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.
The rapper belting out “it rains, it pours” from his hit collaboration track, Praise the Lord (Da Shine), with A$AP Rocky was particularly fitting, and he ended the set on a high as the crowd jumped along to Victory Lap, his collaboration with Fred Again.. and PlaqueBoyMax.
The rainstorms drew more festival-goers into the new Gallery tent, but US rock band Geese had already pulled in a huge crowd who jumped and head-banged along to guitar-heavy tracks like Half Real and 100 Horses.
Earlier in the afternoon, BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 winner Skye Newman’s powerful, husky vocals reverberated through the same tent as she performed hit songs like FU & UF and Family Matters.
