From pits to pop stars: who to see at Reading & Leeds 2025

Alright. Reading & Leeds. One’s got a Waitrose, the other’s got that Gregg’s with the five-mile queue. But this weekend, they’ll both be crawling with mosh pits, glittery cowboy hats, lads drinking Fosters at 11am, and, crucially, some of the best new music on the planet.

Let’s just get this out of the way: no, Chappell Roan isn’t on this list. Obviously, she’s a must-see. You’re not a fool, we’re not your dad. The woman’s got a neon throne and a cape. You’ll find her by following the screams. We’ve also left out all the Dork cover stars who are popping up this weekend – Alessi Rose, Conan Gray, Nell Mescal, Wunderhorse et al – because, well, it goes without saying. We love them. They’re legends. You’re already going.

So here’s who else we reckon deserves your attention: the chaotic punks, the tender weirdos, the future headliners, and at least one band who might start a riot. Whack on your most waterproof trainers and meet us at the barrier.

Lambrini Girls

Lambrini Girls don’t play gigs, they stage full-body exorcisms. With their debut album ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ now firmly installed as one of 2025’s most vital releases, the Brighton duo are riding a wave of righteous noise, sold-out tours and critical acclaim that’d make most bands cry into their Tesco prosecco. Their live show is a glorious mess of political fury, off-the-wall humour and jagged punk riffs that hit like flying bins. Songs like ‘Company Culture’, ‘Big Dick Energy’ and ‘Filthy Rich Nepo Baby’ are razor-sharp takedowns of workplace sexism, lad culture, and class cosplay, delivered with full-volume irreverence. At the heart of it all? Guts, guts, and more guts.

Nxdia

Hot off the back of a packed summer that’s included sets at Latitude, Brighton Pride and Dork’s Day Out (we know talent when we see it), Egyptian-Sudanese, Manchester-raised star Nxdia is bringing their genre-melting, emotionally high-voltage sound to Reading & Leeds. With a debut mixtape ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’ already under their belt, and tracks like ‘She Likes A Boy’, ‘More!’ and recent standout ‘Nothing At All’ racking up millions of streams, Nxdia has become one of the most vital new voices in pop’s weirder, queerer corner. Their music cuts through with humour and heartache that feels bold, brilliant and wildly relatable.

The Pill

Chaos, charisma and crunching riffs: The Pill deliver all three in spades. Their debut release, simply titled ‘The EP’, is a blitz of DIY punk brilliance, fusing razor-sharp lyrics with scrappy guitars and bratty, brilliant energy. From the raucous charm of ‘Bale Of Hay’ to the no-filter commentary of ‘Woman Driver’, their songs skewer social norms while sounding like they were written in a pub bathroom mirror. On stage, they’re impossible to ignore; unpredictable, hilarious and weirdly unifying. Expect sweat, screaming and at least one song you’ll immediately want to shout along to.

jasmine.4.t

The first UK artist signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records, jasmine.4.t’s debut album ‘You Are The Morning’ is a raw, defiant love letter to queer friendship, transition and survival. Album-closer ‘Woman’ has become a lightning rod for fans around the world, now immortalised in a fan-sourced video that stitches together queer joy and solidarity like a warm, chaotic patchwork quilt. Built on fingerpicked guitar, cathartic punk flourishes and a voice that sounds like it’s felt everything, her set promises to be one of the weekend’s most powerful and quietly revolutionary.

Waterparks

What do you get when you throw pop-punk, hyperpop, neon hair dye and Tumblr-core angst into a blender and hit ‘maximum’? Waterparks, obviously. Unapologetically maximalist, they’ve spent years perfecting the art of the over-the-top banger. Expect absurdly catchy hooks, chaotic energy and at least one song that makes you feel like a teenager mainlining Monster Energy at Warped Tour. Frontman Awsten Knight knows how to work a crowd, and their sets are basically a sugar rush in gig form. Don’t resist.

