![Reading and Leeds is this coming weekend (28-30 August) and everyone is super-duper stoked to see their favourite bands dominate the main stages. But Reading and Leeds is also great for discovering new artists, as well as a lot of established bands who won't get the attention they deserve at this year's festival. So here are 13 bands at Reading Leeds you probably weren't planning on seeing - but definitely should.]()
Reading and Leeds is this coming weekend (28-30 August) and everyone is super-duper stoked to see their favourite bands dominate the main stages. But Reading and Leeds is also great for discovering new artists, as well as a lot of established bands who won't get the attention they deserve at this year's festival. So here are 13 bands at Reading Leeds you probably weren't planning on seeing - but definitely should.
![Glass Animals: With a number of US talk show appearances, support slots for St. Vincent and Metronomy, as well as a debut album under their belts, this Oxford indie outfit have been keeping themselves busy for the last year, and are bringing their gorgeous psychedelic-tinged indie to the NME/Radio 1 tent this year. (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Friday)]()
Glass Animals: With a number of US talk show appearances, support slots for St. Vincent and Metronomy, as well as a debut album under their belts, this Oxford indie outfit have been keeping themselves busy for the last year, and are bringing their gorgeous psychedelic-tinged indie to the NME/Radio 1 tent this year. (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Friday)
![Rustie: Glasgow producer Russell Whyte has been infiltrating dancefloors for a few years now with his addictive and hyped electronics. With roots in grime and hip-hop, Rustie's beats hit-hard and unapologetically. Check him out at the Radio 1 Dance stage. (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Fri)]()
Rustie: Glasgow producer Russell Whyte has been infiltrating dancefloors for a few years now with his addictive and hyped electronics. With roots in grime and hip-hop, Rustie's beats hit-hard and unapologetically. Check him out at the Radio 1 Dance stage. (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Fri)
![Young Thug: Thug often gets pigeon-holed as just another character in the Lil Wayne/Birdman tragedy, but the Atlanta rapper should be known in his own right. His eccentric, party-boy demeanour doesn't distract from his effortlessly flow and creative bars - in fact, it showcases them. Catch Young Thug on the Radio 1Xtra stage (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Friday).]()
Young Thug: Thug often gets pigeon-holed as just another character in the Lil Wayne/Birdman tragedy, but the Atlanta rapper should be known in his own right. His eccentric, party-boy demeanour doesn't distract from his effortlessly flow and creative bars - in fact, it showcases them. Catch Young Thug on the Radio 1Xtra stage (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Friday).
![The Bots: The great thing about The Bots is that they're not afraid to embrace their inner weirdo, it's a big part of what R L is about. Their clunky and freak-out brand of rock has landed them on two Warped Tours and supporting Damon Albarn's Africa Express. See their down-to-earth garage-rock on The Lock Up stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).]()
The Bots: The great thing about The Bots is that they're not afraid to embrace their inner weirdo, it's a big part of what R L is about. Their clunky and freak-out brand of rock has landed them on two Warped Tours and supporting Damon Albarn's Africa Express. See their down-to-earth garage-rock on The Lock Up stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).
![Moon Tourists: An irresistible trio from Kent, their infectious beats and immersive production in tandem with the dual boy/girl vocals will rekindle a feeling of summer to the crowds at the BBC Introducing stage, even if it is pissing it down. (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday)]()
Moon Tourists: An irresistible trio from Kent, their infectious beats and immersive production in tandem with the dual boy/girl vocals will rekindle a feeling of summer to the crowds at the BBC Introducing stage, even if it is pissing it down. (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday)
![Flatbush Zombies: The forerunners of the recent Beast Coast movement, this Brooklyn trio play hard on their Jamaican roots blending the chill sounds of their background with modern hip-hop crafting a balanced mix of the two. Their live show can take the form of medidative or mental - roll the dice and check them out on the Radio 1Xtra stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).]()
Flatbush Zombies: The forerunners of the recent Beast Coast movement, this Brooklyn trio play hard on their Jamaican roots blending the chill sounds of their background with modern hip-hop crafting a balanced mix of the two. Their live show can take the form of medidative or mental - roll the dice and check them out on the Radio 1Xtra stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).
