Reading and Leeds Festival is undoubtedly one of the UK’s biggest and most looked forward to events of the year. The three-day live music event takes place over the August bank holiday weekend on Richfield Avenue, Reading and at Braham Park, Leeds.
From punk to grime, from rap to indie, there’s something for everyone at Reading and Leeds. With set times and maps live for both festival sites, there’s no better time than now to start planning your weekend! If you’re not sure who to go and watch, or you want to check out someone you’ve not heard of before, we’ve got you covered. In no particular order, here are 10 must-see bands at Reading and Leeds Festival 2018.
1. Coin
Coin are an American indie rock band from Nashville, Tennesse. They’ve released two studio albums, Coin (2015) and How Will You Know If You Never Try (2017). ‘Talk Too Much’, the lead single from their second album, gained much mainstream attention, making it the band’s first song to chart on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart. Coin have supported PVRIS, as well as embarking on their own headline tours. The band have recently released a non-album single, titled ‘Growing Pains‘. You can catch Coin at the Festival Republic Stage on Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds!
2. Waterparks
Waterparks are an American pop rock band from Housten, Texas. The trio have released three EPs, two of which were independent, and have two full-length albums out via Equal Visions. Mikey Way of My Chemical Romance played bass on their third EP, Cluster, which was co-produced by Benji Madden of Good Charlotte. Their first album, Double Dare (2016), saw huge singles such as ‘Stupid For You’, ‘Royal’ and ‘Gloom Boys’. Entertainment, their sophomore album released late last year, includes the singles ‘Blonde’, ‘Not Warriors’ and their latest one, ‘We Need To Talk’. Waterparks have supported bands such as Sleeping With Sirens, All Time Low and Never Shout Never, and have performed on every date of Warped Tour in 2016. You can catch Waterparks at the Main Stage on Friday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds!
3. nothing,nowhere.
Joe Mulherin, otherwise known as nothing,nowhere is an American rapper and singer. He began uploading songs to Soundcloud in 2015 under the stage name. In 2017, he released his album, Reaper, that is primarily guitar-based emo rap. The album contains the songs ‘Houdini’, ‘Skully’, and ‘Hopes Up’ which the latter features Dashboard Confessional. In February this year nothing,nowhere signed to Fueled By Ramen and released the single ‘ruiner’. The song is the title track for his album of the same name that was released in April. Singles from ruiner include ‘hammer’, ‘rejecter’ and ‘waster’. You can catch nothing,nowhere at The Pit/Lock Up Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds!
4. Brockhampton
Brockhampton are an American group that formed in Texas in 2015 but are currently based in California. Throughout 2017, the group released three studio albums, known collectively as the “Saturation trilogy”. With each release, Brockhampton charted higher and higher on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums, with Saturation ||| debuting at number 15 on the Billboard 200. Their fourth studio album, The Best Years of Our Lives, is set to be released during the summer. Brockhampton have, so far, released 17 music videos and 13 singles, and have appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, making it their late-night live television debut. You can catch Brockhampton at the BBC Radio 1 Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds!
5. Only The Poets
Only The Poets are an alternative/indie band from Reading and London. They’ve played many local shows, performed at Truck Festival, and will be embarking on their UK headline tour in September. This is a band you want to keep an eye on, as there’s no doubt they’re going to have a big future! You can catch Only The Poets at the BBC Music Introducing Stage on Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds!
6. Don Broco
Don Broco are British rock band that formed in Bedford, England in 2008. They have three studio albums, Priorities (2012), Automatic (2015) and Technology (2018). ‘Everybody’, ‘Pretty’, ‘Greatness’ and ‘Come Out To LA’ are some of the singles released from the band’s latest album. Don Broco have toured with the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, 5 Seconds of Summer, You Me At Six and The Used. The four-piece have played numerous festivals, including Slam Dunk Festival, Download Festival and Sonisphere Festival. They aren’t strangers to Reading and Leeds Festival either, having played there multiple times across different stages throughout the years. You can catch Don Broco at the BBC Radio 1 Stage on Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds!
7. Yungblud
Dominic Harrison, otherwise known as Yungblud, is a British alternative rock act from Doncaster. He’s been described as a “bold, socially conscious artist unafraid of delivering genre-bending protest songs” and his style as “the spitfire suburban poetry of younger Arctic Monkeys and Jamie T, fused with a healthy touch of ska and hip-hop spirit.” Yungblud released his debut album, 21st Century Liability, in July this year and has collaborated with Charlotte Lawrence on the track ‘Falling Skies’, which is featured on the season two soundtrack of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. You can catch Yungblud at the Festival Republic Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds!
8. Slaves
Slaves are a British punk rock duo from Kent that formed in 2012. They were signed by Virgin EMI in 2014 following the release of their first single ‘Where’s Your Car Debbie?’, which was originally through Fonthill Records. In 2015, the band released their debut album, Are You Satisfied?, that reached number 8 in its first week on the UK Albums Chart, as well as being nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize. Slaves second album, Take Control, climbed the UK Albums Chart to number 6 in its first week. The recent singles ‘Cut And Run’ and ‘Chokehold’ are taken from the duo’s recently released third album, Acts of Fear and Love. You can catch Slaves at the BBC Radio 1 Stage on Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds!
9. Pale Waves
Pale Waves are an English indie pop band from Manchester. The band released their debut single, ‘There’s A Honey’, in 2017 after signing a record deal. Pale Waves supported The 1975 on their North American tour, where they played a sold-out show at Madison Square Gardens. Their second single, ‘Television Romance’ was released in August 2017, with its music video being directed by Matty Healy of The 1975. Pale Waves’ debut EP, All the Things I Never Said, charted at number 1 on the UK Physical Singles Chart and the UK Vinyl Singles Chart. Their upcoming debut album, My Mind Makes Noises, is scheduled to be released in September. You can catch Pale Waves at the Festival Republic Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds!
10. Nothing But Thieves
Nothing But Thieves are an English alternative rock band that formed in 2012. They have two studio albums, Nothing but Thieves (2015) and Broken Machine (2017), with their second album charting at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. ‘Trip Switch’, ‘Sorry’ and ‘Amsterdam’ are just a few of the band’s incredible singles, not forgetting songs such as ‘Soda’, ‘Itch’, ‘Honey Whiskey’ and ‘Particles’. You can catch Nothing But Thieves at the BBC Radio 1 Stage on Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds!
Reading and Leeds Festival 2018 will take place on Richfield Avenue, Reading and Braham Park, Leeds on Friday 24th to Sunday 26th August. Reading Festival is completely sold out. Remaining tickets for Leeds are available here. Check out the full line-up below.
