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Five Greater Manchester acts to dazzle Reading and Leeds festival

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WITH Reading and Leeds Festival returning in three weeks on August bank holiday weekend, Quays News reporter Abi White gives us the low-down on five Greater Manchester acts due to grace the festival stages this year…

The annual festival-taking place in Reading and Leeds is set to play host to a wide array of acts and genres across the weekend, all coming together and sharing the same bill.

This year, the festival welcomes the headliners of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the hugely popular co-headliners  in Disclosure and Foals.

However, browsing through the large number of acts playing across the weekend, are five Mancunian artists that are not to be missed…

Bugzy Malone

Despite releasing his first mixtape back in 2010, Bugzy Malone shot to fame upon the release of his first single, ‘Watch Your Mouth’, which was first aired in June 2015 – premiered by DJ MistaJam on BBC Radio 1.

The 25-year-old grime MC star rocketed to success following his first single, and he certainly put “Manny on the map” – as Malone quotes throughout his track: ‘Fire in the Booth’.

Also described as one of the instigators of the “grime revival”, Bugzy Malone is set to take to the BBC Radio 1Xtra stage on August 27 at Reading festival and August 28 at Leeds Festival.

https://twitter.com/LUCIEGAMMAGE/status/723037371479023616

Spring King

Rewind to four years ago, and the beginning of what is now Spring King, was only just starting to take shape.

The band started off as a solo project from current drummer and lead vocalist, Tarek Musa, before evolving into a four-piece post-punk band that released their first single ‘Mumma’ in 2014.

Now with a debut album to accompany the band released earlier this year, Spring King is undeniably an energetic sounding band, with even more energy injected into their live performances.​

Expect mosh pits from the start of their performance, with popular tracks such as ‘Rectifier’, ‘Who Are You’ and ‘The Summer’ having the ability to turn a reserved audience into a full-blown frenzy.

Spring King can be caught at the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage on August 26 at Leeds Festival and August 28 at Reading Festival.

Blossoms

2016 seems to be the year for Stockport-born band, Blossoms, to mark their territory on the music scene, bringing fresh psychedelic-indie music.

From releasing a number of singles, including ‘Getaway’ – which was featured as Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record in the World’ upon it’s release.

The band have literally ‘blossomed’ since their early BBC Introducing days…

The five-piece have also taken their indie, yet psychedelic, melodies across the globe this summer, with front man Tom Ogden explaining: “We’re playing like 53 festivals or something this summer- we’re going to Korea, Australia, Japan…loads!”

And the excitement doesn’t end there for Blossoms.

Their most recent single ‘Honey Sweet’ has received a fantastic reaction online and their debut album is due to be released on Friday (August 5).

Blossoms perform on the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage on August 27 at Reading Festival and August 28 at Leeds Festival.

Courteeners

Their hometown gig at Manchester’s Heaton Park in 2015 was historic.

The Courteeners sold all 25,000 tickets, simultaneously proving they are main-stage material, and the festival favourites will once again be returning to Reading and Leeds this year.​

Also supporting The Stone Roses this year at the Etihad Stadium – and performing seven consecutive shows at the Manchester Apollo back in December – expect a heavily dominated Mancunian crowd for this act.

However, fans of the band are far from serene during their sets.

Courteeners crowds a certainly not for the faint hearted…

As fans chant along to Liam Fray’s catchy choruses, becoming caught up in an unbeatable lively atmosphere, a coloured mist from multiple flares is likely to descend.

The band will perform on the Main Stage on August 27 at Reading Festival and August 28 at Leeds Festival.

The 1975

Following the release of their highly anticipated second album, The 1975 have returned to Reading and Leeds festival this year bigger than ever.

After removing their social media for 24 hours last year, the fan-base of the band exploded into mass hysteria.

Upon the return to social media, fans were met with a reversed cover of the band’s debut album; what was once black and white had now become pink and white.

However, it soon became clear that this change symbolised the future release of their second album: ‘I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful, yet so unaware of it’.

The once indie-rock band now have undeniable pop hints running throughout their new material, and the band are set to return to the festival accompanied with a stunning visual performance.

The festival even describes that the band’s appearance “is going to be undeniably special.”

The 1975 perform on the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage on August 26 at Leeds Festival and August 28 at Reading Festival.

By Abi White
@AbigailWhiteUOS

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