Festival-goers at Reading were treated to an unexpected performance on the event’s final day as singer Lola Young took to the Grid stage. The artist teased her appearance on Instagram, telling fans, “I am backstage, the cat is out of the bag and I am going to be performing so see you… at the Grid stage.” She delivered a set featuring tracks such as her number one single “Messy” and “One Thing.”
This appearance represents a major milestone in Young’s gradual return to the stage. Her career trajectory shifted last year following an on-stage collapse in New York, where she dropped her microphone and required assistance to leave the stage. Shortly after that incident, she announced the cancellation of all future shows, telling fans at the time, “I really hope you’ll give me a second chance once I’ve had some time to work on myself and come back stronger.”
Young has been open about her personal challenges, having sought treatment for drug dependency. In a 2025 interview with the Guardian, she revealed that she had struggled with addiction for a long period. Her recent return to live music began with a limited series of UK performances, starting with a London show in March. Despite feeling prepared for more, she has emphasized a cautious approach to touring.
The singer’s history with Reading Festival has been complicated by various setbacks. Beyond the cancellation last year due to an “unavoidable scheduling conflict,” she also withdrew from the 2025 festival because of a separate scheduling clash. Prior to her surprise set in Reading, she performed at the Electric Picnic Festival in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
While Young has returned to the stage and released the reflective single “From Down Here” in May, fans are still waiting for the release of her fourth studio album. Her performance on Sunday followed an electrifying set by Charli XCX, who is currently promoting her latest project, “Music, Fashion, Film.”
The Reading Festival concludes its final night with a high-profile lineup including Florence + The Machine, Loyle Carner, and the Irish rap group Kneecap. Simultaneously, the festival’s sister site in Leeds is set to wrap up with performances from Raye and the rapper Dave. The report also notes that she cancelled all shows “for the foreseeable future”, a few days later. The report also notes that it felt so right being back on stage,” she wrote on social media shortly after, but said: “As tempting as it is to jump on a big tour I’m going to continue taking things slowly despite feeling so ready to perform more.
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