Charli XCX electrifies Reading Festival with era-spanning set

Charli XCX has ushered in her next era with an electrifying headline set at Reading Festival which showcased hits from across her music career.

It marked the British singer's first UK festival performance since releasing her latest studio album - Music, Fashion, Film - which is a pivot from her culture-shaping, electronic-pop record Brat and features more of a rock edge.

But her Friday evening show highlighted the best of both, alongside fan favourite tracks from her back catalogue.

She also upped the production from her last Brat tour, with more elaborate staging, numerous costume changes, dramatic pyro and strobe lighting, and she was accompanied by a host of dancers and a live band.

Distorted, black-and-white videos of Charli kicked off the performance and the tens of thousands who had gathered at the main stage erupted as the chords were struck up to her new album's lead single, Rock Music.

After delivering punchy renditions of new tracks Wink Wink, Yeah and Card Declined, she stepped out to change from a black sparkly blazer into a black corseted dress.

The second act of the performance showcased the breadth of her work, as she moved from pop hit Track 10 from her 2017 mixtape, to the melancholic tones of House, which she co-wrote for the recent Wuthering Heights soundtrack album.

Those still craving her infectious dance tracks welcomed the singer later breaking out songs like Club Classics, 365 and the Grammy-winning Von Dutch from her sixth album Brat, which became a cultural phenomenon and propelled her to new heights in 2024.

After returning to the more punk style of Music, Fashion, Film, she closed with its last track, No One Lasts Forever.

The song concludes with filmmaker David Cronenberg saying "no one lasts forever / they are dead, they are gone" and "oblivion is freedom" - and Charli let that be the last words which rang out as she stared out across the crowd, surrounded by her dancers.

The rock energy continued on the main stage as Fontaines DC followed Charli, with both acts billed as headliners for the opening night of Reading.

Fans had to wait about half an hour longer due to a delay, but the Irish rock band from Dublin soon won them back around as they launched into hits like Favourite and I Love You.

They closed out the set with their Grammy-nominated track Starbuster from their fourth album, Romance, with the crowd responding by chanting the lyrics back to them.

Ahead of Charli's set, grime artist Skepta also channelled some Brat energy when he took to the main stage in a lime green waterproof jacket as he powered through the downpours to hype up the crowd.