Reading and Leeds Festivals announce that 40+ new artists have been added to its epic 2022 line-up, including Ashnikko, Cassyette, Barns Courtney, Luude, and HO99O9 amongst many more. The acts join the previously announced headliners playing the dual Main Stages; Dave, Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against The Machine, Megan Thee Stallion, Bring Me The Horizon and Halsey. Additionally, the 2022 BBC Introducing stage line-up has also been revealed, featuring the most exciting upcoming talent in rock, indie, alternative, hip-hop and dance. Offering a tour-de-force of cutting-edge and enthralling names in every genre, the three-day festival takes place on 26-28 August 2022, returning to Reading’s famous Richfield Avenue and Leeds’ legendary Bramham Park.
Ashnikko is the blue haired pop provocateur whose music ricochets around themes of empowerment, vengeance and sexual positivity. She released her debut mixtape DEMIDEVIL last year, which swung punches at the patriarchy and turned the male gaze on itself again and again. Taking inspiration from trap, hyper-pop and gossamer, over-saturated imagery to formulate Ashnikko’s character, her genuine, bubble-gum persona has seen her infinitely shareable tracks rise to fame.
Continuing to showcase the best in modern dance music, the Reading and Leeds 2022 line-up also sees the addition of Perth-based producer and Skrillex co-signed Luude. Luude AKA Christian Benson is an eclectic personality best known for his 2021 cover of Men At Work’s ‘Down Under’. He also acts as half of the Australian electronic duo Choomba, touring the world with his bass-heavy, infectious dance tracks.
Promising to bring some heaviness to the bank holiday weekend are alt-rock trio Beauty School Dropout, who weave anthemic choruses and hip-hop sensibilities, alongside edgy, pop-rock personality PHEM and Brooklyn emo-punk Caspr. Also announced are the colossal Dublin six-piece Thumper, rock’n’roll revivalists The Skinner Brothers and garage-rock artist Taipei Houston. Fast-rising nu gen breakout star Cassyette, US rap-punk duo H09909, bluesy musician Barns Courtney, Gen Z punk-pop fire starter Daisy Brain, and Liverpudlians noise merchants Stone will also be playing, showcasing their fervent brand of fresh rock. From across the globe and holding the flag for their native Texas will be rap-rocker De’Wayne and bedroom DIY pop innovator Dayglow.
For pop earworms and singalong indie are charming indie Plymouth locals The Native alongside Australian pop daydreamer Mallrat, whose buoyant hooks have earnt her opening spots for Post Malone and Conan Gray. Cyber-pop sensation Glaive will also appear, having recently collaborated with pop-punk hero Machine Gun Kelly on the morbid ‘more than life’. The bank holiday weekend also welcomes the secretive 80s pop-influenced Police Car Collective, who infuse cerebral psych into their cloying love songs, in addition to TikTok pop superstar DYLAN.
Championing the freshest in hip-hop, the Reading and Leeds 2022 line-up also sees the addition of jazz-influenced grime artist Jords, viral ‘4am’ star JBee, and the grime-punk crossover of Joe Unknown. Multi-hyphenate Wes Nelson will also be making an appearance, showcasing his thrilling melodic afro influenced pop vocals
BBC Introducing have also announced their stage line-up for 2022, showcasing an assortment of exciting new talent that they have supported over the last year. Kicking off with the announcement of left-field indie-psych outfit Honeyglaze, they are joined by CISI and the opinionated post-punkers DEADLETTER. Caity Baser will follow with her empowering retro soul, and Dolores Forever promises to floor audiences with their catchy pop-rock. Later, jangly indie heroes, Priestgate will whip up a storm before tongue-in-cheek indie purveyors BILK turn the storm into a tempest. Finally, alt-pop hitmaker and Berkshire local Dan D’Lion will headline the acclaimed stage, ensuring BBC Introducing set a perfect tone for the festival to come.
Amidst the new wave of burgeoning acts occupying this lauded stage is Liverpool post punk four-piece Courting, Bristol art-punks Lice, spritely indie-pop quartet Corella, joined by talented songwriter Gabe Coulter, dreamy alt-pop singer Flowerovlove, the ever-relatable R&B of Jazmine Flowers, and Dublin trio Just Wondering. Radio 1 Live Lounge competition winners Uninvited’s fledgling indie will also be on show, alongside Nigerian-born Ayrshire-based hip-hop talent BEMZ. Non-binary ‘Queer + Black’ star Grove also joins, and Brockhampton co-signed Christian Alexander brings his acoustic melodies to the UK. The smooth neo-soul of Joesef acts as a hype-builder for the ever-enamouring Alissic, who promises a show to remember.
The mind-whirring Meduulla opens the Introducing Stage on Sunday, waking up the hazy arena with her earworm flow. Harking from Belfast, EMBY follows with his Mancunian drill and happy-go-lucky Cardiff outfit Panic Shack flirts willingly with a bleary-eyed audience. Things ramp up as ambitious pop challenger Claudia Valentina turns on the charm and the youthful, yet extremely festival-ready Anorak Patch bring their fresh indie to the www. Lastly the glorious leftfield producer and vocalist Miso Extra will invite fans into her ‘Misoverse’ before embracing the sought-after headline slot, closing the festival’s stage for the night.
Alongside the huge announcement of artists joining the bill, Reading & Leeds’ organisers Festival Republic have announced that they are to fund a new research project within Music Declares Emergency. The project aims to drive grid connections to UK festivals and begin the transition of the UK outdoor live sector to grid power. Such a transition will ultimately reduce carbon emissions for the sector in relation to temporary power generation. Under the No Music On A Dead Planet banner, this grant marks a key moment in the transformation of the UK outdoor live music portfolio, and reinforces the commitment of Festival Republic to playing a leading role in creating a greener and more sustainable future for live music in the UK and beyond.
Festival Republic will support the project closely with the aim of presenting fully renewably powered, grid connected stages at three Festival Republic events for the 2023 festival season, and to help create a pathway for other promoters and event organisers to follow. Festival Republic has been a supporter of Music Declares Emergency since its launch in 2019. Music Declares Emergency will be onsite throughout the summer at Festival Republic events to continue to engage audiences and the music industry in the climate conversation.
Youth Climate Justice Coalition, made up of Climate Live, Fridays for Future, Teach the Future and XR Youth, will also bring their campaign bus to Reading and Leeds. There will be speeches and workshops held at the bus, and the Youth Climate Justice Coalition will also be performing on the Alternative Stage as well as other continued sustainability initiatives. For more information, please visit https://www.readingandleedsfestival.com/ .
With hundreds of acts set to play, Reading & Leeds 2022 is set to become the ultimate festival weekend of the summer – defining and celebrating the sounds of modern ground-breaking music, as well as a world-class comedy line up.
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