Enter Shikari are back for the third time, ready to take on The Pit. Today’s sweaty mayhem is a stark contrast to yesterday’s sweet acoustic set, as Rou Reynolds wastes no time in running around the tent and climbing the staging, shirtless and wearing a bucket hat. The seemingly endless supply of streamers, as well as the culmination of sounds created both on stage and in the crowd, are manic – to the point of being overwhelming – yet there’s not a single moment in this set where you find yourself wishing any part of it would stop. This is the kind of set that suits Shikari best, taking you back to the club gigs where fans were given finger lights long before Coldplay ever brought in those light up bracelets. While Reynolds comments on the nerves and butterflies that inevitably precede playing Reading Festival, the band have never looked so comfortable and at home as they do right now. The set comes to a close under a confetti rainfall as we scream along to ‘Live Outside’ for the final time this weekend. It’s clear we can all agree that the beauty and diversity that Reynolds speaks of in relation to Reading Festival is now present in us all. [YB]

Basement

Basement have played Reading three times before and the sparse crowd are ready to welcome them back again, this time on the Festival Republic stage. An inflatable ball has migrated over to the Festival Republic stage from A Day To Remember’s earlier set, but this isn’t an audience that needs gimmicks. It would be hard to call this a ‘fun’ set, but it’s certainly heartfelt and it’s apparent by the response that those in attendance are genuine fans. The set list digs deep into the British punk band’s repertoire, with tracks from the 2018 album ‘Beside Myself’ all the way back to ‘Colourmeinkindness’ from 2012. Basement are potentially a better when headlining their own show, but an opportunity to see them live in any setting shouldn’t be sniffed at. [CA]

Foo Fighters

If you can think of a single better way to end your weekend than spending three hours with the almighty Foo Fighters, we’d like to hear it. There are fireworks from the moment they take to the stage, ensuring we’re well aware this is going to be a show to remember (as if we didn’t already know), with guitar and drum solos increasing what would otherwise be four minute songs to nearly 10 minutes each. If you went into this evening wondering how the hell the Foos were going to stretch out their set to the full three hours, the first 30 minutes answer this question. The drum kit seems to stretch the full width of the stage (the bass drum features an image of Noel and Liam Gallagher in what seems to be a Reading-wide petition to get Oasis back together…), and drummer Taylor Hawkins makes sure to use every element of the kit throughout the band’s time on the main stage.

The night is made up of good spirits, good humour, and really fucking good music – a trio that’s more than enough to ensure everyone in attendance feels that their time is being well spent. From a dedication to Keith Richards (“I wanna see some Prodigy shit”) during ‘Run’, to covers of Queen’s ‘Under Pressure’ and AC/DC’s ‘Let There Be Rock’, to a duet of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ with the one and only Rick Astley, this set isn’t just an ode to Foo Fighters, it’s an ode to rock music as a whole. We don’t even mind the side steps away from the Foos’ own music, as with the set being so long, this tactic perfectly involves everyone in attendance and guarantees that the crowd stays jam packed from start to finish.

Foo Fighters are nothing if not versatile, bringing with them to the stage a team of back up singers to accompany their band – an unusual sight at a rock show. But that’s just it, this isn’t ‘just’ a rock show. It’s a blues show and a comedy show, too, and whether you’re a longtime fan of the Foos, a casual fan, or just along for the ride, there is something for everyone to enjoy over the course of the evening.

We are blessed to have this band, and the fact that we are lucky enough to be able to close our entire weekend with such legendary musicians is not lost on us. There are times you find yourself pinching yourself as a reminder that, yes, that really is the Dave Grohl, and yes, we are stood in a field of tens of thousands of people who are just like us. Music – and, in this instance, Foo Fighters in particular – brings people together in a way very little else can, and we live in a time where our weekends can be made up of every sub-genre under the ‘alternative’ umbrella – and we are so very grateful that Reading Festival continues to thrive. May next year (somehow) be even greater. [YB]

Click here to view the full final day gallery.

Before they take to the stage at Boucher Fields, however, the fans still filing into the festival are greeted by King Nun, a slight surprise as none of the promotional material announced they were joining the day. Their presence is hardly unwanted though, as the burgeoning burgundy-clad Londoners bring a welcome liveliness to the afternoon. While they have yet to release a full LP, front man Theo Polyzoides eagerly leads the troupe through a discography that has enraptured fans, with jovial post punk tracks like ‘Family Portrait’ and ‘Chinese Medicine’ mixing well with the sheer joy King Nun express during their performances. Finishing with a tried and true closing statement of instrument destruction during ‘Speakerface’ (an 8/10 guitar smash from Polyzoides’, as his low grasp of the neck means it can only go a few rounds before it separates from the body, a good effort but could use tightening up), King Nun get the blood pumping for the day.

