Reading and Leeds Festival has revealed Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! at the Disco as its 2018 headliners
...and just four of 54 names announced to play at Reading’s famous Richfield Avenue and Leeds’ legendary Bramham Park this August bank holiday weekend (24th – 26th). Skepta, Wolf Alice, Annie Mac, Dua Lipa, J Hus, Diplo, Ms Banks, Pale Waves, Sigrid, Wretch 32 and Yungen are amongst the top rock, dance, alternative and urban acts on the line-up.
Kings of Leon headline Reading and Leeds for their second time. With seven albums under their belt and an arsenal of hits – there are few better equipped to close a day of top music at Reading and Leeds.
Probably the hottest act in the world right now and in the middle of a sold-out stint of UK shows, Kendrick Lamar returns to Reading and Leeds this year – and rightly so, being the new owner of five Grammy Awards. The Compton rapper is expected to deliver an unstoppable set on the Reading and Leeds stages, packed with trailblazing hits from widely acclaimed 2017 album DAMN.
Fall Out Boy are also revealed as Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park headliners. True Reading and Leeds veterans and crowd favorites, the Chicago four-piece has established their place on the festival bill over the last decade. This time around, fans can expect a guitar-fuelled celebration of certified hits like “Dance, Dance,” "Thnks fr th Mmrs,” “Centuries” as well as new songs from their latest album MANIA.
“There are very few places that can illustrate the growth of our band from its beginning. However, Reading and Leeds is one of them. It is an honour to be able to headline a festival that we grew up playing and dreaming of that top spot.”
Completing the quartet of headliners this year are Panic! at the Disco. Brendon Urie and his Las Vegas outfit will take the crowds through a night-time journey of a glittering back catalogue – including landmark albums Pretty. Odd and A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, along with songs from the certified platinum, Grammy nominated album Death Of A Bachelor.
Elsewhere, the record-breaking Dua Lipa will play Reading and Leeds as a UK festival exclusive this summer, joined by the hotly-tipped new acts Sigrid and Pale Waves. Dance fans will have their fill with the likes of legends such as Annie Mac, Birmingham breakthrough DJ favourite Hannah Wants, Riton & Kah-Lo, Bristolian duo My Nu Leng and American genius and Major Lazer co-creator Diplo.
Flying the flag for UK urban music this year is luminary Skepta who will take to the stage following his surprise appearance with Lethal Bizzle in 2017, as well as triple BRIT Award-nominee J Hus, AJ Tracey, Ms Banks, IAMDBB, Wretch 32, Nadia Rose, Kojo Funds and Fredo. Stateside stars joining the bill are Playboi Carti, Lil Pump and modern hip-hops self-proclaimed boyband Brockhampton, as well as the genre-defying Post Malone - the 22-year old NYC musician making musical waves around the world.
Following a secret opening performance on the Festival Republic stage last year, Reading and Leeds favourite Wolf Alice are set to play. The North London quartet’s 2017 album ‘Visions of a Life’ received widespread critical acclaim, with NME calling it the album of the year and affirming them as ‘Best Band in Britain’ – so we can no doubt expect an even more exhilarating set this year.
Indie fans will not be disappointed, with some of the most genre-defining acts billed to play this year. Liverpool rockers The Wombats join the line up, following their recently released album ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’. Repping Manchester will be Courteeners, storming through five studio albums and hits including ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ and ‘What Took You So Long’. Brighton four-piece The Magic Gang also join the bill in addition to Bedford-born and critically celebrated singer-songwriter Tom Grennan takes to the stage beside them after an incredible first year.
Reading and Leeds have been famous for earth-shattering rock acts over the years and 2018 will be no different, with something on the line-up for every type of rock fan. Florida rock outfit UnderØath will appear this year alongside the likes of noughties favourites Sum 41 and none other than California legends Papa Roach, as well as Waterparks, Hollywood Undead and Ohio-based hardcore band Beartooth. The best in British rock will of course also be represented in the form of Creeper – Southampton’s famous horror-punk six-piece.
Published on 14 February 2018 by Ben Robinson
