Alt-J prove they’ve got what it takes to make the final step at Reading 2015

Alt-J are playing a lot of festivals this year. Loads. All over the place. From headlining Latitude through to a tour of Europe’s biggest events, by and large you’ll find them up the top of the bill. They’ve come a long way very quickly.

And yet of all these major events, tonight is probably the biggest challenge of the lot. Reading. A festival that, more than anything else, is defined by rock music. Alt-J are not rock music. Alt-J are cerebral, smart, off-kilter - or at least about as much as a band could ever be while filling the O2 and scoring prize winning, chart topping albums. Their biggest hits aren’t fist pumping, riff heavy anthems. They’re from a different stock. They’ve played here before, sure. They’ve done their time, moving up the bill, but for the first time in a long time, Alt-J have something to prove.

They’ve done the miles, though. Since that aforementioned arena date earlier in the year, they’ve been honing a stage show that plays to their strengths. Flashy lights, camera trickery - they’re bringing a production which makes their static stage presence work for them, not against. They’ve weighted the set, too. Opening with the Miley sampling ‘Hunger Of The Pine’, their opening salvos deploy their standout moments. ‘Fitzpleasure’, ‘Something Good’ and ‘Left Hand Free’ follow in a row. ‘Matilda’ isn’t far behind either.

This is where Alt-J have not-so-hidden depths. While at first glance they may not be a band of hit singles, they’re able to squash in those moments of familiarity far tighter than expected. ‘Tessellate’, ‘Every Other Freckle’ - by the time they close with ‘Breezeblocks’ they’ve blessed even the most casual observers with their fair share of ‘oh yeah!’ realisations. For those already converted, it’s a home run. From Festival Republic tent to main stage sub-headliners - whisper it quietly, but Alt-J have what it takes to make that final step up.