After the rubble is cleared from the stage, the first of the advertised acts, Hot Milk, head up. Much like King Nun, there’s a sense the Manchester-born pop-punk group, fronted by Hannah Mee and Jim Shaw, get as much of a rush from their own performance as the crowd do. The electrically-charged four-piece similarly have yet to release an album, but again, what’s there is engaging and energetic, with modern twists on old school pop-punk through subtle piano backing and electronic-inspired production. Mee and Shaw command the stage and take every opportunity to engage with the crowd, and their music is as infectious from when they come on to when they depart, particularly ‘Awful Ever After’, featuring some impressive live vocals from the pair.

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes follow and, as ever, Gallows alumni Frank insists on being the most explosive artist on the line-up if it kills him. From crowd walking (or in this case, simply leaping into the rain-slicked crowd and performing their opening salvo inside the pit with Rattlesnake guitarist Dean Richardson), to threatening to beat unruly concert-goers should they fail to look after crowd-surfing women during ‘Wild Flowers’, to getting lost in thought while regaling stories of his newborn daughter, Carter is a character like no other. Drawing mainly from their newest release ‘End Of Suffering’, The Rattlesnake’s set is giddy melodrama, but the quintet exude venomous charisma without ever feeling disingenuous or fake. While their short setlist doesn’t allow the group to fully explore the softer side of their latest album, the sheer energy on display from the get go of ‘Tyrant Lizard King’ to the end of their now infamous show-closing track ‘I Hate You’ is contagious, and a perfect way to build anticipation for the main event. 

It’s clear at this point Dave Grohl has picked his supports in line with his own mantra that the love of music and the performance comes before anything else, as so far each band has delivered their own expression of what it means to them to perform on stage. So when the Foo Fighters step up to the plate, there is already the expectation that a similar passion will come through. Once the hurdle of dealing with some unruly festival goers is cleared, as several members of the pit are thrown out for getting violent, that passion is clear. Whether it’s newer work, or golden oldies, one thing is very clear: Dave Grohl loves to play.

Highlights of the show include Taylor Hawkins and his Tower of Terror platform, which rises and lowers during his drum solo following ‘Times Like These’, Hawkins and Grohl swapping roles for a rendition of Bowie and Queen classic ‘Under Pressure’ – demonstrating that Grohl, for all his showmanship, was and is one of the most fluid drummers of the nineties – and a five-year old from the crowd, who Dave insists comes on stage to dance with him during ‘All My Life’. All this precedes Grohl introducing the backup singers for the tour, one of whom is his daughter Violet. Jokingly lamenting that he “isn’t even the best singer in his family anymore”, they break into some of the best tracks of the night, including newer features such as ‘The Sky Is A Neighbourhood’ and ‘Dirty Water’, as well as slow dance versions of ‘Wheels’ and ‘Big Me’.

It’s all these little touches during the performance, from guitarist Nate Mendel teasing ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ and ‘Hocus Pocus’, to Dave Grohl detailing nearly moving to Lisburn, Co. Antrim during ‘Sunday Rain’ and ‘My Hero’ that make the whole show feel vastly more personal than many big-name rock bands make their festival shows feel. Grohl very clearly has the goal of making a show feel like just that: a show. Like Frank Carter, it’s grandiose, it’s energetic, and as the opening riff of ‘Everlong’ starts up, it feels like for that one moment, the glory days of hard rock are alive and present. In Grohls’ own words, “We are The Foo Fighters, we play fucking Rock n’ Roll!”

While featuring fewer ‘main event’ bands than previously, Vital still delivers an entertaining day, no doubt in part due to the sheer energy and positivity of the bands already present. Discounting the weather – as expected, if you’re not prepared for a sudden harrowing burst of rain after a twenty minute heatwave, you’re not prepared for an Irish concert at all – this was about as smooth a concert as you could have asked for, and the focus on smaller acts allowed for a big finish without any performance overshadowing another. If Vital decide to continue on another year longer, they’re on to a winning formula.

FIACHRA JOHNSTON

This year’s line-up is no different, with grime, pop, hip hop and rap sharing space alongside plenty of rock and metal. It’s a haven for people with varied music tastes, and the perfect place for everyone to discover something new – so, with that in mind, here’s fifteen of our must-see picks for this weekend.

FRIDAY READING / SATURDAY LEEDS

Twin Atlantic

Main Stage, 14.00

Twin Atlantic are back! It’s been a while since we heard much from this Glaswegian four, and four years since they last played Reading + Leeds, so this is a more than welcome return. We’re still waiting on the follow up to 2016’s ‘GLA’, but this set will be packed with heavy-hitting rock anthems and Sam McTrusty’s distinctive vocals – if anything can get the sun to come out on the main stage early on this weekend, it’s Twin Atlantic.

