The Reading Festival crowd got a shocking and unforgettable surprise when Rebel Wilson stepped onto the stage with The Kooks.
Luke Pritchard, the band’s frontman, welcomed the Australian actress to sing a rendition of Gangsta’s Paradise during their Friday set, leaving fans and festival-goers buzzing.
Videos of the collaboration quickly went viral, but Luke revealed the unlikely duet was largely unplanned and only rehearsed for an hour before the performance.
“She just reached out, wanted some cutaways for her film, and I thought, why don’t we do a song?” Luke told PA News Agency.
“We had 12 hours, so we thought, just give it a go. And she was brilliant.”
From Dressing Room Rehearsal to Festival Spotlight
Luke added that Wilson arrived fully prepared and ready to perform. “She already had it down.
It was just a bit of fun in front of the crowd. She’s so popular, we were basically the backup,” he joked.
Their impromptu collaboration highlighted Wilson’s talent as a performer and delighted the thousands of fans in attendance.
The Kooks’ Emotional Return to Reading Festival
For The Kooks, Friday marked their first Reading Festival appearance in seven years.
Luke described the performance as a “bit of a homecoming,” reflecting on the energy and enthusiasm of the young audience.
“It went really well. We haven’t played in the UK for a while, and the crowd gave so much love and energy.
Those old songs still feel fresh, and we’re very grateful,” he said.
The Brighton-formed band, which includes Hugh Harris on guitar and Alexis Nunez on drums, first performed at Reading and Leeds in 2006 and returned in 2018.
Looking Back on a Storied Career
The Kooks formed in Brighton in 2005 and released their debut album, Inside In/Inside Out, in 2006, which reached number two on the UK charts.
Their 2008 follow-up, Konk, became their first number one album.
Reflecting on the past, Luke said, “It almost feels like another life. Life should be seasonal.
That was an amazing and intense season, and we made some really cool music. Now I’m all about the future.”
Preparing for a Big UK Arena Tour
Looking ahead, the band is gearing up for their biggest UK arena tour yet, with stops in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Brighton, Newcastle, and Birmingham throughout October.
Luke shared his excitement about performing in larger venues after 20 years in the industry.
“It feels really good. We feel ready, which seems like a long time coming. Now we can take on these arenas with confidence,” he said.
The tour follows the release of their seventh studio album, Never/Know, which reached number five on the UK album charts.
Reading Festival Continues
The Reading and Leeds Festival continues through Saturday, August 23, featuring artists including Chappell Roan, Hozier, Rudimental, Becky Hill, and Conan Gray, promising more memorable performances for festival-goers.
