Anti-Flag kicked off proceedings on the Main Stage at Reading Festival this afternoon (August 22), drawing a huge crowd for their set.
The politically-conscious US band bounded onstage at midday, with guitarist Chris Head launching straight into a short rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, much to the crowd’s delight.
After opening with ‘I’d Tell You But…’, frontman Justin Sane made an impassioned speech about the state of the world.
“We are honoured to open this festival,” said Sane. “With this festival, we can show the world that there is a world without racism, without sexism, without homophobia. Brothers and sisters, we can show the world this weekend.”
The band then played the title track from latest album ‘The Bright Lights Of America’, followed by ‘This Is The End’ from 2006’s ‘For Blood And Empire’.
Midway during the performance, eight female backing singers – all dressed in white – joined the band onstage, singing vocals on ‘Good And Ready’ and ‘Cities Burn’.
At the end of the performance, bassist Chris #2 ended heaped praise on the crowd.
“Thank you very much,” said the bassist. “We’re from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and you have been fucking awesome!”
Anti-Flag played:
‘I’m Dead’
‘The Bright Lights’
‘This Is The End’
‘Turncoat’
‘Good And Ready’
‘Smartest Bomb’
‘The Press Corpse’
‘Cities Burn’
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