Singer Lola Young made an unannounced appearance at Reading Festival on Sunday, marking a continued return to performing.
Key facts
- •Lola Young performed hits including her single 'Messy' during her surprise set at the Grid stage.
- •The artist previously canceled a series of shows in 2024 following an on-stage collapse in New York.
- •Young has been seeking treatment for drug dependency and began a limited run of UK shows in March.
- •Reading Festival concludes on Sunday with performances from artists including Florence + The Machine and Loyle Carner.
- •The festival's sister site in Leeds also concludes on Sunday with sets from Raye and Dave.
Singer Lola Young surprised fans at the final day of Reading Festival with an unannounced performance on the Grid stage. The appearance follows a period of recovery for the artist, who had previously canceled shows after collapsing on stage in New York in September 2024.
Return to the stage
Young’s appearance at Reading followed a performance at the Electric Picnic Festival in Ireland the previous day. She has been gradually returning to live music since March, when she played a show in London. Despite feeling ready to perform, Young has stated her intention to continue taking her career slowly rather than immediately embarking on a large tour.
Background on health and scheduling
The singer previously withdrew from the 2025 Reading Festival due to a scheduling conflict. Her return to the spotlight comes after she sought treatment for drug dependency, an issue she told the Guardian in 2025 had affected her for a long time. Following her collapse in New York, she had canceled all performances for the foreseeable future to focus on her well-being.
Timeline
- September 2024Lola Young collapsed on stage during a festival performance in New York.
- March 2025Young began a small run of UK shows with a performance in London.
- May 2025Young released the single 'From Down Here'.
- SaturdayYoung performed at the Electric Picnic Festival in the Republic of Ireland.
- SundayYoung performed a surprise set at the Reading Festival.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Entertainment & Arts.
