Liam Gallagher and Lana Del Rey headline the Leeds Festival

As thousands of students head into exam hell, they will also be planning a trip to the Leeds/Reading Festival, which has become a musical rite of passage for those making the transition from school to university.

It’s one last chance to let loose with their peers before they flee the nest to various universities and enjoy a bill designed to deliver the music they’ve revised to.

This year’s headliners include rocker dad Liam Gallagher, which kids will be familiar with from their parents’ record collection, and it’s a decent bet that he’ll be pumping out Oasis hits and samples of his own innovative solo work. Kind producer and songwriter Cold again.. is another headliner, which isn’t surprising since in 2019 it spent 15 weeks – or 30% – of that year at number one on the charts.

The festival runs from August 21-25 in Braham Park near Leeds and Little John’s Farm in Reading, and bookers have wisely secured a return set from Sleep and bottles which, led by the charismatic frontman Van McCann, will no doubt start a very animated session in the mosh pit. In contrast, Scottish singer/songwriter Gerry Cinnamon will lead a host of songs that have been a feature of his recent arena dates, including a sold out show at Hampden Park.

While the majority of festival-goers are young, there will still be plenty of older music fans wandering the fields – though it’s likely that many of them are on site to discreetly supervise their children. The mature crowd will enjoy sets from veteran pop punks Flashes 182 and some sultry pop from Lana Del Ray.

On the main stages, there are plenty of top quality acts you’d normally pay a fortune to see in arenas, including 2024 artist. Stripeswho will almost certainly be the holder next year, Renee Rapp, pendulum, Two-door cinema club and of Dublin Fontaine DCwho upped the bill after a blistering main stage staged in 2023. Further down the bill, critics’ darlings K sites debut in Leeds and Reading and after playing a brilliant set in one of the small tents last year the last supper continues his meteoric rise to stardom on the main stage.

Dance fans will find a lot to get excited about on the Chevron Stage, including a headline act they’re from wonder, returning to the circuit following the sad death of Keith Flint. Other documents that will include them Digga D, Ox, Skrillex, Denzel Curry and Sonny Fodera.

The Radio One scene is always smashed and so will the British soul singer George Smith is one of the headliners, alongside indie disco legends The wombats and Beabadoobee, another act making their way from a small tent last year to a much bigger stage. Make sure you sneak into that tent to have a blast with some seriously fun Aussie discos The reliable man.

The Festival Republic stage always gives new music fans a chance to see the next big thing. This year’s headliners are Deep in the neck, Viagra Boys and The Japanese House, who will all be looking to secure a slot on the main stage. Other bands to watch out for are The Lambrini Girls, The dream wife and Rachel Chinouris.

Reading and Leeds Festival might be full of rambunctious kids having a well-deserved kick out before the exam results hit the letterbox, but they’re good people and it’s a really fun atmosphere. We’ve been told that the unrepentant advance of digital streaming spelled the end of live music for young people, but the unbridled enthusiasm at both festivals for all the acts and an ever-active mosh pit make a mockery of that crazy claim.

You can follow Leeds and Reading Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

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Words by Paul Clarke, you can see his author profile here.