The Welsh DJ introducing some of the biggest acts at the Reading and Leeds Festival

David Owens

The unstoppable rise of Welsh DJ and presenter Katie Owen continues apace this weekend as she introduced some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll on the main stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.

And she certainly looks like she’s having the time of her life walking out in front of thousands of music fans at the Leeds leg of the dual venue music festival, with the rotating headline acts.

She posted on her Twitter account: ‘What a phenomenal first day introducing the artists on Main Stage West at @OfficialRandL. See ya again tomorrow and Sunday!”

What a phenomenal first day introducing the artists on Main Stage West at @OfficialRandL 🥳 See ya again tomorrow and Sunday! #LeedsFestival pic.twitter.com/6LIIztzoUf

— Katie Owen (@Katieeowen_) August 27, 2021

She’ll spend this weekend welcoming some of the biggest names in music including Biffy Clyro, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Disclosure to the stage at Leeds.

Understandably, her family are hugely proud of her – and that includes her dad, filmmaker and broadcaster Jonny Owen and his fiancee Line Of Duty actress Vicky McClure, who tweeted her pride at Katie’s appearance in front of thousands.

.@Katieeowen_ smashing it at #Leedsfest #veryproud 🤩💛 pic.twitter.com/nYUzzP7nEb

— Vicky McClure MBE (@Vicky_McClure) August 27, 2021

Her compere and DJ duties at the Leeds Festival is the latest in a number of festival appearances after finally being able to return to performing at live events.

It was back in May when the DJ from Merthyr created a slice of history – taking to the stage at the first live indoor music event in the UK in more than a year.

Celebration

Katie’s role as the stage DJ for the first live indoor show on these shores in more than a year at Sefton park in Liverpool was a joyful celebration; the sound of 5,000 voices singing the words to the tracks she was playing back to the stage in rapturous union.

It was a moment many of us feared wouldn’t happen, while dreaming of the day it would.

The test event headlined by local indie heroes Blossoms was a key part of the UK government’s Events Research Programme, a vital step in science-led research, which provided key data to support the reopening of live events and venues by way of mass testing.

It was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel, as we collectively navigated our way out of the most difficult year many of us have ever experienced.

For Katie it was her first gig back in more than 12 months, after an abrupt emergency stop was applied to a career that was very much in the ascendancy.

Rewind to 2019 and there was no stopping the Welsh DJ. The summer of that year saw her signing with one of the biggest UK music management companies, the Coalition Agency after being recommended to the agency by music legend – former Creation Records boss, Alan McGee.

Coalition represents star names including Sara Cox, Greg James and Jo Whiley.

Radio 2 presenter Whiley took Katie out on her ‘90s anthem tour and to top off a fantastic year, the talented young DJ appeared on Radio 1 over Christmas covering for Jack Saunders on the station’s Indie Show.

Katie has subsequently been snapped up by Money Management, who represent the likes of Nick Grimshaw, Annie Mac, Trevor Nelson, Tom Ravenscroft and Matt Edmondson.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck like many in the creative industries her career came to an abrupt halt, those dreams she had long harboured unceremoniously shelved.

Now she’s making up for lost time and seemingly having the time of her life while she’s at it.