Reading and Leeds Festival 2023: revelers slam decision to have Lewis Capaldi among headline acts

Music fans have expressed their feelings over the Reading and Leeds Festival line-up.

The sister festival taking place on 25 to 27 August is gearing up to return to Reading’s Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park in Leeds for 2023.

Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi will headline the three-day event alongside The Killers, Sam Fender, Foals, Billie Eilish, and Imagine Dragons.

The Forget Me singer, whose second album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent is due out next year, will be making his headline debut at the festival.

Lewis said: “I am so, so excited to be one of the headliners for Reading & Leeds Festival. Unreal that last time I played was to a wee crowd in 2018. Can’t wait to see you all next year.”

The 2022 edition of the festival saw Arctic Monkeys play an incredible comeback show at Leeds, as well as headline performances from Dave and The 1975.

However, many music fans have aired their disappointment at the lack of rock bands topping the bill in 2023, with organisers instead opting for the Glasgow-born singer Lewis Capaldi and pop band Imagine Dragons.

One music fan wrote on Twitter: “I still don’t get why Lewis Capaldi is at reading and Leeds??? Creamfields, yes, but reading and Leeds???”

Another commented: “Good, but I’d rather a big rock band like Muse or a huge rap act than Lewis Capaldi and have him as a sub.”

A third said: “Everyone was so sure that blink-182, green day and Paramore were headlining, and they got Imagine Dragons, Lewis Capaldi and Foals instead.”

“How are foals and Lewis Capaldi headliner material compared to the others? I wanted Florence,” a fourth added.