In just a few hours, the town of Reading will transform into the epicenter of one of the world’s most celebrated music festivals. Music lovers from all corners flock to Reading to experience a festival with a legacy that stretches back over three decades. Over the years, legendary acts like The Chemical Brothers, Foo Fighters, Oasis, and Prodigy have lit up the Reading Festival stage. If you’re planning to attend this iconic event for the first time, you’re in for a treat. This article is packed with essential tips for navigating Reading Festival 2024, so jump right in.

The Reading Festival has become an annual tradition, drawing crowds of music enthusiasts year after year, no matter the weather. Festival-goers have braved rain, endured sweltering heat, and embraced the mud, learning the art of packing smartly. You’ll want to bring two sets of clothing, prioritizing shorts and T-shirts, but don’t forget waterproof gear and warm layers as rain is expected on Saturday. A quality sleeping bag is a must, and remember to pack light—dragging a heavy bag while hunting for the perfect camping spot is far from fun.

Towels are essential; one can dry you off on rainy days, while the other provides a cool respite when soaked in cold water during hot spells. Wet wipes are invaluable for reasons you’ll soon discover. Sunscreen is crucial for Friday and Sunday to avoid painful sunburns that could ruin your festival experience. If you enjoy a beer (and who doesn’t?), consider bringing your own to avoid the high prices at the festival. Other must-haves include a hat for sun protection, plenty of water to stay hydrated, sunglasses, glow sticks, and a waterproof hoodie for unexpected downpours.

Selecting the right tent is key to a successful Reading Festival adventure. Choose one that stands out so you can easily find it amidst the sea of tents. Otherwise, you might find yourself awkwardly entering the wrong one more than once. Avoid pitching your tent near hedgerows or main pathways, as these areas can be problematic. The ideal spot is near a tree and close to the arena where the bands play. Finally, don’t forget to make new friends, wear your trendiest jeans, and embrace the festival atmosphere with confidence!

And most importantly, don’t miss the First Timer’s Guide from Reading Festival—it’s an essential read for newcomers.

Next week, Reading & Leeds, the largest UK festival devoted to music will welcome 240,000 music fans in a celebration of live music with an era-defining line-up loaded with electrifying artists that reflect the dynamic tastes of current generations and tickets are due to sell out this weekend. 2024 will welcome two brand-new stages, The Chevron, featuring the world’s first floating video canopy, and The Aux stage, a first of its kind live stage for the UK’s digital content creators. 

Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic said, “We are delighted that weekend tickets for Reading & Leeds are expected to sell out in the coming days. Reading & Leeds is a pivotal moment in UK cultural calendar and we’re thrilled to mark a new chapter in the festival’s rich history: the debut of the groundbreaking 40,000-capacity Chevron Stage and the Aux Stage that welcomes some of the most popular content creators in the UK.”

The six stellar headliners topping the bill on the most prestigious main stage of all are: the extraordinarily talented Fred again… whose meteoric rise will see him perform his first festival headline show, one of this generation’s most iconic sounding artists Lana Del Rey and Brit-pop icon Liam Gallagher who will mark the 30^th anniversary of Oasis’ all-conquering debut Definitely Maybe by performing the album in full at Reading & Leeds. Catfish and the Bottlemenwill be making their highly anticipated return, the original members of Blink-182, one the world’s biggest rock bands, will join forces, plus the UK’s biggest independent artist Gerry Cinnamon who has enjoyed one of contemporary music’s most extraordinary ascents to stardom. 

Also performing is BRIT awards record breaker RAYE, London-born hip-hop star 21 Savage, UKR&B icon Jorja Smith and Pendulum, one of the biggest electronic rock crossover bands of all time. 

Rock and indie acts announced include Ireland’s most intoxicating post-punk group Fontaines D.C.,indie trailblazers Two Door Cinema Club, fan favourites The Wombats and Wrexham’s finest pop-punk heroes, Neck Deep. Coming from across the pond are Bleachers led by Lana Del Rey collaborator Jack Antonoff, plus alternative indie pop talents Rachel Chinouriri, and the genre blending Hak Baker.

A cohort of some of Gen Z’s leading talents will be at Reading & Leeds, such as pop icon in-the-making and star of the new ‘Mean Girls: The Musical’ Reneé Rapp, guitar-pop hero Beabadoobee, alt hit maker Ashnikko and winners of the BBC Sound of Poll 2024, The Last Dinner Party, who have been taking the world by storm with their distinct indie sound. 

Also, ready to take to the Reading & Leeds stages is BRIT Award-winning R&B group FLO, soulful singer taking the world by storm Teddy Swims, political punk upstarts Kid Kapichi, indie pop darling The Japanese House, joyous dance pop act Confidence Man and bassline innovator Bru-C.

Continuing its constant evolution, 2024 will see the spectacular debut of a ground-breaking new stage: The Chevron, which will feature iconic artists, The Prodigy, Sonny Fodera, Skrillex, Nia Archives, Barry Can’t Swim, Denzel Curry, Bou,Kenya Grace and many more.

