Charli XCX has ushered in her next era with an electrifying headline set at Reading Festival which featured hits from across her music career. It marked the British singer's first UK festival performance since releasing her latest studio album - Music, Fashion, Film - which is a pivot from her culture-shaping, electronic-pop record Brat and features more of a rock edge. But her Friday evening show highlighted the best of both, alongside fan favourite tracks from her back catalogue.
She also upped the production from her last Brat tour, with more elaborate staging, numerous costume changes, and she was accompanied by a host of dancers and and a live band. Distorted, black-and-white videos of Charli kicked off the performance and the tens of thousands who had gathered at the main stage erupted as the chords were struck up to her new album's lead single, Rock Music. After delivering punchy renditions of new tracks Wink Wink, Yeah and Card Declined, she stepped out to change from a black sparkly blazer into a black corseted dress.
The second act of the performance showcased the breadth of work, as she moved from pop hit Track 10 from her 2017 mixtape, to the melancholic tones of House, which she co-wrote for the recent Wuthering Heights soundtrack album. Those still craving her infectious dance tracks welcomed the singer later breaking out songs like Club Classics, 365 and the Grammy-winning Von Dutch from her sixth album Brat, which became a cultural phenomenon and propelled her to new heights in 2024. After returning to the more punk style of Music, Fashion, Film, she closed with its last track, No One Lasts Forever.
The song concludes with filmmaker David Cronenberg saying "no one lasts forever / they are dead, they are gone" and "oblivion is freedom" - and Charli let that be the last words which rang out as she stared out across the crowd, surrounded by her dancers. Ahead of her set, grime artist Skepta also channelled some Brat energy when he took to the main stage in a lime green waterproof jacket as he powered through the downpours to hype up the crowd. The rapper belting out "it rains, it pours" from his hit collaboration track, Praise the Lord (Da Shine), with A$AP Rocky was particularly fitting, and he ended the set on a high as the crowd jumped along to Victory Lap, his collaboration with Fred Again.. and PlaqueBoyMax.
The rainstorms drew more festival-goers into the new Gallery tent, but US rock band Geese had already pulled in a huge crowd who jumped and head-banged along to guitar-heavy tracks like Half Real and 100 Horses. Earlier in the afternoon, BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2026 winner Skye Newman's powerful, husky vocals reverberated through the same tent as she performed hit songs like FU & UF and Family Matters. Jamie T kicked off the main stage at midday after posting a video the day before asking if he could get a "last minute" set, and he used his 33 minutes and 10 seconds, a nod to his new single 3310, to crack out some of his indie hits, including Zombie and Sticks N Stones.
The twin festivals will feature six major headliners this weekend, with bosses previously saying Reading and Leeds will be the only UK festival appearances for all of them this year. Rapper Dave, singer-songwriter Raye, electronic duo Chase & Status and band Florence + The Machine are all set to top the bill. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
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