The second day of the Reading Festival 2024 was a definite gear shift from Friday. With Lana Del Rey headlining the main stage a different group of people were drawn to the field.
Dream Wife @ Reading Festival 2024
Starting the day with a bang, Militarie Gun hit the Festival Republic Stage. Although playing to a reasonably modest crowd they didn’t let that stop them. Every band member was giving it their all and the crowd loved it. Their set featured some fast-paced songs like Seizure Of Assets and Do it Faster, and although short, it was definitely a great start to the day.
The next performance on the Festival Republic Stage was definitely an unusual one. Dejiuvhs made quite the impression, leaving the audience not knowing what was coming next. The London-based band, self-described as ‘hoodpunk’ took to the stage demanding dancing and shaking from the audience. The frontman did not hold back, throwing insults at the crowd when they weren’t doing enough, with the DJ joining the mosh pits to stir things up. After a few songs, the band became more comfortable on stage although there was still chaos and the performance felt disjointed in places. You didn’t want to take your eyes off this band in case you missed the train coming off the tracks. Despite a looser set, they were clearly loving being on stage and living the punk rock life and the audience was made the most of it.
Following on from quite an unexpected band, Dream Wife, the first female fronted performance of the day, made themselves known. This was a contrast to what the crowd had just seen. With fun clothes, a youthful energy, and a unique sound, this band knew exactly what they were bringing to Reading Festival. The crowd were riled up with their first song Social Lubrication, where we first got to hear the unique voice of frontwoman Rakel Mjoll, that is reminiscent of Cyndi Lauper or Blondie. The band’s quirky appearance and musical style at times made you feel as though you were watching a scene from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, in the best possible way. The crowd clearly loved what they were seeing, and the band’s energy doubled as they moved onto the humorous Hot (Don’t Date A Musician) and ended their set with F.U.U. Their energy and mastery of the stage definitely won me over and I will be listening to them on repeat from now on.
From this point the Festival Republic Stage shifted to a more politically charged, heavier crowd as we all awaited Kid Kapichi. Drawing in the stage’s biggest crowd of the day the band opened with Artillery and it was all go from there. The crowdsurfing began and the crowd was jumping. From song to song the audience knew every word and were keen to scream it back to frontman Jack Wilson, who maintained a cool nonchalant attitude. As we heard anthems 999 and Tamagotchi the army of headbangers intensified. There’s no arguing that Kid Kapichi make music you just can’t help but move to. Between their songs Wilson spoke to the crowd about the current state of politics, encouraging the crowd to shout ‘F**k the Tories’, whilst sporting a shirt emblazoned with the word ‘Palestine’, making their political views crystal clear. The final three songs of the set, New England, Get Down, and Smash The Gaff filled the crowd with an electricity that only grew and with beers and fists in the air, it was clear that this band had given a stellar performance.
To finish off the second day, Viagra Boys had big shoes to fill following the set that Kid Kapichi had just delivered. The crowd stayed put, ready to embrace the next band. The Swedish rock band joined the stage donning full tracksuits, looking like they had stepped off the high street to headline the Festival Republic Stage as if it was something they did every day. Lead singer Sebastian Murphy had all the attitude you would expect, flipping off the crowd with a cigarette in hand. They immediately leapt into Ain’t No Thief and we knew we were in for a good show. By the second song Murphy’s top was off and the crowd were treated to his iconic dad moves. As Slow Learner and Punk Rock Loser were played with intensity the crowd were going wild. If crowd surfers, fist pumping, and mosh pits are anything to go by, then this band absolutely nailed it. I had no preconceptions before watching this band and they blew me away and delivered above and beyond what I expected.
Review of Friday at Reading Festival 2024 by Louise Warby, photos by Nick Allan.
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