We needn’t explain just how big this Reading & Leeds 2022 is shaping up to be. After last year’s successful introduction of a second main stage and three additional headliners, the twin-site festival returns with its biggest and most sonically diverse lineup yet. Arctic Monkeys, Dave, Megan Thee Stallion, Halsey, Bring Me The Horizon and The 1975 are set to the top the bill, and there’s also huge sets to come from the likes of Charli XCX, PinkPantheress, Polo G, Willow, Fontaines D.C. and many more.
Are you ready? Team NME are on the ground to bring you minute-by-minute coverage from every corner of the dual-site festival. Here we go!
Friday: And we’re off!
Early arrivals show Reading how it’s done.
Friday: He’s coming for ya!
“It is a pleasure to be here at 12.30 in the fucking afternoon, to show you exactly what you should expect from every band here,” said rock hero Frank Carter, opening up the first massive mosh pit of Reading 2022.
Friday: VIPs only
“These mosh pits belong to some very important people,” Carter continued before ‘Wild Flowers’. “Men get to the edge and hold your male friends accountable. This mosh pit is for the ladies. I promise you will not see a happier mosh pit all weekend.”
Friday: All hail Willow
The alt-rock superstar kicked things off on Leeds’ Main Stage East and had a rowdy ol’ time.
Friday: Scream if you wanna go faster
Willow graced the stage with plenty of gusto and a setlist stacked with her huge, heavy rock anthems. Mega stuff.
Friday: Never gonna give you up
BBNO$ Rickrolled all of Reading in style before smashing the main stage
Friday: Uh-huh Honey
“The first and favourite ceremony of ours was Reading festival,” said Black Honey on Instagram this week. “This fest is in our DNA”. Watching them smash their main stage set, we felt it too.
Friday: Griff’s Reading debut
“Reading flippin’ Festival – I never got to attend this festival as a teenager, so I want to make my first Reading a special one.”
Friday: Mixing things up
Griff remixed ‘One Night’ into Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’. Sounded huge.
Friday: It’s getting hot in here…
Sweaty walls and screaming teens: North London’s Bakar received a hero’s welcome at the BBC Radio 1 Dance tent.
Friday: Walloooooows!
Two years after they were supposed to make their Reading debut before the pandemic, frontman Dylan Minette led the LA trio through 40 minutes of sprightly alt-rock – and the results were staggering.
Friday: Golden hour
PinkPantheress’ set was one of the first ‘I was there moments’ of the festival – for those who could actually make it in. A huge crowd packed out the tent, as fans squeezed in to join the party.
Friday: Show us yer grillz!
Backstage, Knucks posed for NME’s snapper and flashed his golden teeth. Looking good.
Friday: Little Simz proves the doubters wrong
“I’ve been manifesting things throughout my career. But people would doubt me: they said Reading main stage? Never.” Little Simz belongs on the main stage, if any there were any naysayers left out there.
Friday: Smashed it
Leaning on her seismic 2021 album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’, the London artist’s set was a powerful blend of sweet rhythms, focused flows, and a beaming personality.
Friday: Feel the roar
Making his Reading Festival debut, Chicago rapper Polo G pulled in one of the biggest crowds of the weekend so far.
Friday: Such lovely boys!
Glass Animals shared many a group hug backstage. N’awww.
Friday: Wise words from the Hot Girl Coach
“To all my Hotties out there, please remember that loving yourself is the most important thing you can do for yourself.”
Friday: Meg’s dance troupe doubles in size
“They told me I could not bring Hotties up here today,” Megan told the crowd during her performance. She eventually brought some fans onstage anyway, and encouraged them to dance with her, much to the audience’s joy.
Friday: Rap at its spine-tingling best
With added vocalists and an orchestra section, Dave took tracks from the Mercury-winning ‘Psychodrama’ and follow-up ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’ to glorious heights.
Friday: Can you feel the love?
After a surprise appearances from AJ Tracey and Stormzy, Dave got the pyro out to wrap up an hour of superstar-sized spectacle.
Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, photos, interviews and more from Reading & Leeds 2022.
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