SATURDAY EVENING ROUND UP

One of the most notorious performances of last year’s festival was Panic At The Disco’s afternoon set. Not only did the band have an unwanted encounter with some liquid filled receptacles, but they were also hurtled into a winter that saw them become more successful than they’d ever dreamed. However last year’s performance must have stayed with the band as gone is the Vegas glitter and jazzy Radiohead covers, instead the quartet emerge plaid shirted, lacking any backdrop and the only cover in the set is by 70s rockers The Band. That doesn’t stop the band getting a great reception from the now thoroughly sunburnt crowd; they debut two new songs, which seem slightly more straight ahead rock than the Burlesque-influenced songs of their debut and perhaps indicate the band taking their image of glitz and debauchery down a few notches. Inevitability “But It’s Better If You Do” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” get the best reception, but this set should send them away to finish their new album with a spring in their step.

Bloc Party’s sundown set was always going to be a guaranteed success, the band are at the tail end of their world tour and they’ve been drawing plaudits from all over the globe, so today’s set feels like a true celebration of the last eighteen months, where the band can crowd please to their hearts content. This they do, especially on songs like “So Here We Are” and “Hunting For Witches.” They’re playing arenas in September so don’t be surprised if their next Reading slot is a really high one.

Having spent the last decade as only a live DJ, James Lavelle’s Unkle have finally gone live. But instead of the usual attempt by sticking in a drummer and the occasional live vocal, he’s gone the whole hog and there are now nine people onstage, bringing to life the dark, brooding, dystopian vision of new album “War Stories” truly to life. They’re joined onstage by Leila Moss of the much underrated Duke Spirit alongside a clutch of other singers and it’s a great show, especially when the band bring to life old favourites like “Lonely Soul” and “Reign.”

After over ten years of brilliant records Unkle are finally live and there’s no looking back.

Tom Goodwyn