Reading Festival 2025 Preview: Glitter, Guitars & Glorious Chaos Incoming

Hold on to your bucket hats – Reading Festival 2025 is about to blow the roof off Richfield Avenue from August 21–24 (well, if it had a roof). Whether you’re there for the music, the mosh pits, or the memories you probably won’t remember, this year’s lineup is stacked, chaotic, and gloriously genre-bending

Blink-182 @ Reading Festival 2024

Blink-182 @ Reading Festival 2024 (Nick Allan)

Headliners: All Killer, No Filler

Travis Scott is touching down for a European exclusive – expect bass drops that rattle your bones, lasers that could land planes, and mosh pits that could open portals. Utopia? More like Read-topia.

Then there’s Chappell Roan, the neon-clad pop queen bringing theatrical bangers, unapologetic queer energy, and probably more glitter than is legally advisable. It’s her world – we’re just in it.

Need a soulful comedown? Hozier has got you. He’s back with his first UK No. 1 album, Unreal Unearth, and ready to gently crush your heart while making you feel weirdly euphoric.

And because it’s not Reading without at least one breakdown that makes you question your life choices, Bring Me The Horizon return with Post Human: Nex Gen, set to melt faces and maybe summon a few demons (the fun kind).

Lineup Lowdown: Legends, Lunatics & Future Faves

You want variety? We’ve got you:

The Kooks and Bloc Party are bringing peak indie sleaze nostalgia. Side fringes optional, but encouraged.
AJ Tracey will tear up the stage with grime-laced hits, while Becky Hill is basically a walking, belting Ibiza sunrise.
Enter Shikari = pure adrenaline. Conan Gray = dreamy angst. Wunderhorse = gritty guitars and future cult status.
Fancy a musical curveball? Try Balming Tiger, Amyl And The Sniffers, Lambrini Girls a or Bakar – genre boundaries don’t apply.
And don’t sleep on future headliners Good Neighbours, Matilda Mann, Nieve Ella and Nell Mescal. Catch them now so you can brag about it later.

The Vibe: Mud, Mayhem & Magic

Reading isn’t just a festival – it’s a rite of passage. It’s where you lose your voice, your inhibitions, and probably your tent pegs. It’s sunrise sing-alongs, impromptu raves, glitter explosions, and at least one emotional breakdown in front of a falafel stand.

And for those who like to plan (or just not get lost looking for the loos), the festival app will be back with set times, maps, alerts and probably a friendly reminder to hydrate.

The Need-to-Know

Tickets are flying faster than a pint thrown in the pit. Snap yours up via Ticketmaster, See Tickets, or the official Reading site. Whether you’re camping in a field, glamping in style, or just showing up for the Saturday chaos, there’s a ticket with your name on it.

Reading Festival 2023 (Luke Dyson)

What’s My Age Again?! Friday Night At Reading Festival 2024

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Builds On Breakthrough Success With Intimate New Single ‘Track Team’

Rising singer-songwriter Sydney Rose has returned with her latest single, Track Team, continuing the remarkable momentum that has transformed the Georgia-born, Nashville-based artist into one of alternative pop’s fastest-rising new voices.

Duran Duran @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Sienna Lorraine Gray)

Duran Duran Crown A Sun-Soaked Day Of Pop Royalty At BST Hyde Park 2026

It was yet another warm, sunny London day, the start of the country’s next heatwave, as thousands descended on Hyde Park for the final day of the second BST Hyde Park weekend of 2026. There was another event looming over the evening too: England’s World Cup Round of 16 clash with Mexico, kicking off at the decidedly unsociable hour of 1am. Football could wait though. Sunday belonged to disco legends, glam-pop icons and one of Britain’s most enduring bands as Duran Duran headlined a day that effortlessly balanced nostalgia with timeless musicianship.

The Script Celebrate Friendship And Forgiveness On New Single ‘The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall’

The Script have shared the latest preview of their forthcoming album The User’s Guide To Being Human with the release of the uplifting new single The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall. Arriving ahead of the band’s eagerly anticipated new album on 14th August, the track follows the anthemic lead single Man In The Arena and continues to showcase a record that promises to balance heartfelt storytelling with the arena-sized choruses that have become synonymous with The Script throughout their career.

Ferris & Sylvester Share Heartfelt New Single ‘Tiny Little Love’ Ahead Of New Album ‘It’s A Joy To Be Alive’

British Americana duo Ferris & Sylvester have unveiled their deeply moving new single Tiny Little Love, the latest preview of their forthcoming album It’s A Joy To Be Alive, due for release on 14th August.

J KEYS Turns Up The Heat With Infectious New Dance Anthem ‘Red Flag’

Essex artist, producer and DJ J KEYS continues his upward trajectory with the release of his latest single, Red Flag, a high-energy club anthem that blends underground house influences with irresistible pop appeal.

Willie J Healey Announces New EP ‘143’ And Shares Warm-Hearted New Single ‘Ditch’

Oxford songwriter Willie J Healey has announced the release of his new EP 143, arriving on 4th September, alongside the release of its effortlessly charming lead single Ditch. The five-track collection follows the success of 2023’s acclaimed Bunny and arrives ahead of a run of UK festival appearances and intimate headline dates this autumn, further cementing Healey’s reputation as one of Britain’s most distinctive and quietly brilliant songwriters.

TV Priest Return With Ambitious New Album ‘Cartoons’ And Share Stirring Single ‘Love Song (A Good Kind Of Weapon)’

London post-punk innovators TV Priest have announced their long-awaited third studio album, Cartoons, due for release on 6th November. Alongside the announcement, the band have unveiled the record’s lead single, Love Song (A Good Kind Of Weapon), a striking and unexpectedly tender statement that signals a bold new direction for one of Britain’s most adventurous alternative bands.

Natalie McCool Unveils Euphoric New Single ‘We’re The Ones’ Ahead Of New Album ‘Good For The Soul’

Liverpool singer-songwriter Natalie McCool has shared her uplifting new single We’re The Ones, the latest preview of her forthcoming album Good For The Soul, due for release on 9th September.