A FESTIVAL nestled among one of Reading’s most hallowed and historic venues is returning this weekend.
Down At The Abbey is back, bringing a whole host of acts from near and far to the auspicious grounds of Reading’s Abbey Ruins.
The festival sees two days of live music across two stages, curated and organised by the team behind Are You Listening? and Heavy Pop.
This Friday will see the festival welcoming returning act Kah’nya to kick things off with alternative indie pop on the Main Stage.
They’ll followed by Rose Rey, who was one of the most exciting acts of last year’s Heavy Pop Fiesta, bringing powerhouse vocals and effortless yet effervescent guitar.
Anthony Szmierek takes to the Main Stage from 8pm, hot on the heels of his debut album last year, with electrobeat-infused jazz outfit Nubiyan Twist headlining the stage from 9.45pm.
Meanwhile over on the Second Stage, the Readipop XOX Showcase brings the best of the charity’s electronic music output, thanks to its collection of synthesisers and continued community work, from 6pm (and again on Sunday).
They’ll be followed by down-tempo tech-house and shoegaze from Nathan Fake, with atmospheric singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph closing out the stage for the day.
Saturday kicks off with mercurial shoegaze quartet Sundaughter over on the Main Stage, followed by a long-anticipated return from Reading’s own indie rock outfit The Race.
Classic rock, jazz, and blues followed from The Wave Pictures, and then pop-infused, chameleonic fare from Paige Kennedy.
Ziyad Al-Samman returns with psychedelic disco-pop from5.15pm, Brighton punk-infused punk outfit The New Eyes from 6.30pm, and acclaimed afro-beat icons Ibibio Sound Machine from 8pm.
Joshua Idehen closes out the Main Stage for Saturday bringing haunting yet hopeful spoken word and musical accompaniment from Ludvig Parment.
Meanwhile on the Second Stage, genre-fluid, funk-fuelled outfit The Amazing Tiger Band performs from 1.30pm, followed by Reading’s own consummate soul and jazz phenomenon Ma Bessie, and rising indie-pop proponent Freddie Lewis from 3.45pm.
Miss Hunte takes to the stage from 4.45pm, bringing her earnest brand of neo-soul, before Reading rock duo Lost Velvet blend dreamlike soundscapes and powerful dual vocals from 6pm.
Dolly and the Clothespegs continue nearly two decades of riverbilly domination from 7.15, with Glasgow-born, Mercury Prize nominated multi-instrumentalist C Duncan closes out the stage with music from his acclaimed new album.
Down at The Abbey takes place at Reading’s Abbey Ruins from Friday-Saturday, September 11-12.Full details and tickets are available via: downattheabbey.co.uk
