大象传媒

Long before Leeds became its sister festival, Reading was called Reading Rock. That name just wouldn't wash these days - bands might take up the majority of the spots on the bill, but there's always a tonne of dance, hip hop and pop acts playing too. These were our favourites in 2015...

The profile of the new king of Compton went stratospheric after he released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, earlier this year. For many punters, he was the top pick to see all weekend and he didn't disappoint. Kanye at Glastonbury split opinion; Kendrick managed to unite almost everyone in praise.

"The UK knows how to throw a fg rap party!" bellowed Run the Jewels' Killer Mike in the middle of the hip hop duo's debut Reading + Leeds performance. The pulled one of the biggest crowds of the day to the NME/大象传媒 Radio 1 stage on Friday, then destroyed at Leeds the following day.

Sure, you can dance to . But can you really get down? Plenty of people decided not, and headed off into the NME/大象传媒 Radio 1 tent to check out Knife Party, made up two founding members of Pendulum. And it went off.

Fast-rising UK soul singer-songwriter got the feeling of Sunday afternoon at Reading spot on - easing people into his set, which he performed with an exemplary band, before finishing with a sing-along of his best-known track, Walk.

He plays it no-frills - basically DJing and sticking in a whole load of his own songs, but he always delivers. The xx man was great at Glastonbury and he turned it on again for Reading + Leeds, bringing the flavour of Carnival outside of London on Carnival weekend.

Massive year already for 大象传媒 Sound of 2015 winners Years & Years, and on the strength of their performances at , and now Reading + Leeds, looks like Olly Alexander and his band will be around for, well, years and years to come.

The former Mercury Music Prize nominee at Radio 1Xtra staple was all atmospherics and texture at his 1.50pm Reading + Leeds sets, playing with a superb, full live band. Wonderful music, featuring tracks from across his career.

And this is how you end Friday night in Leeds and the entire festival at Reading - get the man in the mask to pummel you into a frenzy with a set of throbbing dance anthems. After which no one was able to sleep.