Reading & Leeds 2025: brand new stages and over 80 new artists added to line-up
Reading & Leeds has shared details of two new stages for 2025, while adding more than 80 acts to the line-up. Find all the details below.
This year’s edition of the dual festival takes place across the August Bank Holiday Weekend (August 21-24). Chappell Roan, Travis Scott, Bring Me The Horizon and Hozier are all set to headline, as confirmed last December.
Other acts on the bill include AJ Tracey, Lola Young, Becky Hill, Amyl And The Sniffers, Bloc Party, The Kooks, The Dare, Enter Shikari, Wallows, Sea Girls, Mannequin Pussy, Soft Play, Lambrini Girls, DJ EZ, and many more.
Organisers announced more artists earlier this year, with new names including Limp Bizkit, D-Block Europe and Heartworms.
Today (June 20) R&L has shared a fresh wave of acts, led by soloist and former Little Mix member Leigh-Anne. She’ll appear on the Chevron Stage – which made its debut in 2024 – along with Charlotte Plank, Still Woozy, Late Night Drive Home and LYVIA.
Additionally, Waterparks and Demae have both been added to the main stage programme.
The Festival Republic Stage, meanwhile, has confirmed Skye Newman, Bartees Strange, Any Young Mechanic, and Sunday (1994) for both sites. Chloe Qisha, Freak Slug, Jo Hill and Ben Ellis will perform at the same venue at Leeds only on the Thursday (August 21)
In a statement, Sunday 1994 said:” You met us on Monday, took us for a drink on Tuesday, made love to us on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and now you get to chill with Sunday (1994) at Reading & Leeds.”
What’s more, R&L is launching two brand new stages in 2025: the Smirnoff Stage (Reading) and the Reload Stage (Leeds). These venues will celebrate “the underground electronic communities blazing a path through modern UK culture”, and continue the event’s “trend of innovation”.
The new addition to the Reading site will host performances from Riordan, IN PARALLEL, Lu. Re, MEGRA, Omar+, Stresshead and more. Up in Leeds, punters can watch sets from the likes of DJ Semtex, [IVY], Dr Dubplate, Disrupta, Saint Ludo, Sophia Violet and Tommy Villiers.
“A platform for producers and DJs who are making massive moves and filling dancefloors around the globe – it’s a new communal space for electronic music fans that spotlights the here and now,” a press release reads.
Reading & Leeds’ Aux Stage – “the home of pioneering digital creators” – is also returning for 2025, with Brittany Broski confirmed as the first headliner. She’ll deliver exclusive in-conversation shows with trailblazing British presenters Max Balegde (Reading) and Charley Marlowe (Leeds).
The venue will host live versions of top UK comedy podcasts JaackMaate’s Happy Hour, and Harry Pinero and Darkest Man’s Old & Bald at Reading and Leeds this summer, as well as
Josh & Moyo and two takeovers from The Rock Revival and Climate Live.
The ‘Unplugged’ series is returning to The Aux Stage, too. This will showcase exciting new musicians and offer fans intimate acoustic performances and interviews.
“With more to be announced, The Aux Stage is the creator’s playground to serve up a range of interactive shows and fans chance to get up close and personal to the stars they spend so much time with online,” organisers wrote.
R&L has confirmed the schedule for this year’s BBC Introducing Stage too, featuring Egypt-born, Manchester-based alt-pop artist Nxdia, among many other names across the weekend.
“Reading & Leeds baby! READING & LEEDS BABYYY!! I’m SO excited, can’t believe I’ll be playing both festivals, it feels like a dream!!” said Nxdia
“I can’t wait to play the songs from the new mixtape, see the crowd, and then sing along to Conan Gray who I’ve looked up to and loved for so long! It’s going to get hot, it’s going to get sweaty!! Perfect weekend, honestly I can’t wait – get me there now!!”
