Reading and Leeds 2015 saw over 150,000 festival fans revel in an unforgettable weekend of music, including headline acts Mumford & Sons, Metallica and The Libertines, plus hundreds of performances from artists, bands, comedians and DJs.
Metallica provided a metal masterclass with the biggest production in the history of Reading and Leeds, cementing themselves as worthy headliners alongside their 150 onstage fans. Mumford & Sons debut headline slot didn’t disappoint, with early outings for festival ready anthems ‘I Will Wait’ and ‘Little Lion Man’ providing huge sing-alongs for the crowds. The Libertines made their return to the festival at Leeds on the Friday and closed Reading on the Sunday in spectacular fashion. Welcomed back with open arms by the rapturous crowds, the band were in typically raucous form, treating fans to cuts from their new album as well as all time classics.
Representing the home grown UK talent on offer at this year’s Reading and Leeds, Royal Blood stormed the main stage with ‘Little Monsters’ and ‘Out of the Black’ drawing in a huge crowd. The Wombats packed out the Festival Republic Stage, along with R&L favourite Frank Turner.
Yorkshire heroes Bring Me The Horizon drew in a huge crowd Sunday at Leeds and Saturday at Reading with a career defining set. Japanese teen trio, Babymetal brought a metal choreographed spectacle to the Main Stage for their debut Reading and Leeds performance.
Showcasing his transcendent second album ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, Kendrick Lamar performed with a full band, bringing hip hop rock to the masses for his inaugural Reading and Leeds performance, whilst hip hop superduo Run The Jewels captivated crowds at the NME / Radio 1 Stage.
The weekend was filled with whispers of secret sets and fans were certainly not left disappointed. Foals snuck into the festival to set the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage ablaze with cuts from their newly released album ‘What Went Down’. Both Wolf Alice and Jack Garratt treated fans to an intimate set on the BBC Introducing Stage in addition to their scheduled performances.
Now a mainstay of the festivals, the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage and BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage showcased the finest in a UK grime scene and US hip hop with Boy Better Know, A$AP Ferg and Krept & Konan playing rip-roaring headline slots. Embracing everything from Stormzy’s grime bars to Hudson Mohawke’s future sounding beats and Deadmau5’s expertly executed DJing; both stages were must-visit destinations.
The Relentless Stage returned to Leeds Festival kicking off proceedings on Thursday night along the tree-lined avenue with a great set from Bondax. DJ EZ, Oneman and Luke Mowberry, the winner of the prestigious ‘Here To Be Heard’ DJ competition were just some of the DJs to bring the noise and get the party started. Pulled Apart By Horses headlined the Dance to the Radio Stage at Leeds the same evening with a blistering set that brimmed with thrills and menace.
Once again The Alternative Stage at Reading & Leeds brought the best in comedy and spoken word to the Festivals. The line-up included comedy favourites Russell Kane, Seann Walsh and Reginald D Hunter who all commanded huge audiences alongside an eclectic lineup including music from George The Poet. Not only that but with the silent disco and Transgressive hosting the likes of Mike Skinner and Novelist at Leeds as well as DJ sets from alt-J, Peace and Palma Violets at Reading, The Alternative Stage was certainly one of the most vibrant areas of the festival.
Back for the second year, The Pit hosted by Daniel P Carter was buzzing with Refused’s incendiary headline set being a standout moment of the weekend. Ghost, While She Sleeps, Cancer Bats and No Devotion all also blew audiences away amongst a lineup of the finest in rock and metal. The stage was opened on Saturday at Reading by The Mini Band, who tore through a set of classic metal covers and even got to meet heroes Metallica and Royal Blood later in the day.
The Lock Up Stage once again provided a one stop shop for all things punk with New Found Glory headlining alongside the likes of R&L veterans The Bronx and hardcore heroes Modern Life Is War who performed their seminal album ‘Witness’ in full.
Weekend and Instalment tickets for Reading & Leeds Festivals 2016 will be on sale Tuesday 1st September at 9am for a limited time at this year’s price of £205.00. Tickets are available from www.seetickets.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk. The dual site event will take place on 26th, 27th, 28th August 2016.
BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC4 broadcasted from the festival, allowing fans without tickets the chance to enjoy some of the incredible artists playing across the weekend.
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