Chappell Roan Reading Festival 2025: The View From 5’4

This summer my friend and I planned what we called Pop Girl Summer — tickets to Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Tate McRae, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello. So when we saw Chappell Roan Reading Festival announced, we knew it had to be part of the line-up. Pop Girl Summer wouldn’t be complete without her.

We took the Lizzie Line, grabbed a cheeky Nando’s, and joined the long, dusty walk into the grounds. Crowded, chaotic, overstimulating — perfect festival energy. By the time we reached the stage, drinks in hand, we realised Chappell Roan’s Reading Festival slot was 7:10pm instead of the late 9:40pm. That meant we’d get the full show and still be back in London before midnight.

At first the crowd didn’t seem that big, but once everyone stood, reality hit — I could barely see a thing. At 5’4, this is the constant struggle. Two screens for tens of thousands wasn’t enough, but the Chappell Roan Reading Festival crowd made up for it. The energy mattered more than the view.

Chappell appeared right on time at the Chappell Roan Reading Festival, cloak sweeping across the stage as the fairytale visuals kicked in. She opened with “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” “Femininomenon,” and “After Midnight.” Straight away, the field erupted. Femininomenon was the biggest crowd moment — 90,000 voices yelling “can you play a song with a f*ing beat” in unison was pure catharsis.

For me, Naked in Manhattan was the standout. Criminally underrated, but live it felt bigger, sharper — and also the point where I started losing my voice.

Casual was made for concerts, and the Reading crowd treated it like therapy. Screamed from start to finish, it connected in every corner of the field. Even when people climbed on shoulders and blocked the view, the energy was undeniable.

Then came Hot To Go. Even with no space, everyone around me did the dance. That kind of unity doesn’t happen at every gig — it felt like one of those rare collective moments you know you’ll carry home with you.

The set stayed stacked: Red Wine Supernova, Coffee, The Subway, The Giver. My Kink Is Karma was another peak, because sometimes the only way to let things out is to scream for the universe to handle your revenge. Chappell even dedicated it to her ex — who was actually in the crowd.

I thought Good Luck, Babe! would be the big eruption, but nothing compared to Pink Pony Club. From the first notes, everyone lost it. Screaming “My God, what have you done?” under the Reading sky was the release the whole day had been building to.

For me, it’s another chapter in Pop Girl Summer — from Sabrina Carpenter dazling BST Hyde Park to Charli xcx to lighting up Libdo Festival. Chappell’s set now sits alongside them, and it feels like the start of something much bigger. Her debut album took five years to make, so the next one might be a while off — but after Reading, I know I’ll be waiting.

Chappell Roan Reading Festival Setlist

1. Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
2. Femininomenon
3. After Midnight
4. Naked in Manhattan
5. Casual
6. Hot To Go
7. Red Wine Supernova
8. Coffee
9. The Subway
10. The Giver
11. My Kink Is Karma
12. Good Luck, Babe!
13. Pink Pony Club

If you enjoyed this, you might like my other festival and live reviews:

• Blackpink Comeback : Jump & Chaos & Why we’re still entertained
• Oasis Reunion at Wembley: The Night a Childhood Dream Came True
• Inside the Charli xcx Concert at Libdo: Chaos, Catharsis & a Lost Phone
• Chappell Roan Reading Festival 2025: The View From 5’4