Reading and Leeds Festival today revealed even more new music acts to join the bill across the two sites over August bank holiday weekend (24 – 26 August) this year, as well as the first raft of world-class comedy acts who will also be appearing.
. Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, Death From Above, The Used, Lady Leshurr and Yxng Bane are just some of the new names added, while Harry Hill, Seann Walsh and Mo Gilligan are among the first comedy acts announced. They’ll be performing alongside Kings of Leon, Kendrick Lamar, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco at the famous Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park.
Mike Shinoda - founding member of legendary rock band Linkin Park - will play exclusive festival shows at Reading and Leeds Festivals this Summer. Fans can expect a mixture of material new and old including the Post Traumatic EP and new music to be released later this year. The Reading and Leeds shows are sure to be unmissable special sets.
Haslemere-born prodigy Rex Orange County makes alternative pop that weaves together the epic fantasy of teenage love with the mundane reality of teenage life, he joins the line up along with Maryland’s most exciting export, the artful and hypnotic Maggie Rogers, Sydney based rock band DMA’S and Sam Fender, who mixes gritty vocals with world class production – imbuing his nascent indie anthems with an acerbic bite.
Exciting alt-rock concept Dinosaur Pile-Up who hail from Leeds itself join the Reading and Leeds bill for a triumphant hometown set as well as one down south, with the likes of hardcore punk outfit Blood Youth, King Nun, Bloxx and more all affirming our love for British rock acts right now.
A world-class music festival, however, needs a global line-up and the latest raft of names does not disappoint. Canadian rock heroes Death From Above will be on hand to represent this year, whilst Scandi garage rock outfit Royal Republic also join. Possibly the most exciting alternative outfit from Bologna in recent years Husky Loops are also signed up, as well as Australian alt-rockers Chase Atlantic, Nashville indie-poppers Coin, Utah’s noughties rock legends The Used and St Albans pop-punk band Trash Boat.
Opening the main stage at Reading only will be internet sensation Big Shaq and Friends. Elsewhere, Lady Leshurr – London rapper, singer and producer extraordinaire – makes her return to Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park this year. Croydon’s latest R&B export, Hardy Caprio, joins to showcase his talents and prove himself worthy of the critical acclaim he has garnered lately. Yxng Bane – shortlisted on almost every ‘one to watch’ list for 2018 – also joins to take the crowd through streaming smashes such as ‘Rihanna’. Protoje, Suspect, Sneakbo, Ocean Wisdom, Skengdo x AM and more also feature.
It isn’t stopping there. Comedy is an essential part of Reading and Leeds Festivals and today the first wave of funny acts has been announced. TV star, comedian and one of the most recognisable faces in the country, Harry Hill will be bringing his wacky, surreal stand-up to the Alternative Stage this year. Joel Dommett, Seann Walsh, social media star Mo Gilligan as well as ‘King of the Council Estate’ Lee Nelson will also take to our stage. We also have the most exciting rising stars: The Sun’s Best New Comedian winner Tom Lucy will be there, plus fresh and fierce stand-up star, Lauren Pattison. ‘Man’s Not Hot’ rapper/comedy star Big Shaq will also be making a very special comedy appearance at Leeds Festival only.
As if that wasn’t enough, 23 Unofficial, Alma, A2, A-Trak, Adz and Lb, BØRNS, Black Futures, Black Peaks, Bobii Lewis, Brunswick, Bryn, Demob Happy, DJ Semtex (Reading Only), DJ Target, Easy Life, Ebenezer, Ecca Vandal, Fekky, Hak Baker, Headie One, Hex, Hippo Campus, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, Isaac Gracie, Izzie Gibbs, Lady Bird, Last Night In Paris, Man With A Mission, Marsicans, Mason Maynard, Metz, Nines, Normandie, Otherkin, Petrol Girls, Pretty Vicious, Rae Morris, Shvpes, Skindred, Skinny Girl Diet, Sleep Token, Spector, Spring King, Steel Banglez, Sunflower Bean, Teenage Wrist, The Joy Formidable, Ten Tonnes, The Faim, The Xcerts, Touts, West Thebarton, Wyvern Lingo and Yungblud were also announced as Reading and Leeds music appearances this summer.
The full Alternative Stage comedy line-up as announced so far is: Big Shaq (Michael Dapaah), Harry Hill, Seann Walsh, Lee Nelson, Joel Dommett, Mo Gilligan, Lloyd Griffith, Neil Hilborn, Dane Baptiste, Tez Ilyas, Tom Lucy, Paul McCaffrey, Kinetic Comedy, Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, Lauren Pattison, Jayde Adams, Jarlath Regan, Mawaan Rizwan, Tom Deacon, James Gill, Elliot Steel, Mark Olver and Danny McLoughlin.
Published on 29 March 2018 by Ben Robinson