Cliffords

Cliffords have built a buzz the old-fashioned way: by being really, really good. No gimmicks, no industry machine, just word-of-mouth wildfire and a second EP (‘Salt of the Lee’) that proves all the early whispers weren’t just hype. The Cork quartet are rough-edged but sharp-minded, crafting guitar music that’s both timeless and entirely theirs, soaked in atmosphere and pointed emotion. Live, there’s a hunger to them. Not desperation, just the fire of a band who know they’re getting better by the day and can already taste what’s coming next.

Mannequin Pussy

Intensity is the name of the game here, and Mannequin Pussy don’t mess about. Their music swerves from breathless punk blasts to sweeping moments of emotion, often in the space of a single song. There’s catharsis baked into every note. Live, they are a force. Frontwoman Marisa Dabice holds nothing back, her presence both commanding and deeply human. It’s loud, it’s raw, it’s beautiful. You might leave a bit wrecked, but that’s kind of the point.

Radio Free Alice

Radio Free Alice are fast becoming one of the most compelling bands to emerge from the Australian post-punk scene. Their new EP ‘Empty Words’ captures a band deep in their stride: thoughtful, stylish and unshakably cool. Songs like ‘Toyota Camry’ and ‘Chinese Restaurant’ hum with nervous energy and lyrical detachment, picking apart nostalgia, identity and cultural clutter with a steady hand. There’s a clarity to their sound that cuts through the noise, anchored by Noah Learmonth’s wry, magnetic delivery. Fresh from a string of sold-out UK shows and a breakout summer across Europe, their Reading & Leeds sets will be the start of something — and you’ll want to say you were there.

Heartworms

If there’s a darker corner of the festival this weekend, you’ll probably find Heartworms in it. Jojo Orme’s vision is as precise as it is unsettling, wrapping militaristic post-punk in gothic tension and existential dread. Live, she doesn’t just perform, she commands. Every synth stab, barked lyric and perfectly controlled silence feels part of a bigger narrative – one where rage, ritual and beauty collide. Step into the void, if you dare. You won’t regret it.

Keo

Fronted by 21-year-old Finn Keogh, Keo’s songs crackle with emotional urgency, shaped by years of busking, heartbreak and raw, lived-in storytelling. Their debut EP ‘Siren’ is a jagged, poetic document of youth in freefall – from the scorched apology of ‘I Lied, Amber’ to the aching, open wound of ‘Hands’. There’s nothing overly polished or rehearsed here; every note feels instinctive, and on stage, that intensity turns electric. Their sold-out UK tour is already the stuff of whispered legend, and Reading & Leeds will only spread the word. If you’re after a set that’ll leave you feeling like your heart’s just been turned inside out, in the best way, Keo are the one.

Amyl and the Sniffers

There’s no such thing as a chill Amyl and the Sniffers set. It’s a full-throttle, sweat-slicked punch in the face – and you’ll love every second of it. The Aussie punks are riding high on the release of their third album ‘Cartoon Darkness’, out last year. Amy Taylor remains one of the most magnetic frontpeople in music, part snarling punk poet, part eye-rolling menace, and the band around her is tighter, faster and rowdier than ever. If you’re looking for something loud and gloriously unhinged, this is your festival peak. Don’t wear your nice shoes.

luvcat

luvcat isn’t just building a career; she’s building a cult. With lipstick-smudged romanticism and a voice like a haunted lullaby, she makes music that slips between fantasy and confession, theatre and therapy. New single ‘Blushing’ is a smoky swoon of jazz, pop and glitter-drenched chaos, taken from her forthcoming debut album ‘Vicious Delicious’ – a record she calls “old school romance slightly off its hinges.” Her live shows are part noir cabaret, part fever dream, and fully adored by a fanbase that dresses like her, quotes her lyrics like scripture, and has been following her from Liverpool pubs to Tokyo festivals. This is more than a set: it’s a seduction. Give in.

Reading & Leeds takes place from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th August.