There is something about Reading Festival that never gets old. Perhaps it’s the sense of excitement, of smelling damp grass and cheap lager, or that moment when all hell is about to break loose as a band takes the stage. Reading 2023 opened with a bang, and Day One started at full tilt - a sonic explosion, a splatter of color, and a heady mix of grit, glory, and glitter.
And headliner Sam Fender once more showed why he has emerged as a voice of a generation. Pacing around the stage with a Geordie swagger, and lyrics that land like poetry with a punch, it was more like a homecoming parade than a festival slot from Rat Boy. It wasn’t just that Fender sang; he connected, sending anthem after anthem out to a crowd who sang it back like gospel.
Related Article: Reading Festival 2023 Day Two Rises Above the Chaos
Foals brought the heat with a show that reminded them of why they’re festival royalty. The guitars shimmered, the drums thundered, and Yannis Philippakis didn’t command the stage as much as he owned it. If there was a heartbeat at Day One, it was Foals, pulsating, euphoric, and undeniably alive.
And then Yard Act burst in, with their abrasive, infectious post-punk energy and biting lyricism. They’re not on the rise; they’re blasting through the stratosphere, and Reading’s crowd was more than happy to ride the wave.
D Double E, grime royalty in his own right, slid through with razor-sharp delivery and stage presence for days. And Wet Leg riding high off that double BRIT win showed they’re more than just buzz: They’re the real deal.
Elsewhere on the jam-packed bill: Ashnikko, riding high on a new album drop, tore the stage apart like a twirling, neon-clad hurricane. Hair sky blue, middle fingers in the air, their alt-pop rebellion was pure chaos in the best way. Palaye Royale offered campy flair, Meekz kept things gritty, and Sainte made swagger an art form.
The surprises kept coming: Tion Wayne paired with Ceechynaa for equal measures of bass and bravado, and Charlotte Plank, Jesse Jo Stark, and Nessa Barrett added some depth and darkness and a splash of vulnerability to the day’s mood board.
0 Comments