Reading Festival Review | Bloc Party

Indie icons returned to Reading Festival and put on an amazing show

Bloc Party lit up Reading Festival’s first-ever ‘icons’ slot, entertaining an all-ages audience that embraced their indie staples and frontman Kele Okereke’s upbeat humour.

Author | Josh T

Described as a “special set from festival icons”, the early afternoon appearance underlined the band’s cross-generational appeal, with much of the crowd too young to remember their 2005 breakthrough album Silent Alarm.

The newly created ‘icons’ slot seems destined to become a regular part of the festival, echoing Glastonbury’s established ‘Legends’ tradition.

Okereke, once known in the mid-2000s for a more reserved on-stage persona, looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself. “We’re gonna have some fun, OK?” he told the crowd.

He delivered on the promise, launching from the jagged guitars of She’s Hearing Voices straight into the more electronic, dance-influenced Mercury from 2007. Before long he had taken off his top to reveal a simple white vest, while drummer Louise Bartle struck a contrasting look in shirt and tie.

With founding guitarist Russell Lissack and bassist Harry Deacon, who joined in 2023, Okereke kept the energy high and the audience engaged, even while admitting he had been asked to limit the chat. The crowd booed playfully at this, only to cheer when he added, “It’s so we can play more songs.”

As the set drew to a close, he thanked fans for showing “so much love”, reinforcing the celebratory mood. “Did you like that, Reading – did you like that?” he beamed, before pausing for a swig of water. “I liked it too.”