Positioned in the main arena of both festival sites, The Chevron is an immense 40,000-capacity open-air venue featuring mammoth staging and the world’s first floating video canopy made up of hundreds of thousands of programmable LED lights. The new stage will also host the world’s biggest silent rave where fans can secure their tickets and headsets for £15 plus a refundable £20 deposit. 

Reading & Leeds will also welcome an entirely new set of performers with the debut of The Aux, a first of its kind live stage for UK’s digital content creators. Acts include comedic personalities Max Balegde and George Clarke, both renowned for their podcast The Useless Hotline, Ash Holme will bring a live version of her podcast Antics with Ash, as will content creator and presenter Ayamé Ponderwith In Ayame we Trust. Chunkz & Filly, stars of the YouTube hit The Chunkz & Filly Show will bring plenty of laughs along with The M1Podcast will bring off-the-cuff freestyles plus many more.

On top of that, a plethora of emerging new artists including Halifax songstress Ellur, Hull’s electro-punk Jodie Langford and Reading rock club-kid Cameron Hayes and many more will all play the BBC Introducing Stage. A staple of Reading & Leeds festival since 2008, over 80% of the Reading & Leeds line up have been championed through BBC Introducing.  Demonstrating the importance of giving up-and-coming artists a chance to expand their audiences on the most impactful stages in the country.

The fan favourite and Leeds exclusive LS23 stage returns – the 360° immersive rave experience, known for its incredible light design, will see festival goers packed together dancing until the early hours, deep within the forest. Newly announced for sets at the LS23 stage include Manchester-based producer Sota, and Nathan Dawe.

So, if you missed out on WOMAD 2024, I can only say one thing: you’re going to need a time machine. We love WOMAD. This year’s festival was, as always, a cosmic explosion of music, culture, and all things fabulous. Held in the lush fields of Charlton Park, it was a vibrant mishmash of global grooves, tantalising tastes, and enough good vibes to make a rainbow jealous.

First things first, the music. Oh, the music! Imagine every corner of the globe squeezing into

your ears and giving them a big, joyous hug. Alison Gold-frapp was a header but here are

three standout acts that made the festival It, for us:

1. Tinariwen: Their electrifying set of desert blues transported us straight to the Sahara, and honestly, I’m still trying to shake the sand out of my shoes.
2. Orchestra Baobab: These legends from Senegal brought a fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms that had everyone moving. Their timeless grooves were nothing short of magical.
3. Anoushka Shankar: Delivered a spellbinding performance, blending traditional

Indian sounds with contemporary flair. It was a journey of pure musical bliss.

• Kumbia Boruka, a French band of Mexican origin, were based around a steady drum pulse and accordion riffs, answered by trumpet and trombone, the music the slow train inevitability of Latin American cumbia. B

Foodies, rejoice! WOMAD didn’t just feed our souls but our stomachs too. The World of Food tent was a culinary carnival – we’re talking mouth-watering street food from every corner of the planet. Here are four food places that had us coming back for more:

• Jerk Joint: The jerk chicken wrap here was so good it made me consider proposing to the chef. Spicy, tangy, and absolutely divine.
• Lush Creperie every year we go for these crepes, such good value and always super delicious, I recommend the savoury ones fully of gorgeous cheese and ham.
• Mumbai Fiery chaat and aromatic curries that transported us straight to the streets of Mumbai. The paneer tikka was a highlight.
• Archies Toasties Shop: 10/10 from my daughter for their chips. She’s the international critic of the century on chips around the world and we brought  another generous boxful

Now, let’s talk vibes. The festival site was decked out in a riot of colours, with art installations that made you feel like you’d tumbled into a Salvador Dalí painting. And the people? Pure gold. Hippies, hipsters, families, and free spirits – everyone was on the same wavelength, just there to soak up the magic and spread the love.

The children’s area was a mini-utopia of crafts and laughter, proving that WOMAD really is a family affair. Here are some of the precise activities that had the little ones (and sometimes the adults) thoroughly entertained:

1. Circus Skills Workshop: From juggling to tightrope walking, kids got to unleash their inner acrobat.
2. Creative Crafts Corner: An area brimming with art supplies where kids could paint, glue, and create to their heart’s content.
3. Drumming Circles: Little ones learned basic rhythms and beats, creating a joyful cacophony that echoed across the fields.
4. Storytelling Sessions: Enchanting tales from around the world were brought to life by charismatic storytellers, capturing imaginations young and old.

In none British fashion, the weather was crazily gorgeous but you can’t order that. Slivers of sunshine shining through the flags and big wheel the whole time…

In a nutshell, WOMAD 2024 was an unforgettable fiesta of culture, community, and unbridled joy. If you haven’t been, mark your calendars for next year. And if you have, well, see you there – same time, same place, more fabulousness guaranteed!