In Pictures: Reading Festival 2024

Two young women dressed in cowboy hats and each holding an inflatable hobby horse
Festival goers' spirits lifted after the heavy rain on Friday night [BBC]

About 90,000 people have descended on Reading this weekend for the town's annual music festival.

Campers endured heavy rain overnight on Friday with downpours giving way to some sunny spells on Saturday.

Hundreds of artists are performing across nine arenas at Little John's Farm near Caversham Bridge.

Main stage headliners include Blink 182, Fred Again and Liam Gallagher, with Prodigy, Sonny Fodera and Skrillex topping the bill on the Chevron Stage.

Blink 182 on stage with drummer Travis Barker holding his drumsticks aloft
Blink 182 headlined the main stage on Friday [BBC]
Six men wearing fancy dress. There is a chicken, Pinocchio, Ronald MacDonald, Mister Motivator, Jesus and the videogame character Mario
Some revellers dressed up for the occasion [BBC]

For many young people, it will be their first festival experience so Reading Street Pastors are on hand for anyone who needs support and a safe space.

On Saturday morning, Sally Leonard of initiative said: "It's not muddy yet but it's absolutely pouring down with rain.

"We have about 44 young people in our tent drinking hot chocolate and playing Uno."

A crowd watches Zach Templar play on stage in a large red big top-style tent. He can be seen playing a guitar on screens either side of the stage
Zach Templar was among the line-up of the BBC Radio 1 stage [BBC]
Five men and a woman standing behind the counter of a food stall. The woman is stirring a large plate of food
Family business Rukhsanas is among the caterers at the event [BBC]

Sarib Amin of Rukhsanas event catering said his family's business had operated at a lot of festivals but it was their first time at Reading.

He said: "I came for work but I'm hearing good music and there's good vibes as well.

"They've got a lot of big artists I'm looking forward to but obviously it's hard balancing work and leisure."

A band on stage with balls of flames burning behind them
Neck Deeps performance involved pyrotechnics [BBC]
The feet of a group of people all wearing black wellies
Campers endured heavy rain overnight on Friday [BBC]

Music fan, 17-year-old Zoe, said she had come to see Lana del Ray and The Last Dinner Party.

She said: "I didn't expect it to be this big but it's exciting.

Commenting on the weather, she said: "We're not camping, thank god. I'm so glad."

A crowd gathered in front of Reading Festival main stage where Dasha is performing. The pink Dasha logo is displayed at the back of the stage and she can be seen singing into a microphone on two screens on either side
American country singer-songwriter Dasha was among Friday's line-up [BBC]

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

More on this story

Related Internet Links

Advertisement