ONE OF Reading’s most celebrated homegrown festivals is joining forces with The Oracle for a mix of live music, arts, and community events.
ReadiPop has announced it is set to take over the shopping centre for a two week extravaganza in August.
Readipop Riverbeats will transform The Oracle into a dynamic entertainment space, bringing roaming theatre acts, over 40 creative and musical workshops, samba parades, interactive drumming, sustainable block printing and badge-making across three workshop and performance areas.
BBC Introducing Oxfordshire and Berkshire will co-curate “RISER presents” on the final day of Riverbeats on Saturday, August 16, alongside Readipop, who will be showcasing seven local emerging artists tipped for national attention.
Featured in the lineup is The Kokroachez, a high-energy alt-rock band from Oxford making waves with their explosive EP Pest Control, alongside Girl Like That, a classic rock band gaining momentum on the 2025 festival circuit.
The showcase continues with Kah’Nya, a Zimbabwean-born teenager blending soul, afrobeats and R&B with powerful storytelling; Alisa Scott, whose genre-spanning mix of jazz, indie folk and neo-soul has made her one to watch; and Petrea, a theatrical and commanding performer drawing from ancient myths and heavy riffs.
Neon Bloom, a solo project from Caleb Paice Reading joins the line-up with their electrifying stagecraft and sound, alongside rappers and longtime collaborators ShyZer0 and Finessa, both from central Reading.
Viral sensation and acoustic rave pioneers The Showhawk Duo and popular Reading ska band The Skangsters will feature in the Readipop Festival Presents curated programme on Saturday, August 16.
Readipop Riverbeats is produced by Readipop and presented at The Oracle, with support from BBC Introducing Oxfordshire and Berkshire, Jelly and a host of regional creatives.
Andy Briggs, Destination Director at The Oracle, said: “The Oracle is incredibly proud to welcome Readipop Riverbeats to the town centre for the very first time.
“This partnership and the involvement of BBC Introducing Oxfordshire and Berkshire shows what’s possible when you turn a shopping centre into a cultural space – one that reflects the creativity and energy of Reading itself.
“We’re inviting the whole community to come and be part of it and take another look at The Oracle.”
Gavin Lombos, Creative Director at Readipop, said: “Readipop has always believed in making music and the arts open to everyone and this move into the heart of Reading is an exciting step forward.
“Readipop Riverbeats is about transforming familiar spaces into something magical and inclusive and giving a platform to the next wave of talent.”
Readipop’s Riverbeats is taking place at The Oracle shopping centre from Tuesday-Saturday, August 5-16.
While full schedules and performer updates will be published online ahead of the festival, information and tickets are available via: eventbrite.com/cc/the-oracle-readipop-presents-riverbeats-4485173.
