Down With Boring #171: Reading 2026

Dork’s flagship podcast-slash-radio show Down With Boring is back to close out the festival season with a bang, dropping a special update straight from the fields of Reading Festival 2026.

With Jamie still AWOL, Jake is left holding down the fort. Across the weekend, he charts his real-time deterioration while catching up with some of the weekend's best talent and putting them through their paces in a brand new game, On The Grid, inspired by the main stage's latest rebrand. The awards are clearly in the post.

James Marriott stops by freshly armed with news of his upcoming single and a headline date at Brixton Academy. He opens up about climbing the festival bill, fleeing the British winter for Australia, and whether he'd rather post a selfie with Timothée Chalamet or the world's oldest tortoise.

Opening up the festival to a packed tent, Tooth join in to recount their full-circle memories of attending Reading as teenagers, their DIY approach to making gig zines, and the terrifying experience of playing bass while Shame's Josh looks on.

Pop contender Arthur Hill checks in after meeting fans and coming off a massive year. He discusses his cover of 'Careless Whisper', bringing a live horn section to the stage, preparing for his debut US headline tour, and his surprising holiday hotspot of choice.

Finally, making their UK festival debut, Minneapolis indie outfit She's Green share their perspective on Reading's rite-of-passage energy, staying in a remote cabin to write their upcoming debut album, and why hot dog eating contests might just be their true calling.