Reading Festival 2025: Chappell Roan, Conan Gray & more shine at one of the UK’s biggest festivals.
Photo by Luke Dyson (@lukedyson)
Friday 22nd August marked one of the most anticipated days of the year for UK Festivals (obviously bar Glastonbury), as many people began to make their way to Reading and Leeds 2025.
On the way to Reading Festival on a refreshing, air-conditioned Lizzy Line, encountering a Chappell Roan fan was not difficult. The ‘Good Luck, Babe’ singer had been bringing in a crowd since before 9am, each of them in cowboy hats or red wigs and doused in glitter, more than prepared for her 7:10pm Main Stage set.
Right from the beginning of the day, Friday’s lineup was packed full of good music across a range of stages – it was hard not to run frantically from stage to stage.
Good Health, Good Wealth brought energy to the Chevron Stage early in the day, making shapes and drinking Estrella, which they labelled ‘the breakfast for champions’. Alessi Rose rocked the main stage, bringing in a crowd full of fans with ribbons in their hair to devotedly sing along to her set. Girl Group had an unforgettable Reading Festival debut at the BBC Introducing Stage, and, back over at Chevron, SOFT PLAY had a set full of relentless high-energy tunes and moshpits, with many fans seen leaving the tent dripping in sweat.
The Kooks took to the main stage at 5:20pm and was rumoured to have a much anticipated special guest – the crowd were left shocked but mainly confused as Rebel Wilson, known for her role as ‘Fat Amy’ in Pitch Perfect, ran on stage to sing a cover of ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ with the four-piece.
The pit was pretty much full from 5:30pm as dedicated fans waited patiently for Chappell Roan to appear – and she did not disappoint. Dressed as if it was halloween, she prowled around a large castle on stage, singing hit after hit. The crowd was especially lively for Red Wine Supernova, with the dusty field acting as both a dance floor and a stage for backing vocals as fans sang every lyric back to her. Half way through Chappell’s set, the crowd thinned out, with many people heading for AJ Tracey at the Chevron stage, leaving the gals, the gays and theys to watch in awe until the very last minute.
Chappell Roan left festival goers well and truly warmed up for Hozier, who gave a soulful set full of astonishing vocals, fireworks and energy. After impeccable performances of ‘Too Sweet’, ‘Someone New’ and more, Hozier used his platform to speak out on the importance of free speech and show support for Palestine and artists like Kneecap who have been censored as a result of their own support.
Photo by Luke Dyson (@lukedyson)
Some other honourable mentions include the New York indie-rock band, Been Stellar, the rock four-piece, The Linda Lindas and the indie artist, Phoebe Green. After an undeniably eventful day, festival goers traipsed back home, to tents and hotels, to get some sleep before Saturday’s events.
Saturday at Reading Festival started off with a bang with Sunday (1994)‘s 12:25pm set at the Festival Republic stage. Despite some festival goers staying up late the night before, dancing at the silent disco or rave tent, the 90s inspired shoegaze four-piece managed to draw in quite a crowd. The LA-born lead singer, Paige Turner, was lively and encouraging the crowd to match her energy.
Conan Gray’s 5:10pm performance at the Main Stage was undoubtedly the day’s highlight. He went all out for his Reading debut, with a shipwreck on stage which he theatrically hoisted himself out of, dressed as a dishevelled pirate – go big or go home, right?
His set included songs from all eras of his large discography – from ‘Maniac’ to ‘Memories’ to tracks from his newest album, ‘Wishbone’ – each delivered with the vocal finesse and the deep emotion he is known for.
Photo by Ben Awin
Fans ran from the Main Stage to Chevron to see Wunderhorse who brought in a significantly larger crowd than they did for their first Reading set the year before. With boundless energy, Slater’s performance was spirited from start to finish.
It was a good day for lovers of indie bands – with great sets from Good Neighbours, Pale Waves, Royel Otis, Lambrini Girls and more.
Bring Me The Horizon took to the Main Stage as the festival's Saturday Headliner. Building their own dystopian world with AI graphics of a robot who seemed as much a part of the performance as the band members, and an intense cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’, it was definitely a set to remember.