Biffy Clyro
Main stage
Leeds: Fri 21:30-23:00 / Reading: Sun 22:10-23:25
Biffy Clyro are one of the biggest names in UK rock music right now, with seven full length albums and 21 years experience under their belt they certainly know how to put on a great live show. The Scottish three-piece's back catalogue is incredibly diverse, with their earlier material providing them with a somewhat cult following. However, it was their 2010 album "Only Revolutions" which rightfully earned the band their big break. They've played the festival several times before, last headlining in 2013. Some people were concerned the band wouldn't be able to pull of such a large show, but they were soon proved wrong as the band's set was a huge success with fans and critics alike. Their latest album "Ellipsis" dropped just last month and the lead single "Wolves of Winter"" channels some of their older (heavier) material. Their headline set is sure to be a highlight of the weekend for anyone who chooses to see them.
Eagulls
Festival Republic Stage
Leeds: Fri 17:45-18:20 / Reading: Sun 18:50-19:20
Eagulls are a Leeds based post-punk four piece band that have been creating quite a stir both locally and nationally. The band's self titled debut was released in 2013, and after the release of their first single "Council Flat Blues" it was expected to be one of the best underground albums of the year. It didn't disappoint, the band toured the album worldwide and even performed on David Letterman's talk show to a huge US audience. They released their second album "Ullages" earlier this year and it has a slightly slower, moodier feel. This newer sound combined with the more hectic sounds of the first album will definitely ensure their set at this year's festival will be one to remember.
The Vryll Society
Festival Republic Stage
Leeds: Fri 13:55-14:20 / Reading: Sun 14:50-15:20
This Liverpool based psychedelic band are slowly but surely making a name for themselves in the UK. To quote the group's Facebook page: "Locked away in their subterranean rehearsal space for more than a year, The Vryll Society have been creating a complex body of work, to stimulate both the soul and mind". For me personally, that description alone is almost enough to make me want to see them live as soon as possible. But aside from describing themselves very well, The Vryll Society have played at several major festivals this summer, including Glastonbury and are on many different music publication's "ones to watch list". With rolling psych drum beats, funkadelic inspired guitar riffs and mellow vocals, their short set at this years Reading and Leeds festival is surely worth attending before the band move on to bigger things in coming years.
Die Antwood
Main Stage
Leeds: Sat 15:50-16:25 / Reading: Fri 16:15-17:00
Die Antwood are a rap/rave trio from Cape Town, South Africa, who are known worldwide for their intense and comical live performances. The group base their image on a South African counter-culture movement known as "zef", which begins to explains their eccentric and sometimes quite disturbing stage wardrobe choices. The group have three full length studio albums under their belt and are worldwide festival favourites, although this is their only UK festival date of the year. The band last played the festival two years ago on the NME stage, and with this year's jump to the main stage I'm sure they'll have something special in store.
One of their biggest hits "I Fink U Freeky" is set to send the main stage crowd at both locations into a frenzy, you can listen to it here.
Pulled Apart By Horses
Festival Republic Stage
Leeds: Sat 19:40-20:20 / Reading: Fri 21:30-22:05
The second Leeds based band to feature on this list, Pulled Apart By Horses are a massive force to be reckoned with when it comes to live performance. With a speedy and thudding rhythm section and shrieking guitar riffs, the band sound quite impressive on record but it doesn't compare to their live show. The four piece have spent a large segment of their career in and around the city of Leeds, playing their biggest and smallest shows to date in the city over the last seven or so years. The band's most recent Leeds show was in the city's Millennium Square, supporting The Cribs (you can read my review of that gig here), but they're more suited to darker smaller venues such as the Brudenell Social Club. Their set at Reading and Leeds will be played in one of the smaller performance tents at the festival so will suit their smaller club playing style, you'd be a fool to miss them.
