Preparations underway for the fresh crop of headliners at Reading & Leeds Festival
Chappell Roan Headlines Reading & Leeds Festival
American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, known for her distinctive camp style and queer anthems, will headline the Reading & Leeds Festival this summer. The festival, taking place from August 21-24, is a significant milestone in Roan's career, marking her prominence in the UK's music scene.
Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz in 1998, Roan's musical journey began with uploading covers and original songs to YouTube in 2013. Her career took a turn when she wrote her original song "Die Young" at a summer camp for the arts, leading to a contract with Atlantic Records in 2015.
Roan's debut EP, School Nights (2017), showcased a dark, moody indie pop sound with 60s and 70s influences. Her move to Los Angeles in 2018 marked a turning point, as she embraced her identity openly, fueling more authentic songwriting and a shift toward synth-pop and slumber party pop styles.
Her breakthrough came in recent years with chart-topping hits such as "Good Luck, Babe" and "Pink Pony Club," achieving multiple platinum certifications and top UK chart positions. In 2024 and 2025, Roan achieved significant critical and commercial success, including winning Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards and multiple Grammy nominations across major categories.
The Reading & Leeds Festival, which has a 20-year history with Bring Me The Horizon, is adding a new underground electronic stage at both sites this summer. Other headliners for the festival include Travis Scott, Hozier, and Chappell Roan. Jon Mac, the festival booker, has been watching Roan for a long time and is proud to have her as a headliner.
Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, is proud of the festival's continued development. He sees it as an acknowledgement from the artists, managers, and labels for what they do. The festival was honored by the industry it works in, securing the Music Week Awards Festival trophy in 2024.
In addition to Chappell Roan, this year's festival will also feature Fred Again.., one of the artists given a platform on the festival. Public Enemy played very early on in the festival's existence, marking the event's broad appeal over the years. The festival is boosting its late-night offering for those who want to dance into the early hours.
References: 1. AllMusic 2. Wikipedia 3. Official Chappell Roan Website 4. Billboard 5. Pitchfork
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