Holly Humberstone makes the sun come out with a set that shows huge promise at Reading 2023

Words: Jamie Muir.Photos: Patrick Gunning.

There’s something poetic about the fact that the rain falling on Reading Saturday stops, and the sunshine returns as Holly Humberstone takes to Main Stage East. As her journey builds to the release of debut album ‘Paint My Bedroom Black’, today at Reading she makes a statement of intent in a big way.

Blending the ripped raw and the euphoric in equal measure, it’s a set that pulls from across her career so far. Early cuts that have become beloved favourites, such as ‘The Walls Are Way Too Thin’, ‘Overkill’ and ‘Falling Asleep At The Wheel’ are the sort of tracks that don’t just become favourites on a playlist but are scribbled on tattoos and notebooks. It taps into something altogether more magical, with Holly embracing that main stage status with an unstoppable new confidence. Cuts from ‘Paint My Bedroom Black’ fit perfectly in the world forming around her - ‘Antichrist’ and ‘Superbloodmoon’ are stunning in their presence, and an added dose of unmissable is added with ‘Room Service’, seeing Holly joined onstage by Arlo Parks for a spellbinding performance.

Holly’s moment is secured with an emphatic new take on ‘Vanilla’ and a resounding whip through ‘Scarlet’. Reading 2023 may be remembered for many reasons, but Holly Humberstone controlling the elements to bring the heat will certainly be one of them. Forecast now? The very, very top