Friday the 22nd of August is all about the Readingmenomenom! Yes, Chappell Roan makes her only appearance in England this year before Hozier closes things out. Saturday 23rd of August at Leeds Festival.
Whilst you tend to find Reading Indie Life spending a lot of time at other stages at Reading you could do far worse than just spend the whole day camped in front of the Main Stage with this fantastic line-up.
Main Stage Timings:
- 12pm – Red Rum Club
- 12:50pm – Alessi Rose
- 1:45pm – The Royston Club
- 2:45pm – Bloc Party
- 4:10pm – Wallows
- 5:20pm – The Kooks
- 7:10pm – Chappell Roan
- 9:40pm – Hozier
Red Rum Club
September the 5th will see the release of their fifth studio album, only a year after they released their fourth. This hard grafting Merseyside indie band may still be under the radar in some quarters but their best-known tracks are streaming in the millions. They have that perfect early afternoon festival sound, driven enough to get you moving but with mellow vibes for those sunshine feels.
Alessi Rose
Alessi Rose is an English singer songwriter, though if you didn’t know that you would assume she was American from her singing style. Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams are huge inspirations for her. She has a decent catalogue of pop and indie-pop tunes. Should go down well with anyone there to see Chappel Roan.
The Royston Club
Promoted to the Main Stage following their very lively Festival Republic Stage set back in 2023. They have a committed following who will likely be out in force down the front for this set. Debut album Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars was very enjoyable, a second album Songs For The Spine is released August 8th, and a strong set of singles has proceeded it. One to see for anyone going for The Kooks.
Bloc Party
The first band in what Festival Republic are calling ‘The Icons’ slot. As it is 20 years since brilliant debut album ‘Silent Alarm’ landed expect to get the album in full, or at least a set that heavily leans into the nostalgia of that.
Wallows
Los Angeles based alternative-rock band Wallows first released a track way back in 2017, though they had been together since 2011 when they formed as young teenagers. A seven-track EP/short album ‘More’ was their most recent release in March. The pick of the tracks was the cheekily titled ‘Your New Favourite Song.’ It was good enough to get away with it and I am sure Pavement would have heartily approved of the lo-fi stylings.
The Kooks
One of those bands that were born with instant greatness. Debut album Inside In/Inside Out was an absolute smash hit back in 2006. It contained monster singles ‘Naive’ and ‘She Moves In Her Own Way.’ New material has followed regularly every two or three years since. Another perfect guitar band for an afternoon festival slot with multiple tracks for huge sing-alongs.
Chappell Roan
If Chappell Roan doesn’t run off with the whole weekend it is going to take something incredible to best her (Bring Me The Horizon are the most likely challengers). The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, her 2023 debut album released after years of scratching around to make a singing career, started slowly and then built and built. It is a stellar album and has launched a true international megastar. Her live shows are fast turning into the stuff of legend, and this is a co-headline set meaning she gets a full 90 minutes to entertain us with! One of those rare occasions where you might find Reading Indie Life scrapping it out with the teenage girls down the front for a decent view. We might not though, heavy metal circle pits are nothing compared to the carnage wrought when caught between teenage girls and their favourite singer!
Hozier
Expect nothing less than a professional well-put on show from Hozier. He graduated to headlining big outdoor events a couple of years back now and has this sort of thing well-honed. There was some muttering as to whether or not headlining Reading Festival was a promotion too far but one glance at the number of streams for his top tracks on Spotify tell you this a bonafide international megastar (though Chappell Roan is Reading Indie Life’s true headliner today!).
Best Alternative Options
If you don’t mind missing out on some of the Main Stage acts Reading Indie Life’s Friday picks that directly clash are:
- jasmine4.t 2:05pm Festival Republic Stage: You Are The Morning is one of our absolute favourite albums released this year and each member of Boygenius are firm supporters.
- Soft Play 4:55pm Chevron Stage: Reading favourites, the punk-rock duo’s secret set on the Festival Republic Stage in 2023 was a highlight of the weekend.
- High Vis 9:35pm Festival Republic Stage: Mixing hardcore punk, post-punk, indie-rock and a hint of Mancunian Baggy this English band with a strong live reputation have been grinding out a growing following over the last nine years.
Reading Indie Life 
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