Sun, Controversy and sensational music: My experience at Reading Festival Sunday 2022

Although I go to concerts religiously, going to a festival was a new experience for me so as you can imagine I was ecstatic, and Reading Festival undoubtably lived up to my expectations. Reading festival on a day ticket for the Sunday meant a warm, summers day partying and watching mind-blowing performances.

When arriving at the festival, it’s very overwhelming due to the remarkable atmosphere and insane size of the festival. There is everything from music stages to a fun fair and hundreds of places to get food. Despite this as soon as I get absorbed by the thing I love most - the music - it becomes an incredible day. Everyone is being themselves and wearing whatever they want without having to feel judged which is incredible. From the beaming bright outfits to unique hair and makeup, it feels like being at the Capitol in The Hunger Games. A festival is like its own little world where nothing really matters, and everyone just adores music and wants to have fun.

The first band I see Pale Waves, are a band from Manchester rising in popularity since the release of their first album in 2018. Their unique pop-punk style of music matched with empowering lyrics about their own experiences being part of the LGBTQA+ community and gender equality issues make the band well known by people who find these topics relatable. Pale Waves have an exceptional stage presence keeping the crowd absorbed in their bouncy music and atmosphere. The crowd are loving the performance dancing, singing along and creating thrilling mosh pits. If you’ve never listened to this band, I would 100% recommend it. My favourite of their songs is ‘Jealousy’, ‘She’s My Religion’ and ‘Television Romance’.

After Pale Waves I excitedly go to see the band DMA’s who I had never listened to before however I really enjoy the lively set. The band are very popular and bring in an extensive crowd who know their songs and happily dance along. DMA’s are a three-piece rock band from Australia who have been gaining popularity with three albums since 2016. I did enjoy this band, but they weren’t my favourite I saw that day but of course I may be biased as I was already a fan of all the other bands I saw.

Next, I see Bastille a highly popular band after their song ‘Pompeii’ hit number two on the charts back in 2014. They’ve had a few other chart hits since such as ‘Happier’ and ‘Good Grief’. Before seeing Bastille, I thought most of their songs were repetitive and annoying, just sounding the same as any other chart song with no depth that makes me want to slam my head against my wall. Despite this, I really like the lead singers uplifting stage presence and elevated energy. Even though their songs aren’t my favourite, I must admit they are impressive performers. I watch this band from further back as we left to get food, but they seem again to have a great turn out and mega fans who are super hyped.

Charli XCX, the next act I see, bounds onto stage immediately giving it her all like there is no where she would rather be. She has upbeat, catchy songs but somehow manages to do full dance routines throughout the whole set and takes hardly any breaks between songs. Charli XCX seriously surprised me as it takes real love for what you’re doing to be as absorbed in the performance as she is. Her confidence is unmatched, and as a young woman I truly find her inspiring. I also adore Charli’s crowd and remember seeing someone on the big screen in her mosh pit wearing their Starbuck’s uniform. Why they were wearing it I’m not sure, but it didn’t fail to make me laugh.

After Charli finished, I waited at the front of the stage until it was time for the headline act, one of my favourite bands of all time, The 1975. The 1975 are a controversial band at Reading as they were a last-minute replacement for Rage Against the Machine a heavier, rock band. Festival goers were upset and thought they should’ve been replaced by a band with a more similar style of music rather than an indie band which is completely understandable, especially for those who bought day tickets because they love Rage Against the Machine. I on the other hand, was over the moon and couldn’t wait to see one of my all-time favourite bands on stage once again.

Despite all the backlash The 1975 took to the stage doing their best hits and gave a phenomenal performance. The lead singer Matty Healy wonders onto stage with so much swagger, wearing sunglasses and smoking in classic 1975 style. His vocals are incredible as they switch between headbanging, mosh pit style songs straight to mellow, lyrical ones. Songs like ‘Chocolate’, ‘It’s not living (If it’s not with you)’ and ‘Sex’ are absolute classics that get the crowd screaming with joy. The rest of the band also performed perfectly and seemed so happy to be there after not being able to tour for so long due to the corona virus.

After the show I’ve had multiple people who didn’t like the band say they were marvellous, and they’ve changed their mind about them, which really emphasises how spectacular the evening was.

As I hear the euphoric guitar riff at the start of my utter favourite song ‘Robbers’ begin to play, I glance around and feel at home. Simply safe and comfortable surrounded by people who cherish the same music as me. Watching the sun set and literally crying along to this heart-wrenching song I know there is nothing that makes me happier than being stood right there.