![Ducking Punches: Listening to this Norwich folk-punk band feels like what their name describes. Their almost too real observations on life, combined with driven punk instrumentals, are going to hit home with the entire nation once the band gain enough traction. Think of them as sounding like Frank Turner before he lost touch with his DIY sensibilities. Catch Ducking Punches on the BBC Introducing Stage (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).]()
Ducking Punches: Listening to this Norwich folk-punk band feels like what their name describes. Their almost too real observations on life, combined with driven punk instrumentals, are going to hit home with the entire nation once the band gain enough traction. Think of them as sounding like Frank Turner before he lost touch with his DIY sensibilities. Catch Ducking Punches on the BBC Introducing Stage (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).
![Ho9909: So you think you're tough enough for everything R L has too offer? Think again. Ho99o9's blend of noise, hip-hop and punk will chew you up and spit you out like it's nothing. Hailing from New Jersey, but we're pretty sure they took a detour through the depths of hell before we caught them live. Check them out at The Pit (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).]()
Ho9909: So you think you're tough enough for everything R L has too offer? Think again. Ho99o9's blend of noise, hip-hop and punk will chew you up and spit you out like it's nothing. Hailing from New Jersey, but we're pretty sure they took a detour through the depths of hell before we caught them live. Check them out at The Pit (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).
![Radkey: A trio of brothers from Missouri, the family Radkey were home-schooled, so found their way into the classics rather than let the modern music cloud infect them. At heart, Radkey are a hard-rock trio, but listen out for elements of speed-punk and garage that trickle out now and then. Hear for yourself at the Festival Republic Stage (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).]()
Radkey: A trio of brothers from Missouri, the family Radkey were home-schooled, so found their way into the classics rather than let the modern music cloud infect them. At heart, Radkey are a hard-rock trio, but listen out for elements of speed-punk and garage that trickle out now and then. Hear for yourself at the Festival Republic Stage (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).
![Pell: Jared Pellerin has been bringing cloud-rap to the forefront of the hip-hop world's consciousness since last year. His beats are ethereal, but his lines are impactful and grounded, forming this duality and feeling of being suspended in mid-air. Experience weightlessness at the Radio 1Xtra stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).]()
Pell: Jared Pellerin has been bringing cloud-rap to the forefront of the hip-hop world's consciousness since last year. His beats are ethereal, but his lines are impactful and grounded, forming this duality and feeling of being suspended in mid-air. Experience weightlessness at the Radio 1Xtra stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).
![Bo Ningen: If you've wanted to know what acid rock is, be sure to check out the Japanese-born, London-collated quartet Bo Ningen. A collision between hard rock and weighty psychedelica, try to not to tense up or resist if you do go see them, just relax and let the noise wash over you. Bo Ningen will be playing The Lock Up Stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).]()
Bo Ningen: If you've wanted to know what acid rock is, be sure to check out the Japanese-born, London-collated quartet Bo Ningen. A collision between hard rock and weighty psychedelica, try to not to tense up or resist if you do go see them, just relax and let the noise wash over you. Bo Ningen will be playing The Lock Up Stage (Reading - Friday / Leeds - Saturday).
![White Room: Effortlessly cool and Paul Weller endorsed, this Brighton quintet have been turning heads wherever they've played, and R L will be no exception. Their homage to classic rock'n'roll through the ages will whip up a White Room hype frenzy for the weeks and months following, just wait and see. Catch White Room on the BBC Introducing Stage (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Friday).]()
White Room: Effortlessly cool and Paul Weller endorsed, this Brighton quintet have been turning heads wherever they've played, and R L will be no exception. Their homage to classic rock'n'roll through the ages will whip up a White Room hype frenzy for the weeks and months following, just wait and see. Catch White Room on the BBC Introducing Stage (Reading - Sunday / Leeds - Friday).
![And So I Watch You From Afar: If you excuse the convoluted band name, this Irish post-rock group create colossal soundscapes with guest appearances from math-rock, doom metal and drone. There's no better way to lose your mind to another dimension than seeing ASIWYFA at The Pit stage (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).]()
And So I Watch You From Afar: If you excuse the convoluted band name, this Irish post-rock group create colossal soundscapes with guest appearances from math-rock, doom metal and drone. There's no better way to lose your mind to another dimension than seeing ASIWYFA at The Pit stage (Reading - Saturday / Leeds - Sunday).
