Westside Cowboy tell us about spreading joy and hopes for “weirder, poppier” new music at Reading 2026

Westside Cowboy caught up with NME backstage at Reading 2026 to tell us about their whirlwind year, slapping a smile on the face of modern indie, and hopes for “weirder, poppier” new music.

READ MORE: On The Cover : Westside Cowboy’s fun-loving indie rock comes straight from the heart Fresh from the release of their acclaimed and long-awaited debut album ‘ It Goes On ‘, the rising Manchester alt-country outfit packed out The Ballroom tent at both Reading and Leeds sites.

This was their first time playing the legendary festival, but singer and guitarist Reuben Haycocks came as a young punter in 2019, their return bringing bad a flood of “PTSD” from that heady weekend.

This time through, they were one of the most talked-about acts of the weekend – and certainly one of our highlights .

From winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition last year to then smashing Glasto before R+L, does anything phase the recent NME cover stars anymore? “A lot of things phase us, every day,” replied fellow singer and guitarist Jimmy Bradbury.

“It’s a strange one.

We have a very lovely team of people around us who help keep us sane.

I feel like we’re still playing music with our friends, and that’s the way I hope it stays.” He continued: “We’re at that stage of a tour now where we’ve been away for a very long time and we’re questioning our own existence.

Is this real? Are We real?” View this post on Instagram It’s been a whirlwind year for the NME 100 alumni, starting with supporting Geese on tour back in March when they called at London’s iconic Hammersmith Apollo .

What was it like to be part of that bubble of hype and madness? “We were sort of leeching off the bubble,” replied Haycocks.

“We were very lucky to get that tour and they were so lovely.

Generally the atmosphere of the whole tour was great and all the crowds were amazing.

Hammersmith was the first time I ever walked on stage and noticed how big it was.

We’re excited to hopefully play our songs to that many people who know them, now that the album is out.” Bradbury agreed: “That was one of the first stages where you go out and you immediately notice and take in the history that’s been there: Springsteen ’s first London concert, the last ever Ziggy Stardurst concert – which I was watching the other day and his guitar player Mick Ronson is amazing.