Rise Against wow in packed Reading Festival tent

The Gossip cover Queen, Ian Brown played and more

Daniel Fahey, Alex Fahey, Alison Kerry, Dean Samways - 30 August 2009

The post punk group from Chicago took to the stage commandeering the crowd like dark reverends delivering a Doomsday sermon and their congregation lapped it up.

Their political stance ran through every song from their 'Appeal To Reason' album but most during 'Re-Education (Through Labour)' which energised their troop into a frenzy.

The gig was dusted with call to arms to both dance and fight the power, which Rise Against defining themselves as a Rage Against The Machine for a new generation.

Some fans were left disappointed with 'Swing Life Away' being omitted with the group in favour of playing their faster, harder numbers from their back catalogue including 'Dancing For Rain'.

"This feels like a family member," admitted Beth Ditto during The Gossip's set in the Radio 1/NME Stage, adding, "we were here two years ago."

Back then the singer was in her bra and pants before the end of the first two songs, and here clothes didn't stay on too much longer this time around with the red haired diva pulling off her dress to reveal a black and leopard print combo that left little to the imagination.

'Standing In The Way Of Control' starts a riot with Ditto slipping the words of Nivana's 'Teen Spirit' into the track as the crowd invaded the stage.

The band also fired off numbers like 'Four Letter Word' and 'Jealous Girls' before ending on an accapella version of Queen's 'We Are The Champions'.

Maximo Park took to the stage with a five-piece brass section playing them in, before breaking into 'Graffiti'. Paul Smith, adorning a blu-tac blue suit and black bowler hat, was performing his usual tricks of doing the splits in the air.

In the Radio 1/NME Stage, The Maccabees repeated the same feat they did in 2007, by packing out the tent completely.

Singer Orlando Weeks seemed overwhelmed with the response from the audience declaring, "this is the best crowd we've ever played too."

'No Kind Words' and 'Love You Better' sounded epic compared to 'First Love' but it was a shimmering rendition of 'Toothpaste Kisses' that got the best response with Weeks smirking at the reaction.

'Girls Who Play Guitar' bulked up the size of the crowd and as Smith's energy levels rose he revealed a black shirt and white braces. However it was 'My Velocity' which got the largest cheer of the set.

As news of a potential final break up for Oasis filtered through Reading, Rival Schools were the first band of the festival to play tribute to them by covering 'Wonderwall' in the Lock Up Tent.

"I don't know if you've heard, but Oasis?" said singer Walter Schreifels to a chorus of boos before forcing the crowd to sing along to their rendition of the Gallagher brothers' biggest hit. "There, don't you feel better now?" added Walter Schreifels to an ironic cheer.

The band also tore through 'United By Fate' with other highlights that included 'Travel By Telephone', slow pacers 'Undercovers On' and their big hit 'Used For Glue'.

New tracks '69 Guns' and 'Choose Your Own Adventure' were also aired to the large crowd.

Fans never thought they'd hear Lady GaGa at Reading, until You Me At Six performed a cover of 'Poker Face' on the Radio 1/NME Stage with the crowd joining in.

"Three years ago I came to Reading with a tent and a sleeping bag," said singer Josh Franceshi before 'In Your Shoes', adding, "I watched, in this tent, one of my all time favourites Brand New. I hoped one day me and my band would play here. This is pretty much the best day of my life."

The song was also memorable for the singer getting the crowd to chant Rage Against The Machine's mantra, "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me."

The band finish with Franceshi climbing the rigging and jumping into the pit to shake hands with his fans.

Worst kept secret of the day, Them Crooked Vultures's set on the Radio 1/NME Stage. With a dream rhythm section of Dave Grohl on drums, John Paul Jones on bass and Josh Homme fronting the project, the band are sonically amazing, however from first listen there aren't any big hits.

Earlier on Ian Brown graced the Main Stage, "Hi, I brought the sun...I guess you want some music," he said but unfortunately during the first song the vocal seems to be cut from the right-hand speaker and aren't returned for the rest of the set.

Brown jogged around the stage like a 75 man throughout a set which included 'Fools Gold', on which he sang out of tune, but the highlights were reserved for the tail-end of the set with 'F.E.A.R' getting a positive response before new single 'Stellify' which closed the set.

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