Speaking about the new venues, Festival Republic’s Managing Director Melvin Benn explained: “Reading & Leeds never stands still. We’re always listening to the audience and thinking of how to deliver the value and experiences that they demand.
“This summer, we’re adding a new underground electronic stage at both sites and boosting our late-night offering for those who want to dance into the early hours. This continues the massively successful precedent set last year, with the award‑winning Chevron Stage and The Aux – which has already attracted huge stars like Brittany Broski for her debut festival show.
“The BBC Introducing Stage also returns and it truly is at R&L where it transforms careers.”
Benn went on to talk about R&L’s “free, overhauled camping options” that are “really resonating” with ticketholders.
“With nearly half of Leeds weekend ticket holders having already signed up and Reading close behind, our investment in elevating what general camping at UK festival can be is paying off,” he added.
“To have a weekend with historic headline moments like Chappell Roan, alongside emerging talent and influential voices, I am proud of R&L’s continued development and I can’t wait to see fans embracing it all.”
See the full list of new additions for Reading & Leeds below, stage-by-stage:
Main Stage:
Waterparks
Demae
Chevron Stage:
Leigh-Anne
Still Woozy
Charlotte Plank
Late Night Drive Home
LYVIA
The Aux Stage:
Brittany Broski (in conversation with Max Balegde in Reading, Charley Marlowe in Leeds)
JaackMaate’s Happy Hour
Old & Bald (Harry Pinero and Darkest Man)
Josh & Moyo
Unplugged Sessions
The Rock Revival Takeover
Climate Live Takeover
Festival Republic Stage:
Skye Newman
Bartees Strange
Any Young Mechanic
Sunday (1994)
Festival Republic Stage (Thursday – Leeds Only):
Chloe Qisha
Freak Slug
Jo Hill
Ben Ellis
BBC Introducing Stage:
Amie Blu
Artio
Ashley Singh
Chanel Yates
Charles
Cliffords
Déyyess
Enna
EV
Eville
Finn Forster
Girl Group
Indoor Foxes
Jack Dean
JD Cliffe
Keo
Lleo
Mcxxne
Mudi Sama
Niki Kini
Nxdia
Overpass
Phoebe Green
The Pill
Unpeople
V.I.C
WENCH!
Reload Stage (Leeds):
Anaïs
P-RALLEL
Disrupta
[IVY]
DJ Semtex
Riordan
T-Lex
DJ JACKUM
Dr Dubplate
Sophia Violet
SAINT LUDO
Omar +
Scruz
ESC
Daisy
Tommy Villiers
Gee Lee
CamUKG
Tomike
SHADEV
FUZION
Megan Wroe
Smirnoff Stage (Reading):
ZERO
IN PARALLEL
Riordan
MEGRA
Disrupta
Lu.Re, Omar +
ANNABEL STOP IT
BVNQUET
Ordley
Stresshead
Charlie Boon
DJBE, SOFA, Lleahdavies
DRIIA
Johnnie Hartmann
LILI
Ari Oke
Champion
Silent Disco Chevron (Reading):
Badger
Charlie Tee
Millie Cotton
Jeremiah Asiamah
C100
Silent Disco Festival Republic (Reading):
Swiftogeddon
Pop Never Dies
FACE DOWN,
UPRAWR
Hun FM
Jay Knox’s Jams
Fuzz Club
For The Nightcrawlers
Silent Disco Chevron (Leeds):
Badger
Lens
Millie Cotton
Jeremiah Asiamah
C100
Jae Depz
Piccadilly Party (Leeds):
Swiftogeddon
Shit Indie Disco
UPRAWR
Danny Oliver
Bob Brazill
Dave Duracell
Doktored
Beefy Melons
Fuzz Club
LA Panch
Holland
Rachel Hume
Reading & Leeds Festival takes place Thursday 21 – Sunday 24 August 2025 at Richfield Avenue in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds. Visit here for tickets and more information.
The post Reading & Leeds 2025: brand new stages and over 80 new artists added to line-up appeared first on NME.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
