The heaviest line-up of the three days across the stages, though with some lighter diversions thrown in. Saturday is all about Bring Me The Horizon who will be bringing their incredible live show to town to blow all non-believers away.
Main Stage :
- 12pm – VOILÀ
- 12:50pm – Lambrini Girls
- 1:45pm – South Arcade
- 2:45pm – Good Neighbours
- 3:55pm – Royel Otis
- 5:10pm – Conan Gray
- 6:30pm – Enter Shikari
- 7:55pm – Limp Bizkit
- 9:50pm – Bring Me The Horizon
VOILÀ
An indie-pop/rock duo, one from the UK and one from the US. They do everything themselves – writing, playing and producing – and already picked up an Emmy nomination. Their most recent album, The Last Laugh (Part 1), came out in June.
Lambrini Girls
If you haven’t seen Lambrini Girls before, we highly recommend you make an effort to catch them. Their high-energy, fiercely feminist brand of punk rock is both enjoyable and carries important messages. Having seen them supporting Idles, and in the Festival Republic Tent at Reading last year, it will be interesting to see whether it is more of the same, or if they can step up their game further on their biggest performance to date.
South Arcade
The most exciting thing to come out of Oxford since Foals and Glass Animals are on a rapid climb given they were on the BBC Introducing Stage twelve months ago. They are frequently mentioned in terms of nu-metal and the Y2K revival, but that does their awesome brand of party-rock a disservice. Expect them to be at least ten times bigger by the end of the year.
Good Neighbours
Another band on a rapid ascent as their debut album doesn’t even come out until September. Their debut 2024 single ‘Home’ blew up spectacularly. They were low down on the now-defunct Radio 1 Stage last year. Another band perfect for a mid-afternoon sunny festival slot.
Royel Otis
This Aussie band bring sunshine in a bottle with their lush melodies and lo-fi stylings. There is a feeling of momentum about them, and this set could be one of the highlights of this year’s festival.
Conan Gray
Far lower profile in the UK than he is in the US, where he is an enormous pop star already. Be in no doubt, there will be a substantial crowd here today just to catch a glimpse of Conan.
Enter Shikari
Reading Festival love Enter Shikari. They played in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022. Why do they keep getting invited back? They have a ferocious live show that is honed to perfection. They are a rock band but bleed into different areas merging in touches of everything from dubstep to electro. They know how to work a big festival crowd and will be great entertainment. They have a tough remit this year due to the worst scheduling clash of the festival going up against Wunderhorse on the Chevron Stage. The old stalwart’s audience will likely be smaller than it deserves due to going up against these rising stars.
Limp Bizkit
Ah, this takes Reading Indie Life back to the Indie Night at the Voodoo Lounge back in Bournemouth where Rollin’ was always a big moment most weeks. Beyond that, and their awesome cover of the Mission Impossible Theme for MI2, I can’t say we ever paid a huge amount of attention to the Nu-metallers. There was definitely a period where you had to like Limp Bizkit only in an ironic manner. It feels like they have had a bit of a reassessment in recent years and are settling into the role of nu-metal’s elder statesmen. Expect a high energy show and one of the most mental mosh-pits of the weekend.
Bring Me The Horizon
This is absolutely their time. The makers of some of the most forward thinking and futuristic rock music on the planet, now established top of the bill festival performers. They have what is widely recognised as one of the most visually impressive live shows around and plenty of firepower in their songs to back it up. Like Enter Shikari they have deep ties to the festival and have appeared in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2022. In 2022 they were just below the headline act and still managed to upstage/debase (delete as appropriate) everything by bringing out Ed Sheeran as a special guest. Expect one of the best sets of the weekend.
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:
- Wunderhorse 6:35pm Chevron Stage: Fast becoming one of the greatest live rock bands on the planet. They sound great on record but are a revelation live.
- Example 3:05pm Chevron Stage: The veteran singer and producer will bring fantastic mid afternoon Summer festival vibes.
- Balming Tiger 5:25pm Festival Republic Stage: Top notch Indie/K-Pop fun.
- Mouth Culture 2:05pm Festival Republic Stage: A shame they clash with South Arcade as this is another fine young alternative indie/rock band.
- Finn Forster 2:45pm BBC Introducing Stage: The next indie break out star from the North East of England is a fine live performer.
Reading Indie Life 
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