Charli XCX captivates Reading Festival crowd with extensive performance

The British vocalist's inaugural festival performance in the UK followed the release of her latest studio album, 'Music, Fashion, Film', which marks a departure towards a rockier sound from her critically acclaimed electronic-pop work, 'Brat'.

However, her Friday evening performance skillfully blended the strongest elements of both styles, alongside beloved tracks from her earlier discography.

Her stage production also surpassed that of her previous 'Brat' tour, featuring more elaborate set designs, multiple outfit changes, dramatic pyrotechnics and strobe lights, and she was supported by a troupe of dancers and a live musical ensemble.

After energetically performing new tracks such as 'Wink Wink', 'Yeah', and 'Card Declined', she exited the stage to swap her sparkly black blazer for a black corseted dress.

The second segment of her set demonstrated the extensive range of her artistic output, transitioning from the pop hit 'Track 10' from her 2017 mixtape to the poignant tones of 'House', a song she co-wrote for the recent 'Wuthering Heights' soundtrack album.

Those who were eager for her infectious dance tracks were pleased when the singer later presented songs like 'Club Classics', '365', and the Grammy-winning 'Von Dutch' from her sixth album, 'Brat', which became a significant cultural event and boosted her career in 2024.

Returning to the more punk-influenced style of 'Music, Fashion, Film', she concluded her performance with its final song, 'No One Lasts Forever'.

The song concludes with words from filmmaker David Cronenberg, who states that "no one lasts forever; they are dead, they are gone" and that "oblivion is freedom"; these were the last phrases the artist allowed to resonate as she surveyed the audience, surrounded by her dancers.

Attendees experienced an approximate half-hour delay, but the Dublin-based Irish rock band quickly re-engaged them by launching into popular songs like 'Favourite' and 'I Love You'.

They finished their performance with 'Starbuster', their Grammy-nominated track from their fourth album, 'Romance', prompting the crowd to sing the lyrics back to them.

Before Charli's performance, grime artist Skepta also embraced the 'Brat' aesthetic, appearing on the main stage in a lime green waterproof jacket, powering through the heavy rain to invigorate the audience.

The rapper's powerful rendition of "it rains, it pours" from his successful collaboration with A$AP Rocky, 'Praise the Lord (Da Shine)', was particularly apt, and he concluded his set triumphantly with the crowd enthusiastically jumping to 'Victory Lap', his collaboration with Fred Again.. and PlaqueBoyMax.

The downpours drew more festival-goers into the newly introduced Gallery tent, but the American rock band Geese had already attracted a large audience who enthusiastically jumped and head-banged to guitar-driven songs such as 'Half Real' and '100 Horses'.

Earlier that afternoon, the powerful, husky voice of BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2026 winner, Skye Newman, filled the same tent as she performed popular tracks like 'FU & UF' and 'Family Matters'.

This weekend, the twin festivals will host six major headlining acts, with organizers having previously stated that Reading and Leeds will be their sole UK festival appearances this year.

Rapper Dave, singer-songwriter Raye, electronic duo Chase & Status, and the band Florence + The Machine are all slated to headline.

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