7 Things We Learned At Reading Festival 2013

This here is what you call a review, a memoir, or a mash up of sparkly memories from one of the wildest weekends of this here contributor’s festival back catalogue. Also, why seven lessons you may ask? The answer lies in the seven shaky iPhone videos I took of Eminem, the seven bed bugs who bit me at the dodgy hotel in the East of Reading and the amount of times I have wished I could relive the magic of Foals in the main Arena.

1. THE CROWD IS ONE OF A KIND.

From young to old to just plain loose, you will find the most interesting and welcoming people moseying about the dusty grounds of Reading Festival. People dressed as bananas, unicorns and Ziggy Stardust dominate the venue as a celebration of individuality extends from the dress code right over to music taste.  Fans of A$AP Rocky embraced fans of Green Day as one big, happy (quite possibly drug induced) family and therein lies the beauty of Reading Festival and its knack for such a diverse lineup. I’d also like to formally thank the 5 foot 3 inch blonde girl who offered to get me on her shoulders in The White Lies, your generosity and lack of spatial awareness was not lost on me.

2. DIDO IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

Thank God right? Eminem thrilled, killed and spilled his Vitamin water all over the stage of Reading Day Two, but it would be difficult to find someone in the crowd who wasn’t mesmerized by the return of Dido to his stage to croon the melancholy chorus to ‘Stan’. All the Kims and Slims in the crowd spouted the stormy lyrics to Dido’s tan leather jacket and I think I may have been the only one in the throng to continue on with, “And I want to thank you, for giving me the best day of my life…” Needless to say, it took my G level down a few notches.

3. ED MACFARLANE DANCES DIRTY.

The time for Disclosure to grace the stage had arrived, and the avalanche of bug eyed revelers descended upon the NME stage in sheer gurning glory. Not only did Disclosure produce a set worthy of my first-born child, but also they brought the tantalizing and always satisfying Ed Macfarlane out on stage for ‘Defeated No More’. Macfarlane proceeded to out-dance the crowd with slippery body rolls and pitch perfect vocals, making this the ultimate highlight over the past three days. Disclosure won the award for the most surprise guests with Rocky themed Aluna Francis from Aluna George and the man who sings like a hummingbird, Sam Smith for the coveted ‘Latch’.

4. HAIM ARE THE QUINTESSENTIAL BABES.

Dude, have you seen those chicks? One is shredding on the guitar like the spirit of Jimi Hendrix has well and truly taken over, while the other slinks all over the keyboard and the third one tears shreds off the bass while making the most outrageous sex faces known to man! Hair, sweat and vegan tears swept over the NME stage when HAIM brought the ruckus in the form of whirling guitar, guttural vocals and sultry keyboard. Needless to say the crowd left hot, sweaty and extremely satisfied.

5. DALLAS GREEN KNOWS HIS NAME.

The honesty and beauty of City & Color was not lost on the crowd at Reading on Day three. Green’s bespectacled eyes scanned the throng as he allowed his heart to burst all over them. The mutual love for one another was palpable as revelers lay in the grass under the setting sun to take in the prickly guitar and stunning lyrics that is City & Color. The only time Green spoke was to hush the excitable chanting the crowd is well known for. He turned in his sultry drawl and quietly said, “Yeah, I know my name.” So do we Dallas, so do we.

6. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING AN AUSTRALIAN BAND AT AN OVERSEAS FESTIVAL.

Before Tame Impala had even graced the stage, we were beaming with pride at the fact that boys from our country had brought in such a massive crowd to the NME stage. We asked two geezers dressed in head to toe black with pointed brogues what they thought of Tame Impala, but they did not use words to describe their joy. As ‘Elephant’ began, one of the Johnny Cash look-a-likes proceeded to throw himself on the ground in a somersault of sheer delight at the psychedelic guitar licks of Tame Impala. Our hearts shimmered as the band relayed all their most famous tracks with cranked up jams spliced in between. From the looks on our faces you would have thought we were their mums.

7.NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FINISH A FESTIVAL LIKE PHOENIX DOES.

The three spectacular days were coming to an end after a violently outrageous Azealia Banks finished her set, however the cherry on top was still to come.  The French geniuses, Phoenix took the stage to a modest crowd as the headline act for the NME stage. From vocals to synth to guitar, their set was absolutely perfect. Lead singer, Thomas Mars even went as far as sitting in the crowd to serenade them with ‘Countdown’. The look of love seared through the band as we all stared in giddy lust at their zesty attitude and impeccable playing style. A band such as Phoenix were the flawless finish to such a crazy, dusty and all-round musically diverse weekend in the sleepy UK town of Reading.

Words by: Jessica Holton

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