Super Hans
Alternative Stage
Leeds only: 00:15-01:00
Everyone's favourite character from most people's favourite comedy TV show has come to life. Otherwise known as Matt King, the "Peep Show" actor decided this year to bring his Super Hans character to the masses through a series of festival performances. I don't really know what to expect from his set, but if his music taste on Channel 4 show is anything to go by, there will be plenty of Chemical Brothers and very little Coldplay being played. You may as well go along to his set, there's nothing else to do at that time really and I'm sure whatever he plays there won't be a better way of killing 45 minutes on that particular night.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Festival Republic Stage
Leeds: Sun 18:10-18:45 / Reading: Sat 19:40-20:10
Leeds: Sun 20:20-21:10 / Reading: Sat 21:05-21:55
Festival Republic Stage
Leeds: Sun 18:10-18:45 / Reading: Sat 19:40-20:10
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are one of the most exciting and innovative bands playing the festival this year. The band formed in Melbourne and are renowned for taking classic sixties style psychedelic sounds and turning them into something that sounds like nothing else about today. With three guitarists and two drummers on stage at all times, the improvised "jams" the band go into when playing live can make you forget that they even have any previously recorded material to play. The band have released seven albums in just four years and are set to release another four (yes four) albums throughout 2017. With previous material spanning from long winding slow psych songs to much harsher garage rock style crowd pleasers, the promise of so much new material next year really is something to be excited about. Their unjustly short set will no doubt be a highlight of the festival for me and anyone else who has the sense to see them.
Listen to their acclaimed transformative track "The River" here.
Nas
NME/BBC Radio 1 StageLeeds: Sun 20:20-21:10 / Reading: Sat 21:05-21:55
Brooklyn born hip hop artist Nasir Jones AKA Nas is one of the biggest and best names on the line-up, despite his unjustifiably low down slot. He was originally added to the lineup as a "special guest" below Haim and Two Door Cinema Club (Haim have since dropped out) but the fact that Nas is playing below Two Door Cinema club is something I cannot wrap my head around. He has had eight consecutive Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums and his debut album "Illmatic", which was released in 1994, is regarded to this day as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Tracks from this album will surely receive a massive reaction from the crowd. However, you shouldn't just take one album into account when considering Nas as an artist, he has remained relevant and prominent in the music industry for over 20 years. His discography is inspired by timelessly important matters such as race, politics, religion and drugs. It is safe to say that whatever he chooses to play at Reading and Leeds next weekend his set is one that nobody should miss.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Main Stage
Leeds: Sun 21:20-23:00 / Reading: Saturday 21:25-23:35
Red Hot Chili Peppers have become a pretty much worldwide household name over the past 33 years. They formed in LA in 1983 and have enjoyed much success and critical acclaim off the back of almost all of their albums. Arguably the biggest name on the line-up, the band will bring their signature funk rock sound to the Reading and Leeds main stage and are pretty much guaranteed to be greeted by a huge crowd of all ages. The band's most recent alum "The Getaway" was released in June this year. However, the crowd will no doubt be gathered to hear classics such as "Under The Bridge", "Can't Stop" and "Californiacation". The band played at Scottish festival T in the Park earlier in the summer and pulled off a lengthy, career spanning set despite the grim weather. Their set next weekend is sure to contain lengthy bass solos and huge sing-alongs.
Fat White Family
Alternative Stage
Leeds only: Sun 01:30-02:30
If you've read anything from this blog before or you know me personally, you'll know how I feel about this band. For me, there's no better band around, everything about them, from their scruffy and unkept appearance to their violent and unpredictable live shows appeals to me and plenty of others on many levels. They have released two completely different yet equally incredible albums and despite the fact that founding member and lead guitarist Saul Adamczewski has a tendency to not turn up for shows, the rest of the band continue through any and all circumstances. After unexpectedly releasing a new single titled "Breaking Into Aldi" earlier in the week, a late night show in the smallest performance tent at the festival will ensure that everyone who attends the gig will leave the festival the next morning with an experience they will be talking about for weeks afterwards.
There are plenty of other great acts playing the festival that didn't quite make this list. The Wytches are playing Leeds festival only on the Thursday night and are sure to get the weekend off to a loud and brutal start with their signature heavy doom rock sound (have a read of my review from the Garage show last here). Savages, Hinds, Foals and The Vaccines (read my review of last year's Brixton academy show here) are also sure to make the weekend one to remember.
Check out this full line-up poster here:
Check out this full line-up poster here:
Words: Liam Navey.
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