Dream State

The Lock Up, 17.00

Rising Welsh post-hardcore stars Dream State are on a serious roll this year. With one headline tour – featuring plenty of sold-out shows – and numerous festival appearances already under their belt, and another six date headliner to come later this year along with (hopefully) more new music, their appearance at Reading & Leeds is another glittering gem in their 2019 crown. Their lively and powerful live performances consistently blow everyone away, so if you’re not acquainted with them yet, now is the time – and if you are, well then, you already know this is an essential set, don’t you? We’ll see you there.

You Me At Six

Main Stage, 17.25

Another festival, another You Me At Six set – truly, we have been spoiled this year. This time, they’re coming in fresh from the release of a surprise new single, ‘What’s It Like’, so it’s to be hoped we’ll be treated to some of the new stuff in this 45 minute set. With more than ten years experience – including headline sets at other festivals – under their belts, You Me At Six know how to put on a fantastic show with their uplifting pop rock songs. Prepare your lungs for some mega singalongs.

Laura Jane Grace

The Lock Up, 19.00

Laura Jane Grace is nothing short of punk royalty. Having fronted seminal punk rock outfit Against Me! for more than 20 years, she released her first album with The Devouring Mothers, ‘Bought To Rot’, last year, and now she’s bringing her new material to Reading and Leeds for the first time. Grace is truly one of a kind and an incredible performer, and this varied, introspective new material is sure to bring some powerful moments to the stage.

The Maine

The Lock Up, 21.05

The most wholesome band in rock music are back, taking to The Lock Up to bless our ears for a beautiful evening. Slightly confusingly hailing from Arizona, the five piece have a catalogue of affirming and infuriatingly catchy songs, and with only a handful of UK appearances recently, this is a rare opportunity to catch one of the best bands around. Expect plenty from new album ‘You Are OK’ as part of this set, which will leave plenty of smiles on faces – and what could be a better way to end a day?

SATURDAY READING / SUNDAY LEEDS

Counterfeit

Main Stage, 12.00

It’s not often too many people are awake and in the arena by 12pm, especially after day one, but when you’re gifted a main stage opener who are not only worth the early (by festival standards) alarm, but who will also blast any remnants of sleep from your mind, you’ve got yourself the perfect beginning for a fantastic day of music. Londoners Counterfeit deliver melodic punk rock with serious groove and impactful, honest lyrics. It may have been more than two years since the release of debut album ‘Together We Are Stronger’, but the band have been playing their upcoming sophomore in full on recent tour dates – so expect plenty of new stuff here, too.

Against The Current

Main Stage, 13.35

When it comes to energetic, anthemic, earwormy-as-hell pop rock, New Yorkers Against The Current have the market cornered. Led by the effervescent and eternally pitch perfect Chrissy Costanza, these three will be capable of brightening even the darkest of days (and, let’s face it, it’s a UK summer festival. It’ll probably be raining), and their songs are made for big stages like this – bring your best dance moves for this one.

Boston Manor

BBC Radio 1 Stage, 13.45

If you’re looking for a band who are about to (and already beginning to) take over the world, look no further than this five from Blackpool. Their 2018 album ‘Welcome To The Neighbourhood’ is a phenomenally powerful collection of songs, building significantly on their 2016 debut. Their live performances are no light touch, either – Boston Manor go hard, and Boston Manor fans go harder, resulting in the kind of energy that could start an earthquake. It won’t be long before these guys are taking main stages by storm, so make sure you join this ride early.

Blood Youth

The Pit, 17.00

Reading & Leeds may not dip into the heavier stuff too often, but when they do, they really pull out the best. Melodic hardcore and nu-metal combine in Blood Youth’s fierce and furious tracks that become even more visceral on stage, the strength of their lyrics reflected in front man Kaya Tarsus’ vocals. This set could spawn the best moshpits of the weekend, and whether you’re a pit-dweller or not, this will be a truly stunning half hour of heavy music.

Twenty One Pilots

Main Stage, 20.05

Are they rock? Hip hop? Pop rock? Rap? Electropop? Who knows, and realistically, who cares – they are, quite simply, Twenty One Pilots, the current titans of all things alternative and leaders of a firmly dedicated fanbase. Occupying a co-headline slot with Post Malone, this is sure to be a huge spectacle of a show from Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph that will prove exactly why they have become so popular. At least one of Team Punktastic will be here doing a big cry, and we’re not going to tell you who. Just… don’t miss this one, alright?

