Reading 2024 proves Raye can do absolutely anything she wants now

Raye adds herself to the hall of legends with a performance that screams Future Glastonbury headliner.

Words: Ali Shutler.
Photos: Frances Beach.

Every so often, Reading Festival captures an act on the very cusp of greatness. Billie Eilish in 2019, Dua Lipa in 2018, Twenty One Pilots in 2016 – they all delivered mammoth gigs that underlined the excitement and catapulted them towards a future playing the very biggest of stages. Today, Raye adds herself to the hall of legends with a performance that screams Future Glastonbury headliner.

Debut album ‘My 21st Century Blues’ was something of an underdog story, released under the cloud of major label bullshit and dealing with wavering self-belief, addiction, hurt and frustration. But over the past 18 months, it’s evolved into a triumphant record of perseverance and belief. Today at Reading, it’s pure victory.

Backed by a full choir and a Vegas-inspired stage show, Raye brings a much needed touch of drama to the festival. Soaring opening track ‘Flip A Switch./Decline’ is as big a statement as you can make before the ambitious, shapeshifting ‘Genesis’ sees Raye confidently changing gears. There’s a rock version of ‘Prada’, a euphoric snippet of crossover hit ‘You Don’t Know Me’ and the warmth of ‘Worth It’. She apologises for bringing the mood down ahead of ‘Ice Cream Man.’, a song about sexual assault and rape but explains that “when I went independent, I promised myself to make honest music, because music is medicine. If you relate to it, I hope it feels like a hug,” she continues, conjuring one of the most powerful moments of the weekend.

“It’s always been a dream to play this festival but I didn’t think we’d start on the main stage with all these people watching,” she explains, having first come as a punter after getting her GCSE results. “I can’t believe we’re here,” she adds before reminding the crowd that “anything is possible”.

Closing the set with the epic ‘Black Mascara’, the glistening ‘Secrets’ and the almighty ‘Escapism’, it certainly feels like Raye can do absolutely anything she wants now.