Reading & Leeds - Buzz Bands: FRIDAY

This year will be the 4th year in which I have attended the Reading side of the twinned festivals. Spread over the 3 days, there are an incredible amount of artists who are set to use this coming weekend as the launchpad for the next stage of their career. Some of the bands I have already blogged about, some I haven't. But I will go through a few of the acts from each day in three articles, spread across a variety of the stages. The headliners will not be spoken about however, as they are all deserving of their slots and I cannot big them up anymore than they have been. Moving onto Friday...

Friday:

Main Stage

 Hacktivist - 12-12.40

These guys are capable of one hell of a racket. Their back story is documented well, vocalist Timfy James left his old band, and got into contact with a local from the Rap scene, J Hurley who wrote lyrics over James' demos. The band were born amongst a mass recruit for the rest of the band. The 5 piece meld rap with metal to create the new genre of Djent, a crashing avalanche of riffs, beats, screams and raps. The band start the proceedings on the Main Stage and they'll be looking to crush it. Definitely one of the bands to watch, especially for the rest of the year.


NME Stage


Gerard Way and the Hormones - 11.50-12.25

Now, here is one of the most anticipated acts of the whole weekend and he's opening the festivals second stage. Former frontman of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way is a festival institution, having played here twice before and being part of one of the most polarising acts of the 21st Century. Every set they've played at every festival, has always been a cause of debate, but there is no denying that MCR were an important band and Way was a spokesman for a generation. This weekend he makes his debut as a solo artist and with two songs out already ('Action Cat' & 'No Shows') and a debut album due later this year, his set is high on the buzz feed. Sounding like a Britpop revivalist is in no way a bad thing and is unique for an American to try. But this set will be a rebirth and will set Way up for a massive 2015.



NME Stage

Twin Atlantic - 16.25-17.10

Many have called Twin Atlantic 'Biffy Clyro-lite' but with new album 'Great Divide' out this week, the band are sure to get rid of that tag, sooner rather than later. In Sam McTrusty, they have a frontman who wears his heart on his sleeve and can pen an anthem as well as he can pen a ballad. Twin Atlantic have been a buzz band for many many years, but this is the year where they live up to the hype in all ways. They're ready to play the massive stages, having done so supporting Kings of Leon and Kasabian in the last year. They've set their sights on a headline night at Brixton Academy, but 'Great Divide' (and for that matter, debut album 'Free') are albums which were made for the big venues. I think Twin Atlantic will have headlined Brixton and Hammersmith by the next Reading & Leeds festivals with a Wembley Arena date not too far over the horizon.