music
Charli xcx, Reading Festival review
“Time itself is a circle,” as the rock’n’roll philosopher Nietzsche once said, accurately foreshadowing Charli xcx’s only UK festival appearance this summer. Like her performance on Glastonbury’s Other Stage last year – a pyrotechnic farewell to the puke-green reign of Brat – Charli’s Reading and Leeds appearance is a not-quite-headline slot that also follows a rowdy set from grime don Skepta. As before, her sunglasses remain glued on throughout.
TL;DR
- Charli XCX performed at Reading and Leeds, showcasing her new musical direction and aesthetic.
- The set featured a live band and new songs from "Music, Fashion, Film," such as "Rock Music" and "Card Declined."
- The performance incorporated a curated mood board and outfits inspired by the late 2000s.
- Fan favorites from "Brat," like "Von Dutch" and "Guess," were included, alongside older tracks like "Track 10."
- The show explored themes of ego, vulnerability, and mortality, referencing figures like Nietzsche, John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese.