Reading Festival 2017 - Friday

Brimming with the a varied selection of musical genres across the site and headline sets from Eminem, Muse and Kasabian, Reading Festival is primed to be the defining festival weekend of the summer and completely sold out a few days ago!

First act of today for us was Hull's LIFE on The Pit stage. Their debit album 'Popular Music' came out in June this year and the title track is a belter live.

The chorus of "totally off my face I listen to popular music" is somewhat of an anthem for the disaffected with Mez's vocals echoing a Mark E Smith attitude and made a fitting start to the weekend. 

Showcased by their raucous onstage presence, LIFE package political comment and pop hook laden punk into a captivating live set.

LIFE

LIFE

LIFE

Continuing our delve into all the punky primal noises Reading has to offer this year, next up were FREAK - the alter ego of Connar Ridd.

It was a great live show with boundless energy, both the EP title track 'I Like To Smile When I’m Sad' and the storming 'Cake' are well worth a listen. 'No Money' was also good to see live, introduced as "for our glorious NHS".

First song 'What Happened' was almost over when the power cut but they guys handled it admirably brushing it off with the quip "f**k the power". 

They're off on a co-headline tour with King Nun next month, so you can check out their energetic garage rock with straight to the point lyrics for yourself!

FREAK

FREAK

Over on the main stage L.A.'s duo Deap Vally were a well polished machine with two snarling and captivating cogs; Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards.

From fuzzy guitars to massive riffs Deap Vally craft a mixed sonic experience from mellower blues right through to full-on punk angst. 

Yet again we were impressed with another 2-piece who can deliver a massive and raucous depth of sound, the snarling rock and blues is reminiscent of The Kills and Lindsey has a level of showmanship to justify that comparison - bounding about and completely owning the Main Stage. 

Back at The Pit IDLES were next up. Earlier this year they released their debut album 'Brutalism' which is outstanding. The last time we caught them live it was a great show so we were looking forward to catching them again today.

We weren't disappointed despite high expectations as their cutting sense of humour again told us tales of woe with impassioned gravelly vocals, and so much energy from the whole band  in a furious assault on our senses.

'1049 Gotho' was also cracking live, a song about depression singer Joe urged the crowd to make sure they speak to someone and get some help if they are affected - IDLES are one of a whole host of bands at the moment using their influence to speak up about important issues which is really great to see.

Highlights of the set were the angrily spitting track 'Mother', the confrontational lyrics were delivered with piercingly fierce vocals and 'Well Done' which is laced with slicing social comment, raw and relevant. Yet again, they delivered an epic adrenaline fuelled and highly entertaining set.

IDLES

IDLES

IDLES

IDLES

It has been amazing to see so many furious punk bands, with each with a sharp sense of humour to them and something poignant to say and all before the sun has even started to set on day one!