READING’s very own Only The Poets are back at Reading Festival once again, bringing home-grown, heartfelt rock to proceedings in 2024.
The band made their Festival Republic stage debut at Leeds on Friday, and are now tipped to perform at Reading on the same stage on Sunday, the final day of the festival.
Speaking on a rain-drizzled Saturday afternoon, Tommy and Clem from the band said that the weather left them feeling “conflicted.
“It’s pretty British, isn’t it- it’s what you’d expect- but everyone is just here for a good time.”
Tommy enthuses, however: “A blue sky has just appeared, and it’s supposed to be dry from now on, so fingers crossed.“
Speaking of their appearance at Leeds, Tommy said: “It was great- the tent was full and everyone got into it.
“It’s what we love about festivals, there are people in there that don’t know our band and if they’re feeling it and you’ve won a few people over, you’ve done your job.”
The band has been attending the festival as punters since before they began performing, and says that the discovery of new acts is one of the things they love about festivals.
“You walk around and have a little listen, and you might find your new favourite artist.”
Speaking on the new Chevron Stage, which features a screen canopy which shows visual accompaniments during sets, they said: “It looks pretty cool- kind of half tent half outside.
“If you put an indie pop band on a stage like that, when it gets a bit darker, it can be a really cool.”
The band arrived hot on the heels of their set at Leeds, saying: “It’s already 10 out of 10; it’s a special festival for us, so it feels a bit like a homecoming, playing a legit stage, Festival Republic.
“We’ve seen so many bands on that stage over the years, so we’re very excited, but we also get to enjoy today [Saturday] as well.”
“I would love to open the Main Stage on a Friday – that would be a real moment for us.
“But just being invited back is a pleasure.”
As for their fellow artists, Clem said: “I’m really excited to see Beabadoobdee tomorrow.”
Tommy added: “Good Neighbours have been really killing it, so I’m interested to see that show.
“Jesse from Neighbourhood is on Radio 1 stage tomorrow, and we feel their one of the most underrated bands, so that should be great.
“And of course, Lana Del Rey!”
The band is in the middle of their UK tour, heading from the festival to gigs in Manchester, Bristol, and Southampton later in the summer, before heading to Germany, Belgium, and Holland, before they return to the UK, when, Tommy confirms: “We’ll be working on a lot of new music.”
Full details of upcoming shows from Only The Poets, as well as tickets and announcements, are available over at: onlythepoetsofficial.com
