If Glastonbury is your serene mate who likes hemp shirts, then Reading and Leeds are the friends who drag you into a basement rock club and demand your co-operation in pitting to Rollin’ at 4am. Basically, there aren’t many weekends on the calendar that stand out quite like it.
This year, the bill is typically deep and boasts its share of big names and future stars. Blink 182 and Arctic Monkeys have festival pedigree coming out of their ears, while Queens of the Stone Age and Paramore will share a headline spot in something of a booking curveball. Here we run through the festivals’ multitude of stages to select our must-sees and a few more recommendations for good measure. Excellent.
Paramore - Main Stage (Reading/Friday, Leeds/Saturday)
Like Avenged Sevenfold at Download earlier this year, Paramore are heading into uncharted waters at the summit of a UK festival bill. Their pairing with Queens is a neat bit of safety first maneuvering by the organisers, with a nod to their rock roots neatly tied in with something for the festival’s many young fans. Paramore are packing a set full of hits these days and in Hayley Williams have a whirling dervish of a live presence, giving them all the ingredients to make this step up in some style. We smell a triumph in the air.
Further Main Stage listening: The Hives, Crossfaith, Dry The River, Gnarwolves, Blink 182.
Gerard Way - NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage (Reading/Friday, Leeds/Saturday)
Reading has something of a history when it comes to superstars making fresh starts, and Gerard Way will try his hand at both sites this weekend. With My Chemical Romance gradually growing smaller in the rear-view mirror, their former frontman will make his live bow prior to the release of ‘Hesitant Alien’ next month. Watch this space.
Further NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage listening: Chvrches, La Dispute, Warpaint, Schoolboy Q.
Gesaffelstein - BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage (Reading/Saturday, Leeds/Sunday)
Brooding and menacing, Gesaffelstein’s ‘Aleph’ remains an absolutely mighty proposition at its best. Here, we can expect the thudding grooves and jarring synth work to loom large over the more delicate moments, while Andy C and Pendulum might have their work cut out in closing.
Further Radio 1 Dance Stage listening: Andy C, Wilkinson, Bondax, AlunaGeorge, Gorgon City.
Jimmy Eat World - Lock Up Stage (Reading/Friday, Leeds/Saturday)
Jimmy Eat World will play twice this weekend, once on the Main Stage and the other time as headliners at the Lock Up Stage. Their intentions aren’t 100% clear at the moment but we do know that they’ll be playing two different sets and that they’re soon to embark on a ‘Futures’ 10th anniversary tour. What was 2 + 2 again?
Further Lock Up Stage listening: Touche Amore, Dave Hause, the Flatliners, A Wilhelm Scream, the Wonder Years, Muncie Girls.
Basement - The Pit (Reading/Saturday, Leeds/Sunday)
They were dead, now they’re, um, not anymore. The return of Basement with ‘Further Sky’ earlier this year was real cause for celebration and the post-hardcore types will put every drop of sweat into their sets this weekend. A hidden gem.
Further The Pit Listening: Marmozets, Architects, Lyger.
Lucius - Festival Republic Stage (Reading/Sunday, Leeds/Friday)
Pop. Lovely, isn’t it? Well, here’s your weekend dose of some of the good stuff. The Brooklyn quintet, fronted by co-vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, released ‘Wildewoman’ late last year and pitched their tent somewhere between the classic girl group era and a more upbeat take on the sort of art-pop favoured by Lykke Li. It’s really quite good.
Further Festival Republic Stage listening: Augustines, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Bipolar Sunshine, Band of Skulls, Wolf Alice.
Joey Bada$$ - BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage (Reading/Sunday, Leeds/Friday)
“Nobody has an excuse to be sleeping on this kid,” was the verdict as Joey Bada$$ topped Stereoboard’s list of 2013’s best hip-hop records. Almost 12 months on, what’s changed? Not a lot, actually. Another of rap’s young stars with the tunes to back up the hype, he’s going to form part of a formidable one-two with Danny Brown at the top of this bill.
Further BBC Radio 1Xtra Listening: Danny Brown, Pusha T, Kwabs, David Rodigan, Bad Rabbits.
Rae Morris - BBC Introducing Stage (Reading/Saturday, Leeds/Sunday)
Rae Morris has been doing the festival rounds this summer but, as the ever-growing buzz will tell you, her headline slot on the Introducing Stage could be the one to remember. With a voice that’ll cut straight to your very core and songs like Skin and Cold in her locker, she’s shaping up to be the real deal.
Further BBC Introducing Stage listening: Happyness, Lyves, Allusondrugs.
Reading & Leeds Festival Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri August 22 2014 - READING Richfield Avenue/LEEDS Bramham Park
Sat August 23 2014 - READING Richfield Avenue/LEEDS Bramham Park
Sun August 24 2014 - READING Richfield Avenue/LEEDS Bramham Park
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