READIPOP has announced some of the names who will be taking to stages at this year’s Readipop Fiesta.
Organisers have announced that The Amazons are set to headline when the event returns to Reading for a one day event in September.
The announcement comes ahead of the release of the band’s fourth studio album, 21st Century Fiction, which drops in May.
As well as The Amazons, organisers confirmed that Mercury Prize-winning drum and bass performer Roni Size will be making a return to the festival.
He will be joined by Liverpool trio Stealing Sheep and disco darling Vanity Fairy, alt-pop singer-songwriter Rose Rey (formerly of Valeras), Brighton glam-punk band Jopy, indie rock outfit Puma Theory, and acclaimed rave DJ Tasha K-P.
Rounding out the first line-up roster will be a selection of live acts from Reading Electronic Open Mic (Reading EMOM) and a room takeover from Vaultage club night with Mat Carter (Checkpoint Charlie), and Alex Darby and guests.
Though the Readipop Festival is taking a fallow year in 2025, organisers made the surprise announcement last week that it would be returning for a one-day event in September amid high demand and support.
Earlybird tickets for the fundraising fiesta have already sold out following the announcement, but Tier 1 tickets will now go on pre-sale sale on Wednesday, April 23, and on general sale from 10am on Thursday, April 24.
Readipop founder Gavin Lombos said: “The Amazons have been part of the extended Readipop family for a number of years now–they played many gigs at our Plug & Play studios in their early days and had a full time rehearsal space with us for over three years.”
“We are over the moon that The Amazons are headlining Readipop Fiesta 2025, playing new album tracks as well as their hits to a big home crowd.
“It’s a real honour to have them perform for us as we begin our new chapter, taking over Reading Students’ Union with five stages of live acts, DJs and workshops across 14 hours.”
He explained: “We’re also thrilled to have Roni Size and Stealing Sheep returning after their memorable performances on our Readipop Festival mainstage in 2023 and 2022 respectively.
“Roni Size sent the crowd wild with his high energy DJ set, despite the high winds and rain that caused us to have to cancel the following day.
“Stealing Sheep put on our favourite ever live shows at the festival where they wore inflatable suits that blew up throughout their set.”
Speaking of the announcement, he said: “We’ve been looking forward to sharing our first announcement for a long time, and there’s even more great acts to come soon.
“A big thank you to all our regulars and supports who have already bought Readipop Fiesta 2025 tickets, we’re certain it’s going to be a brilliant day and night for all the family”
“All of us at Readipop are immensely proud of what Readipop Festival has become since it launched in 2016 and of the large, diverse section of the local community that it has brought together annually since then.
“However, the costs of building a festival site from scratch and running a three-day event has increased hugely in the last few years and seriously threatened our ability to continue Readipop Festival.
“By hosting our Readipop Fiesta event on one day this September at Reading University Students Union, we can continue to bring a strong line-up of musical talent to Reading whilst showcasing great local performers and giving attendees the chance to try different instruments, including classic drum machines and synthesisers, for themselves in our daytime workshops.”
The Readipop Fiesta takes place across five stages at Reading Students’ Union at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus on Saturday, September 13.
Full details and pre-sale ticket sign-up are available via: readipop.co.uk/festival
