Reading Festival, Richfield Avenue, review: 'Not even a powercut could dampen the spirit'

Co-headliners Queens of the Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys were fairly uneventful

Arctic Monkeys played at Reading Festival but Alex Turner’s new-found suave attitude feels somewhat forced and distant, Giles Bidder says (Rex Features)

Aside from being the place for post-GCSE erratic teenagers, Reading Festival has hosted some of the most significant rock bands over the last couple of decades.

Paramore suffered a mid-set powercut, which led to them showing us what a powerful band they are.

An impromptu a capella version of “The Only Exception” featuring the entire crowd in a mass sing along was a pinnacle moment.

Those who stuck around afterwards endured fairly uneventful fellow co-headliners Queens Of The Stone Age, who remained mostly expressionless. Still, “No One Knows” sounded as big as it ever did.

Arctic Monkeys rounded off Saturday with a moody performance accentuating their more bravado side, playing a large portion of their latest record, AM.

A handful of oldies, including a slowed-down “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor”, were a joy to witness - though Alex Turner’s new-found suave attitude feels somewhat forced and distant.

Judging by the smiling faces and shoulder-sitters caught on the big screen, however, that didn’t seem to matter.

On Sunday night, sex joke connoisseurs Blink-182 hit the main stage and hurried through a set of career-spanning material.

The older, faster pop-punk songs were met with the most enthusiasm, while “Down” and “Up All Night” still managed to stand up on their own feet.