Wolf Alice on first Reading & Leeds appearance: “We’re well excited”

Reading & Leeds is special for all sorts of reasons, but one echoes loud and strong - when it comes to breaking through, the Festival Republic stage is a special place.

Long established, even though it’s one of the smaller tents, when the stars align - usually mid way through the afternoon - it provides the perfect platform for the next big thing to really show how to start the party. Have doubts? Its alumni reads like a who’s who of the last decade of music. Franz Ferdinand strutted their way into our hearts there. Foals showed that, underneath their math rock, one day they’d be back to take the Main Stage. Arctic Monkeys caused riots, and only a couple of years ago Alt-J graced its confines on the way to the Mercury. This year, there’s no doubts about it - it’s Wolf Alice’s turn.

“This is our first time playing,” bassist Theo Ellis ponders, seemingly unfazed by the pressure. “We’re well excited, we’ll probably do backflips or something. Maybe it’s because people have had a chance to have a few drinks,” he muses. “They’re well up for it then.”

Oh, Theo. If only you knew what’s about to come.

Taken from the August issue of DIY, out now. Reading & Leeds Festival will take place from 22nd - 24th August.