Ah, the only thing to rival the excitement of Christmas Eve, yes the first names for Reading Festival 2025 are due this week! Just as we were beginning to get a bit impatient for news, with every other festival seemingly announcing over the last month, the wait is nearly over.

Honestly, I am not sure what to expect. Eminem seems to be the bookies favourite, and I wouldn’t mind that at all. Top of my wish list would be Olivia Rodrigo and she seems a good fit, though the news of her own dates in London and Manchester close to Glastonbury weekend suggests they may have got there first.

Victorious Festival, on the same weekend, have removed a few possibilities, unless King’s of Leon are going to play that in a weekend sandwich with Reading and Leeds. It seems contractually unlikely though. Victorious also likely removes Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Last Dinner Party and Wunderhorse (I was really hoping Wunderhorse would play back to back years after their weekend stealing set this year).

So what else would be good and fit the current Reading aesthetic? Chappell Roan and Charlie XCX seem possible, Kendrick Lamar would be a lot of fun given he has a new album. 21 Pilots have a good relationship with the festival.

In terms of my listening this year, of artists that I think could appear, any of the following would make me very happy; Knocked Loose, Jack White, Fat Dog, English Teacher and Brigitte Calls Me Baby.

Who do you think might appear?