FESTIVAL season is nearly upon us, meaning Reading is gearing up for a summer full of music from local talent and international artists alike.
As well as some of the town’s headline events, Reading also has a whole range of smaller and more niche offerings for fans of all ages and tastes.
Naturally Reading Festival is back at Little John’s Farm in August, bringing goliath acts like Chappell Roan, Bloc Party, Lola Young, Bring Me The Horizon, Limp Bizkit, Travis Scott, Enter Shikari, and AJ Tracey.
This year will also see a major overhaul for attendees, including a range of new camping improvements, programming, experiences, and complimentary add-ons as part of a refreshed campsite layout.
It represents a substantial investment by organisers which will see five new campsites and a more tailored experience for festival-goers.
Swathes of improvements will see more showers, policy updates, newly-decorated areas, and new vacuum toilets to provide a more comfortable experience than the previous ‘long drops’.
The shake-up has been described by Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic, as the biggest change in the Reading & Leeds festival sites since 1989.
Reading Festival takes place at Little John’s Farm from Friday-Sunday, August 22-24.
Elsewhere, music fans have plenty to get excited about as Readipop has also announced an unexpected return with its Fiesta, set to take place at the Reading University Student’s Union in September.
The Fiesta will welcome headliners and home-grown heroes The Amazons, who will be joined by the likes of Roni Size, Stealing Sheep, Puma Theory, Jopy, Reading EMOM All-Stars, and Rose Rey.
It will also see a series of music and arts workshops, as well as an indie market, record fair, streetfood, and a range of craft beers and local ales.
Readipop Fiesta takes place on Saturday, September 13.
Heritage Live is back at Englefield Estate in July, bringing sets from indie darlings The Wombats, Doves, Hard-Fi, and Alfie Templeman.
Meanwhile Rewind South will celebrate some of the most iconic artists of the last few decades in Henley, including Soft Cell, Go West, Wang Chung, Blue, and Chesney Hawkes when it returns from Saturday-Sunday, August 16-17.
Elsewhere, Reading Water Fest is returning to Forbury Gardens and the Abbey ruins later in June to celebrate the Kennet and Avon canals and Down at the Abbey is back following a fallow year, bringing live music to the ruins in September.
East Reading Festival is also making its return to Palmer Park later in June, bringing live music, spoken word, and stalls.
Henley Festival as back in Henley-on-Thames, with performances from Diana Ross, Rick Astley, Jamie Cullum, and McFly, as well as comedy from Ed Byrne, Alistair McGowan, Ivo Graham, Rob Auton, and Matt Forde, in July.
Full details of what’s coming up this summer are available via: whatsonreading.com
