Reading Festival was TWO WEEKS ago? Have I really had that much sleep?
I had a BLAST at Reading Festival this year. I saw around 35 bands and artists in total, and even brought a nice bout of festival flu back as a souvenir. Being from Reading, the festival always feels just that bit extra special, with 2014 being no exception. While walking out of the festival last year, I remember saying something along the lines of "I hope I have a job by next year so I can pay for a ticket myself" and I did it!! Go me!! Those £50 instalments were painful (and that like, £6 shipping fee was VERY painful) but all very worth it in the end.This year I took a more laid back approach to who I saw, rather than having a meticulously organised schedule. Although I didn't see as many bands this way (I didn't manage to top last year's total of 39) I felt like I enjoyed the whole atmosphere and experience more, and had more time to enjoy the ridiculously overpriced food. (I think I'm having withdrawal from those cheese garlic bread baguettes from the pizza place near the NME tent already)
Line up wise, I didn't think it was as good as last year's, and a lot of the artists I wanted to see I had already seen at least once before. But on the other hand, I had the chance to see some larger bands that I may not have necessarily gone to see under normal circumstances. I also saw a few bands that I will definitely be listening to more of now, which is good!
Sets I managed to catch over the weekend:
Friday:
We Are Evergreen
Blood Red Shoes
Drenge (2nd time)
Fat White Family
Sweethead
The Orwells
Catfish And The Bottlemen
King Charles
Vampire Weekend
Jamie T
Paramore
Bipolar Sunshine
Palma Violets (3rd time)
Saturday:
DZ Deathrays
Marmozets
Royal Blood
Peace (3rd time)
Bear Hands
Wolf Alice (2nd time)
Don Broco (2nd time)
Circa Waves
Happyness (2nd time)
Chvrches (2nd time)
Jake Bugg
Bombay Bicycle Club
Arctic Monkeys
Sunday:
Flyte
The Neighbourhood
Jungle
Drowners (5th time)
The Kooks
The Horrors (2nd time)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
The 1975
Disclosure
Blood Red Shoes! I have waited what feels like forever to see them live, and it's finally happened. Although I didn't manage to catch their whole set because someone, somewhere, decided that it was a fantastic idea for them to clash with Drenge.
Drenge's Festival Republic set last year was amazing, so I was super excited to see them again. Obviously, they didn't disappoint. Outfit or music wise. Lovin' those dresses
Rowdiest crowd I was involved in all weekend was The Orwells. As soon as they stepped on stage I found myself being (literally) swept away. I was 100% fearing a repeat of FIDLAR's Reading 2013 set, in which I almost broke a tooth. I made it out with all teeth intact for all those wondering, but I did nearly lose my glasses. I wonder what valuable thing I'll come close to losing next time!
"I lost my mind I lost my shoe" Or in this case, glasses.
Funky crowd shot! At Bipolar Sunshine, before Palma Violets. Palmas were definitely one of my highlights, as I'd predicted. After seeing them smash an afternoon slot in the NME/Radio 1 tent, I was very excited to see them headline Festival Republic, my favourite stage. I have come to the conclusion that Best Of Friends is my favourite track to hear/see live. There's just something about it that gets you every single time.
Back in the NME tent for Royal Blood. There was a good reaction from the crowd even though this performance was prior to the release of their self titled debut (which is also good)
☮ ✌ ☮ ✌ ☮ ✌ ☮ ✌ ☮ ✌ ☮ ✌ ☮ ✌ ☮ ✌
A highlight that I didn't originally think would be a highlight was Don Broco's late afternoon set in the NME tent. Long story I didn't really like their music, saw them live and completely changed my mind. (I love it when live performances can change your opinion!!) Anyway, I totally regret not liking them this time last year, as I was right down the front in a great crowd and I know I would have enjoyed it. This was one of my favourite crowds of the weekend, everyone singing along made it even better.
Cool sunset! P.S sorry if you were fortunate enough to witness my embarrassing dancing at Jake Bugg, Chvrches or Bombay Bicycle Club (not really)
Me lookin' really excited to see Drowners with Mollie
Drowners!! This was my fifth time seeing one of my favourite, favourite, favourite bands this year, but this was extra special since it was in my hometown. I think the fact that they only play for half an hour just makes me want to see them over and over again. I feel super lucky that I have been able to see one of my favourite albums performed live this many times.
The Horrors were amazing as usual but the crowd definitely did not do them justice. Although, the massive pit that opened up during the last couple of minutes of Sea Within A Sea (AKA PRETTY MUCH THE BEST BIT OF ANY SONG EVERRR) was interesting to see, and also a bit odd. Still Live live was gorgeous, as per.
There were also some other strange happenings across the weekend, including the ridiculous amount I spent on that overpriced food and someone forcing me to go up on their shoulders during King Charles' set, (HELLO if you're out there) which is something I never saw myself doing. You do get quite a good view, though. I guess that's another one ticked off your typical festival bucket list, along with things like appearing on the stage screens (#claim2fame) and being at the main stage barrier.
We also met some (very drunk) women while watching Disclosure, and although their friend couldn't speak much English, they managed to get her to swear at everyone who walked by. Then she started doing forward rolls. It was, weird.
ALL IN ALL READING FESTIVAL 2014 WAS SO FUN I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE WOOOOP WOOOOP!!
More photos (film and digital) on my Flickr
