Chappell Roan Transforms Reading Festival into a Fairytale Pop Spectacle
When Chappell Roan first played the UK just last year, her shows were tucked away in small clubs, the kind of places where audiences stand shoulder to shoulder and everyone leaves drenched in sweat and adrenaline. Fast forward to now, and the transformation is staggering. On Friday night, she took the main stage at Reading Festival, headlining in front of 90,000 fans, and it felt like the culmination of a true modern pop fairytale.
Her set wasn’t just a performance—it was an entire production. A gothic fairytale castle towered behind her, her all-female band roared with power, and the songs from her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess , were blown up into stadium-sized anthems. From the moment she stepped out in a dramatic crimson outfit topped with a bat-wing fascinator—quickly nicknamed “Chappell Crow-an” by fans—it was clear this was going to be more than just music. This was theater, camp, and celebration all at once.
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She bounded across the stage, opening with a triple hit— Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl , Femininomenon , and After Midnight . Layer by layer, she shed parts of her costume, as if peeling away the fairytale character and revealing the pop star underneath. Every song carried its own moment. The viral dance routine to Hot To Go had the entire crowd moving in unison, while the biting My Kink Is Karma came with a cheeky dedication “to my ex who is in the crowd tonight.” But the ballads— Casual , Coffee , Picture You —were what really showcased her voice, equal parts twang and breathy power, soaring over the crowd even as thousands of fans sang every word back at her.
It was striking to think how quickly this rise had happened. Just a few years ago, Roan was grinding through the industry, told “no” by skeptical labels, trying to find a home for her unapologetically camp and queer anthems. Yet persistence won out. Her debut album turned into a slow-burning success story, with each track now treated like a classic. At Reading, it was clear: nothing about this set felt like filler. Nearly every song carried the weight of an anthem.
The energy never dipped. As the sun went down, she strode the catwalk for Good Luck Babe , silhouetted against the stage lights like a seasoned superstar. And then came the finale— Pink Pony Club . Fireworks exploded, her legs kicked sky-high, and she blew kisses into the night as the field erupted in pure chaos and joy.
The night sealed her status as not just a breakout star, but a generational performer. Leeds will get the same magic on Saturday, followed by Edinburgh next week. After that, she has only a handful of dates left this year before retreating to figure out what comes next. She’s admitted a second album may take years—she wants to feel settled before creating again. But if this set proved anything, it’s that Chappell Roan has carved out her place at the top, and the world is ready to wait for her next move.
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