SUNDAY READING / FRIDAY LEEDS

The Faim

BBC Radio 1 Stage, 13.35

Australian musicians are taking over the world these days. How a country with a population that’s 90% spiders manages to produce quite so many bands remains a mystery, but since they’re all so bloody good (the bands, not the spiders) we aren’t inclined to question it too much. Perth foursome The Faim are only a few weeks away from releasing their long-awaited debut album, and bring plenty of their home city’s sunshine into both their music and performances; this will be a set full of big, bold pop rock songs led by a stunning live vocal from front man Josh Raven. These guys are deservedly the definition of Next Big Thing – and if you miss this, you’ll regret it. We don’t make the rules.

Hot Milk

The Pit, 13.40

It feels like we’ve been recommending this lot constantly since the beginning of festival season, as they’ve played just about every major fest going – but you know what? We’re not tired of doing it, and if you haven’t listened yet, then we’ll just keep going until you do. This Manchester lot only have one EP to their name so far, but their emo-power pop is sheer perfection, and their on stage energy is truly infectious; they deserve every festival slot they’ve earned this year, and just like we’ll never tire of recommending them, we’ll never tire of seeing them. Get your dancing shoes on and join us for half an hour of the most fun you’ll have all weekend.

Enter Shikari

Main Stage, 14.15, and The Pit, 19:15

A band who, by this point, barely need any introduction, except to say that if you miss either of their two sets, you are doing yourself a serious disservice. If you were to dream up the perfect festival set, it would look exactly like an Enter Shikari show. There’s sure to be some surprises in store, and there aren’t many bands we’d want to see twice in one day as much as we do this lot. Clear your clashfinder for both, and prepare for the Best. Day. Ever.

SWMRS

Festival Republic Stage, 20.45

Still riding high since the release of their fantastic sophomore album ‘Berkeley’s On Fire’, young California punks SWMRS will be shaking the Festival Republic stage to the ground with their defiant, vibrant anthems. In a world that’s getting increasingly unsettling, there are few things more therapeutic than bellowing angry punk songs en masse, rallying against the madness with meaningful words that offer empowerment and relief. SWMRS are on their way up, and this will be a truly exciting set from rising stars of the future.

Foo Fighters

Main Stage, 20.15

Dave Grohl is so obscenely popular that it’s long been the case that anytime anyone even vaguely connected to him played Reading & Leeds, rumours would fly around that he’d be making an appearance. He never did. Fortunately, he’s guaranteed to make an appearance this time – or at least you’d hope so. Foo Fighters are far from just being the Grohl show, though, and it cannot be disputed that the Foos are one of the best live bands to ever grace the planet. Energetic, flawless, and consistently incredibly enjoyable, there will also be plenty of gigantic singalongs in this mammoth set – so stick ‘Monkey Wrench’ on and get practicing.

Headliners include Foo Fighters, twenty one pilots and The National, all of whom will be joined by the following Punktastic faves:

Kodaline
Johnny Marr
Idles
Pale Waves
Coheed and Cambria
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls
Gang of Youths
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes
Yungblood
Of Mice and Men

With an already HUGE lineup, and many more acts to be announced before the festival takes place from 7-13 August, this is one festival worth crossing the ocean for.

Tickets for different combinations of days, as well as single day tickets are available over at the Sziget Festival starting at just €75.

Wolf Alice, The Cribs, Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, Slaves, The Kills and Starcrawler will support them on selected dates. Earlier this year the band released their ninth album ‘Concrete and Gold’ on Columbia Records.

JUNE 2018
19 MANCHESTER Etihad Stadium* w/ The Cribs
22 LONDON Stadium* w/ Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes
23 LONDON Stadium w/ The Kills, Slaves + Starcrawler

Having curated and headlined their own ‘Cal Jam 17’ Fest in California last week, with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Liam Gallagher, Royal Blood, Wolf Alice, The Kills and a host of others, the Foo Fighters have announced a string of stadium shows in the UK for June 2018, including two shows at London Stadium.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on October 20th and will be available for purchase here.

Foo Fighters play the following dates:
June 2018:
Tues 19th – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
FRI 22nd – London Stadium
Sat 23rd – London Stadium

It is taken from their upcoming ninth album, ‘Concrete and Gold’, which will be released on the 15th September via Columbia Records. You can pre-order it here.

They will also be playing at London’s O2 Arena on the 19th September with Idles as part of the venue’s tenth birthday shows.

As well as this the band will also be playing their biggest London headline show to date at Village Underground on the 23rd November. Support comes from Life and Kite Base.

Earlier this year the band released their debut album ‘Brutalism’ on Balley Records.

You can view the announcement video for the show below.

The band will also be releasing their ninth album, ‘Concrete and Gold’, on the 15th September via Columbia Records. They recently released a video for the first single ‘Run’, which can be viewed below.

While no news of a new album from the band has surfaced, the tracks comes ahead of their highly anticipated headline slot of this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Take a listen to ‘Run’ below.