Reading & Leeds Festivals have announced their second wave of acts!

Foals and Disclosure are set to be co- headliners for this year’s three day event, taking place across Bank Holiday Weekend 26-28 August 2016.

Returning after their festival-stopping surprise set last year, 2016 will see Foals in their debut headline performance at Reading & Leeds along with dance phenomenon Disclosure, in their very first Major UK Festival headlining set.

Festival organiser, Melvin Benn commented: “I couldn’t be more excited about this announcement. A co -headline with two of the most promising British acts out there; Foals secret set last year was a highlight for me, as I’m sure their debut headline slot will be, coupled with the phenomenal Disclosure – we’re very proud to be able to give these acts the recognition they deserve.”

Foals have said: “We're absolutely buzzing to be headlining Reading & Leeds this year. It's a dream come true. I used to watch Nirvana live at Reading '92, on vhs, repeatedly while dying my hair blue & learning how to play guitar, badly.

“We've worked our way up on our own terms & to be given the chance to headline one of the world’s most iconic festivals is a huge achievement for us & hopefully a sign for all bands, that, if you stick to your guns & focus on what matters, you'll get there & smash it. Onwards & upwards friends. Long live the guitar band”

"We’re incredibly excited to be co-headlining Reading and Leeds with our good friends Foals” says Disclosure.

“We've been going to Reading festival since we were kids and have played at both festivals several times, but never in a million years did we think we'd be at the top of the line-up, especially considering there hasn't been an electronic headliner since The Prodigy in 2002! Truly honoured."

In a European festival exclusive, Imagine Dragons will be returning to Reading & Leeds; with a catalogue of chart hits including ‘Radioactive’, ‘It’s Time’ and ‘Demons’.

Commenting on their appearance at Reading & Leeds this year, the band say:

“Reading and Leeds is one of the best festivals in the world. We look forward to the wonderful people. The music. And even the mud. See you soon."

Tickets are on sale now. Check out this link for more information.

Other newly announced additions:

Jack Ü

Two Door Cinema Club (UK Festival Exclusive)

Fetty Wap (UK Festival Exclusive)

Crystal Castles

Parkway Drive (UK Festival Exclusive)

Nothing But Thieves

The Internet (UK Festival Exclusive)

Oliver Heldens

Hannah Wants

Kurupt FM Presents: Champagne Steam Rooms

CassetteBoy vs DJ Rubbish 

Previously announced:

Red Hot Chili Peppers (Headliner: Festival Exclusive)

The 1975

Courteeners

Boy Better Know

Twenty One Pilots

Eagles Of Death Metal (UK Festival Exclusive)

Slaves

Hinds

Rat Boy

DJ EZ

We've been pretty excited to hear this debut full-length album from this great little five piece from Essex. The self titled Nothing But Thieves is a compilation of everything that identifies this band's character, and their progression from their humble beginnings in 2012. Think Queens Of The Stone Age fronted by Thom Yorke mixed with Royal Blood with a ton more falsetto. Supporting Arcade Fire, George Ezra, Twin Atlantic & also performing at festivals across Europe after a well planned single & EP release schedule, has set these plucky youngsters up for a fantastic debut release.

From the opener 'Excuse Me', you can hear the maturity of the song-writing, this band feel world-weary but still have the vitality to go on and share their struggles. Speaking of the opener, Nothing But Thieves kicks off with a coincidentally seasonal, haunting opener. Smatterings of falsetto carry this tune through to its rousing climax, “excuse me while I run / I really gotta get out of here”.

'Ban All the Music' is in stark contrast to the opener 'Excuse me'. With its high energy, it is a powerful rock tune to shake the cobwebs out on a cold October morning. This is a song about the garbage music that gets released elsewhere by the powers that be. “ban all the music, it's all gone wrong”, we can't help but mirror the feeling sometimes *cough*x-factor*cough*.

'Itch' is another one of their more well known tracks, released as a single in march, this one has even made it onto the Radio 1 playlist as well as achieving the Hottest Record in the World accolade from the Zane Lowe Show (now no longer hosted by Zane Lowe). Its a well rounded rock song with powerful wailing lyrics. All the adequate distortion on the guitars gives this song a gritty feel, tying the first quarter of the album together and maintaining rock & roll credentials.

Lead Vocalist man Conor Mason possesses a good singing voice, something not particularly common with rock bands, but it is a pleasant surprise. The second quarter of the album softens up a little and opens the band up to their sensitivities. 'If I Get High', 'Graveyard Whistling' and 'Lover, Please Stay' are all closer to the vocal styling more akin to some of the more popular R&B vocalists at the minute. A welcome addition, this shows versatility and gives us confidence that there are many avenues this band can take after this release.

Nothing But Thieves begins strongly, softens up a little in the middle and comes right back around in the end to slap you in the face with a brilliant bit of rock music. Well worth a listen, stream, download or if you're old school, actually purchase a physical copy.

Nothing But Thieves is available from Amazon & iTunes now.