So, Who's Playing ‘Secret Sets’ At Reading And Leeds 2014?
Every year, festival campsites buzz with rumours of ‘favourite bands playing secret slots’ and unlikely artists playing impromptu performances. As an event with a rich history of putting on secret shows, this month’s Reading and Leeds festival proves to be no exception.
In one of the most celebrated secret sets in the history of the festival, Dave Grohl stunned fans in 2009 by turning up onstage with his supergroup side-project Them Crooked Vultures.
Resuming his position on the drums Grohl, together with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and Led Zepp bassist John Paul Jones, rocked the crowd with a blistering show of guitar-driven, full-on monster rock anthems.
Given that Grohl’s day job with the Foo Fighters has seen the band play surprise shows everywhere from car parks to pizza places - and throw in the band having a new album to promote - fans would be foolish to rule out a secret slot from the Foos at Reading and Leeds.
More: Foo Fighters - The Five Most Unexpected Live Moments
2) Green Day
Having previously played the ‘secret set’ on the festival’s NME stage in 2012, pop-punk veterans Green Day would certainly know how to kick the weekend off with a bang.
The group, who headlined the main stage last year, have a long history of great performances at Reading and Leeds - not to mention an extensive back catalogue of riff-heavy festival anthems. While the band currently have nothing in their diaries, a surprise slot at the festival would be a great way to blow off the cobwebs.
Another band who are no strangers to the secret set, local boys Kaiser Chiefs packed out the Carling tent during their Saturday afternoon secret set at the Leeds Festival in 2007.
So far 2014 has been a good year for the Kaisers - following frontman Wilson’s appearance on BBC’s The Voice, the group has had a string of successful singles, a number one album and gave a stellar headline performance on the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury.
Having not rocked the crowds at Reading and Leeds since their Main Stage slot alongside the Black Keys and the Foo Fighters in 2012, a successful secret slot at this year’s festival could nicely cap off the summer for the band.
More: Is Ricky Wilson Really Getting His Own TV Quiz Show?
Always known for their chaotic and disorganised nature, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to most Libertines’ fans if the band turned up unannounced to play a gig in their own bathroom!
The group, who were strongly rumoured to be performing a secret set at the year’s Glastonbury, previously played their first reunion shows here in 2010.
Following a very successful summer headlining festivals across the continent, could the fields of Reading and Leeds see an appearance from Pete and his fellow Boys In The Band?
More: The Libertines On Prostitues, Football And ‘How Pete Doherty Kidnapped Us’
Next Page: Muse, Miley Cyrus and more…
5) Muse
Another group with a rich history at the festival, Muse would certainly be a popular choice among fans to play a surprise show. The trio, who have headlined the main stage twice before, celebrated their 20th anniversary this year - with singer Matt Bellamy posting a picture of the Devon group from 1994 on the band’s Twitter page.
While fans have started a petition for the group to play a special hometown anniversary show, it is safe to say nobody would object to a surprise birthday celebration from the space rockers.
6) Radiohead
Much like the band themselves, this suggestion comes a little out of left-field. While Radiohead haven’t played Reading and Leeds since their 2009 headline slot, the Oxford five-piece have been known to play secret sets at high-profile festivals, including Glastonbury.
Plus with guitarist Jonny Greenwood confirming that he has been emailing tracks to singer Thom Yorke ahead of writing sessions for album number nine, an intimate secret slot to test out some new material shouldn’t be ruled out.
7) Miley Cyrus
Okay, on the surface, the idea of Miley Cyrus twerking her way across Reading and Leeds may seem a tad unrealistic, but a secret slot from the Bangerz star wouldn’t be as ridiculous or unexpected as anything else she’s done recently.
In the past month alone, Miley has collaborated with space-rock giants the Flaming Lips (in the process releasing one of the most trippy and terrifying promo videos ever); duetted live onstage with Lily Allen; appeared on Pharrell Williams' latest single ‘Come Get It Bae,’ posed topless in the dessert; and announced plans to contribute towards a psychedelic re-working of the Beatles’ landmark ‘Sgt Pepper’ album.
Throw in the festival’s rich history of surprising fans by giving high profile slots to unlikely pop artists (step forward Daphne and Celeste) and remember that this year’s line-up features rising hip hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis fending off festival regulars for a main stage sub-headlining slot.
On top of all that, consider organiser Melvin Benn's promise of a roster of artists ‘unlike anything they’ve ever done before’ and a secret slot from the 'Wrecking Ball' singer suddenly doesn’t seem quite so unreasonable.
More: Miley Cyrus Shares Topless Instagram Selfie - Is Anyone Shocked?
8) Prince
This one is certainly a long shot, but as one of rock and roll’s last great figures of mystery Prince would certainly bring the funk to just about any festival he appeared at.
Over the past twelve months the Purple One has played surprise shows in cities across the UK and was even approached to headline Glastonbury. Despite turning down the Pyramid Stage slot, Prince was still strongly rumoured to turn up and play right up until the last chord of the festival rang out. However unlikely it may be, how great would it be to see rock’s most unpredictable character extend his purple reign over the fields of Reading and Leeds?
The Reading and Leeds Festival will take place from August 22-24.