Fontaines D.C. - Reading Festival, 24th August 2024

Image by Simon Wheatley

Pros of announcing your festival lineup way six months before the event? Anticipation is allowed to ratchet up, punters have time to digest and make their decision, and a longer lead time to sell tickets.

Cons? Organisers run the risk of putting the hottest act in the world at 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. 

Fontaines D.C. were announced as fourth down on the Main Stage back in February, a placing which always looked dubious. Now, post-’Starburster’, post-‘Favourite’ and in the thralls of rave reviews for fourth album Romance, the world is Grian and co’s for the taking. Only two days old, much of the material is box-fresh and ripe, and it shows. If ever it was a band’s time, late August 2024 belongs to this quintet. The only question mark is over how the band will going to condense their now hefty back catalogue into a preposterous tight 45 minute set. 

https://www.clashmusic.com/live/fontaines-d-c-supply-reading-festival-with-a-defining-moment/