With the Reading and Leeds festival just around the corner, there are many highly anticipated acts on this year's stacked, impressive lineup. How on earth do you choose who to go and see?
With headliners including Hozier, Bring me the Horizon, and Travis Scott, the festival has covered a variety of music tastes and preferences, ensuring a positive experience for all attending. Even though many travel far and wide to enjoy ‘big names’ such as Chappel Roan with her ever growing fanbase, and rock legends Limp Bizkit, the lineup is filled with incredible emerging, upcoming talent.
To help with the impossible choice of ‘who do I choose to see?’, Howl Magazine’s ‘ones to watch’ list will hopefully help provide punters with an insight into what to expect from the upcoming talent in this year's arena.
Nieve Ella
A name taking the pop scene by storm is vocal powerhouse, Nieve Ella. Having recently released her new single ‘good grace’, Nieve Ella is bound to have old and new fans singing by the barricade. Having supported artists including, Girl in Red on her 2024 European tour, and Bradley Simpson on his recent UK tour, Nieve has continued to grow her loyal fanbase and has demonstrated her capability of commanding stages of all sizes. Her recent headline tour, ‘Watch It Ache And Bleed’, brought in crowds from all over the UK to watch her perform hits such as ‘Ganny Top’, and ‘The Things We Say’. If you haven’t seen her live, now is the perfect opportunity to catch Nieve before she has ‘gone and made it’.
South Arcade
Having recently announced their American tour beginning in October 2025, the Oxford band is taking stages by storm on an international scale. Having performed throughout the UK and at many festivals for multiple years, the band is known for putting on an unmissable high energy performance. Fans of Hot Milk and Dead Pony are destined to enjoy South Arcade’s performance.
Mouth Culture
Leicester's own, Mouth Culture, bring an electrifying and high energy atmosphere to whatever stage they set foot on, big or small. With a setlist full of head bangers as well as a few tear jerkers, the band never fails to engage their crowd and captivate them with their music. Mouth Culture recently announced their headline UK tour, if you enjoy their set this August, make sure to grab your tickets quickly as they are predicted to sell out fast!
Pale Waves
Pale Waves enchant indie/rock fans with their gorgeous vocals, visuals, and stage presence. They are sure to perform popular songs such as ‘There’s a Honey’, and ‘She’s My Religion’. Fans will hope to hear hit ‘Perfume’ from their newest album ‘Smitten’, released in 2024. Their music is bound to linger in your thoughts long after their set.
Wunderhorse
Main stage bound band, Wunderhorse, are set to bring in a large crowd to this year's Reading and Leeds festival. After an unfortunate run of cancellations due to illness, fans are no doubt excited to see their favourite stars back performing hits such as ‘Midas’ and ‘Purple’. Wunderhorse will continue to make waves in the Indie/Rock community and will undoubtedly put on a memorable performance.
Del Water Gap
Solo artist Del Water Gap is a musician destined to become a household name. With 2.9 million monthly Spotify listeners, Del Water Gap knows how to create music that leaves fans both satisfied and wanting more. Crowd pleasers such as ‘Better Than I Know Myself’ and ‘All We Ever Do Is Talk’, inspired by romantic encounters and intimate experiences, will undoubtedly engage and bring new indie/pop music lovers into their fanbase.
Reading and Leeds festival is an environment that invites: pop fan culture, family friendly experiences, and mosh pits into the one arena. The festival is truly the place to be this August for a perfect ‘all round’ festival experience.