Bring Me The Horizon Rocks Reading 2025 with a Thunderous ‘Wonderwall’ Cover

Experience the electrifying Reading 2025 headline set where Bring Me The Horizon stunned fans with their explosive cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’.

A Night to Remember: BMTH’s Epic Reading Festival Return

If you were at Reading Festival 2025, you know it was a night buzzing with raw energy and unforgettable moments. Sheffield’s metal titans, Bring Me The Horizon, took the stage as headliners for the first time solo since co-headlining with Arctic Monkeys in 2022. Their towering set on Saturday, August 23, wasn’t just a concert—it was a full-throttle experience that left fans roaring for more.

Bring Me The Horizon ignited the Reading stage with their powerful performance.

Frontman Oli Sykes kicked off the night with a booming “Reading, how the fuck are we feeling tonight?” before launching into ‘DArkSide’. It was a perfect call to arms, setting the tone for a night of industrial riffs, pounding drums, and cathartic screams. The band then tore into ‘MANTRA’, their sonic assault echoing through the festival grounds.

The ‘Wonderwall’ Moment: An Unexpected Classic Reimagined

Midway through the set, BMTH took a sharp left turn into something delightfully unexpected: their rocket-speed, metal-infused cover of Oasis’ iconic ‘Wonderwall’. Fans erupted as the familiar chords were twisted into a thunderous anthem, a version they first released in January that even got the seal of approval from Liam Gallagher himself, who reportedly said: “I fucking LOVE it.”

When Oli Sykes caught up with the band earlier this year, he admitted surprise that Liam didn’t “slag it off to the high heavens.” Drummer Mat Nicholls chimed in, “We were expecting [Liam] to absolutely rinse us, but he said some actually nice things! It was cool and I think it went down as good as we wished it could.”

“Anyway, here's 'Wonderwall'”
— Andrew Trendell, August 23, 2025

The cover was an absolute highlight, blending nostalgia with BMTH’s signature intensity, showing how a classic can be reborn through a modern metal lens.

Crowd-Pleasers and Stage Antics: The Setlist That Had Fans Buzzing

The band wasn’t just about the covers. Their setlist was a masterclass in pacing and mood, with hits like ‘Happy Song’ sparking one of the biggest mosh pits the festival has seen in years. Oli’s charisma shone brightest during ‘AmEN!’, where augmented reality effects on the big screen transformed him through a lineup of characters from their Nex Gen saga—an electrifying fusion of music and visual storytelling.

The band also embraced the crowd, pulling a fan named Lily on stage to take lead vocals for ‘Antivist’. It was a raw, spontaneous moment that perfectly captured the community vibe of the festival.

As the encore peeled out the powerful ‘Drown’ and ‘Throne’, BMTH waved Palestinian flags in a poignant show of solidarity, a gesture that resonated deeply with many in the crowd.

Bring Me The Horizon wave Palestinian flags during performance at Reading & Leeds Festival.
Image credit to @sophiiieporter August 23, 2025

BMTH’s 2025 Reading Festival Setlist:

• DArkSide
• MANTRA
• Happy Song
• Teardrops
• AmEN!
• Kool-Aid
• Shadow Moses
• Wonderwall
• Kingslayer
• Antivist
• Follow You
• LosT
• Can You Feel My Heart
• Doomed
• Drown
• Throne

Other Highlights from Reading & Leeds 2025

While BMTH undoubtedly stole the Saturday night spotlight, the festival had plenty more magic. Hozier headlined on Friday, delivering a passionate performance that included a fiery speech supporting Palestine Action, Kneecap, free speech, and equality. The atmosphere was thick with solidarity and purpose.

On the same day, Chappell Roan energized the crowd with a hits-packed set that had everyone dancing. The festival felt like a melting pot of like-minded souls, united by music and good vibes. The camaraderie was palpable, especially during moments like the ‘Hot To Go’ dance and the crowd raising pink cowboy hats and bandanas before ‘Red Wine Supernova’.

Festival organizer Melvin Benn revealed that two of the three nights for Reading & Leeds 2026 are already booked, hinting that the festival’s magic will continue to evolve.

Final Thoughts: A Night That Couldn’t Be Topped

Bring Me The Horizon’s headline set was more than just a gig—it was a statement. Oli Sykes hinted that this might be the last UK show for a while, suggesting the band could be taking a lengthy break. If that’s the case, they went out with one hell of a bang.

To all those who missed it, the full set is available on BBC iPlayer, so you can experience the thunderous power of BMTH's Reading 2025 performance from the comfort of your home.

FAQ

• What made BMTH’s cover of ‘Wonderwall’ special?
  Their fast, metal-infused take on the classic Oasis hit redefined the song for a new generation, earning praise even from Liam Gallagher.
• Who joined BMTH on stage during their set?
  A passionate fan named Lily was invited to sing lead vocals on ‘Antivist’, creating a memorable moment of fan interaction.
• Did BMTH include any special visual effects in their performance?
  Yes, especially during ‘AmEN!’, where augmented reality transformed Oli Sykes into various characters from their Nex Gen saga.
• What political statement did BMTH make during their Reading set?
  They waved Palestinian flags, showing solidarity with Palestine during their performance.
• Are these Reading Festival 2025 shows BMTH’s only UK dates this year?
  Yes, and frontman Oli Sykes suggested it might be a long hiatus afterward.

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