Reading Festival is always the festival everyone's waiting for - it's the perfect way to end the summer with a bang, especially with such a killer line-up! 2015 was my 10th year in the fields, and it was definitely one to remember.
I'm very much used to camping at festivals as I've had to do it countless times, but the novelty really starts to wear off, and at the end of a long day of dancing you just want some peace and quiet, and a comfy bed. I stayed in
Pink Moon Camping* and I was so glad I did - your tent is already put up when you arrive, and there's fancy toilets and showers, a tent to re-charge your phone, and even a beauty room with hairdryers, mirrors ands straighteners, to get your festival look on point! Our rainbow tipi was so spacious, and because we got the package with an inflatable mattress and sleeping backs included, we only had to bring clothes with us - better than lugging a whole campsite around! It's also a 5 minute walk from white car park, so on Monday morning, the journey home wasn't daunting at all - a superb experience all-round, and now I don't ever want to camp in 'regular' camping again!
Reading really is a festival for everyone, with an eclectic mix of genres from metal to dance, no one's experience is going to be identical, which is what I love about it! Friday kicked off with some throwback acts like All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco and Limp Bizkit (who put on an incredible set). Alt-J were gripping as ever, and Reading was the third time I've seen them this year. I'm a huge fan of the new album, preferring it over the first, but I was a little sad they didn't play The Ripe & Ruin! The night finished off with Mumford & Sons, who I was seriously looking forward to. I saw them back in 2010 and have been dying to again since. The atmosphere was amazing, and it was the perfect way to kick off the weekend.
Sunday started earlier than I thought it would, as I wanted to catch the Black Foxxes set. Turns out we got the time wrong and only caught the last 2 songs which sucked, but at least it got me out of bed at a reasonable hour! It was a lazy day of being hungover and flitting between stages and having a shop around the stalls. Later on we caught Jamie T's set and he really got the crowd going - I saw his secret set last year so it was cool that he got to return, this time to the main stage!
Manchester Orchestra were the act I was most looking forward to all day - I got into them when the line-up was first released, and I've been totally obsessed since. They definitely did not disappoint, and I was over the moon after finally seeing them live - was upset how short the set seemed though!
I'm not much of a Libertines fan, so after Kendrick Lamar we caught some of Deadmau5, then went off to the campsite to party!
Unfortunately (yet unsurprisingly) the English weather wasn't perfect, but my survival kit from
Insurance2Go really helped out! The waterproof case kept my phone safe from the rain, and solar charger kept it going so I could keep you guys up to date with my weekend, plus the speaker meant we could have our own music at camp!
Leanne and I got to hang with some awesome people in the press area, and I got to meet some seriously incredible artists. We saw Frank Iero wandering around and we went straight up to him for a photo - I was the biggest MCR fan so I knew I'd regret it if I left it - he's so chill and lovely! Loz and Aaran from While She Sleeps also wandered in, and naturally I had to have a photo as I was wearing my brainwashed tee!
All in all, Reading Festival this year was unforgettable - it's always been my favourite festival and it just gets better every year! The atmosphere is always so friendly and it's awesome to be surrounded by people who love music as much as you do! HUGE thank you to the people at
Reading Festival for having me - bring on Reading 2016!
AMY X
