11 Women Who Aren’t At Reading & Leeds Festival But Should Be
By friend of Boshemia, Tom
Reading & Leeds Festival announced their line-up for this year and while it’s certainly full of decent to great acts, it’s all looking a little XY-chromosome heavy, isn’t it?
If you look at the poster, you’ll notice that on the main stage, across three days, there are only three female artists represented. Those are Mabel and Lady Leshurr (she’s great, check her out below) and the frontwoman of Bloxx. There are 20 women booked amongst a line-up of 92. That’s just not enough, and the really desirable spots on the line-up are taken by male groups.
Now there are people who say that a festival shouldn’t hire women just for the sake of it, which is, of course, bollocks. That sort of phrase is only ever levelled at minority artists, and is never said about straight white cisgender male groups, because they’re always prevalent. Artists like Matty Healy from The 1975 are now stating that they’ll only play festivals that are committed to booking a similar number of male and female artists, so it’s surprising to see such a large festival drop the ball on this.
Regardless of your view on that matter, if you think Reading and Leeds simply couldn’t find many female artists that were “good enough” to be on their line-up, then you’re deluded. There’s plenty of capable, amazing artists who should have been represented.
In this article, I’ll discuss 11 non-male artists who could easily have gone on that line-up. They’re in no particular order, and this is all hypothetical, as I don’t claim to know any of the inner workings of these artists schedules or whether the festival organisers even tried to reach out to them. We’ll explore a number of genres, and, who knows, maybe you’ll discover some new music along the way. Let’s go!
1. Caroline Polachek
Caroline Polachek is wonderful. As well as the beautifully catchy So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings, her album is full of crazy, creative tunes that would work so well catering to the hipster and alternative pop market at R&L. She’s an up and coming artist who would have benefitted hugely from the appearance, and could have definitely opened Main Stage or played before someone bigger on second stage.
2. Christine and the Queens
NB: Chris is genderqueer, but uses she/her pronouns, and is not male, so still fits with the point of this article.
Christine and the Queens would fit in wonderfully with the Reading vibe. ‘80s inspired music is back in a big way, and she could easily have headlined second stage, or fit in nicely before Two Door Cinema Club.
3. Carly Rae Jepsen
Now you’re talking. Carly needs no introduction, really – she's a huge pop star who definitely could have headlined the whole shebang. There are some who’d say that R&L are rock festivals and she wouldn’t fit in, but they’re wrong. R&L haven’t been “rock” festivals for years, just take a look at the lineup – Rage Against the Machine kind of stick out like a sore thumb, or, rather, a really awesome thumb, but a thumb that’s kinda different to all your other digits. Carly should definitely have been put on after Liam Gallagher, just because that would be brilliant to see.
4. CHVRCHES
Synth-pop trio CHVRCHES are the perfect sort of band for these festivals – wobbly saw tooth infused tunes with grit and edge would be perfect on any of the stages, but ideally outside as the sun begins to set.
5. Lizzo
2019 was Lizzo’s year, and she’s a bona-fide headliner. If you’re telling me ticket sales wouldn’t have been better with Lizzo’s name on the poster instead of Migos, I’m sorry but you’re wrong.
6. Paramore
This one’s a little tricky, because Paramore seem to be on a semi-hiatus since their 2017 album, but a headline or semi-headline nod from R&L could easily have coaxed them out of it. Not only does their older pop-punk back catalogue fit perfectly next to Run The Jewels, but their newer ‘80s tunes sounded fresh and showed they’re completely capable of adapting to what’s popular.
7. BABYMETAL
Hear me out. R&L have a Pit stage, and BABYMETAL would be perfect as a headlining act, if you’re too chicken to stick them on before All Time Low and watch people lose their minds a little bit. They’re out there, and yet the tunes win you over no matter what sort of music you love, because they’re incredible as a live act.
8. Poppy
Poppy is the perfect festival act. The artist that you go and see accidentally, and end up Stanning, because you got that amazing experience of finding something completely unique, just because that other band you kinda wanted to see were playing in a tiny tent and you couldn’t get in because your mates insisted on going for another £7 bevvie first. She’s got a great voice and a completely unique sound. She’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but she’s an experience to say the least. She’d fit in on the pit stage, honestly, if not somewhere in the middle of the second stage.
9. Björk
Here’s another great headlining act. R&L usually have the big acts of yesteryear near the top, and this would have been no different. Björk is one of those acts that you’ve usually heard of, but often a lot of people can’t name a song by her. Her legend status would have coaxed a bunch of new fans to go check her out and maybe find something new they love. If they couldn’t have fit her as a headliner, she’d also have worked really nicely right before Courteeners.
10. MUNA
MUNA are just perfect for R&L, I have no idea how the bookers missed out on them. Great pop tunes, great gay anthems, catchy tunes and they’re just so effortlessly cool. They definitely would have gone nicely headlining second stage after Sam Fender.
11. Billie Eilish
Well, here’s the biggest missed opportunity. Billie Eilish is huge right now, having picked up five Grammy awards and released one of the best albums of the year. She’s ridiculously cool and alternative, catering to that market, but also has brilliant pop songs to show. She definitely should have been number 1 on the list to headline, since this is the moment she’d have the biggest draw. She’s even doing a giant UK tour in July and this would have fit perfectly. What on earth were they thinking!?
So there you go, 11 non-male artists who easily could have fit onto the Reading & Leeds line-up. There’s plenty more, of course. Let us know your suggestions on social media.