Today, Tuesday 9 July, Reading & Leeds Festivals revealed the BBC Music Introducing Stage line up that will showcase the best in UK emerging talent, as well as Dance To The Radio names and Piccadilly Party, for Leeds Festivalgoers only. Limited weekend and day tickets are available at www.readingandleedsfestival.com.
Since first arriving at Reading & Leeds Festivals in 2008, the BBC Music Introducing stage has offered a unique experience to bands and festivalgoers alike, with an array of untapped talent and a history of secret sets. The number of bands who have worked their way up through the stages after having their first taste of a big stage experience at these festivals has this year risen to around 41% of the total line up including headliners The 1975, plus Royal Blood, Yungblud, Milk Teeth, Pale Waves, Mura Masa, Slowthai, Chvrches, and more. This highlights the importance of BBC Music Introducing nurturing and championing the promising talent throughout the country and finding headliners of the future with festivals like Reading and Leeds.
Headlining the BBC Music Introducing Stage at Reading on Friday 23 August and Leeds on Saturday 24 August are Leeds’s own upbeat indie-pop masters Marsicans whose driving, harmony-laden sound and hard-hitting live shows are earning them a reputation as an emerging force in British music. Joining them are Olivia Nelson, Blackwaters, Do Nothing, Inka Upendo, SPINN, Caswell, Hyphen, Royls, and Swimming Girls.
Ishani, Charlotte, Alfie Templeman, FEET, Le Boom, HMD and Larkins will perform at Reading on Saturday 24 August and Leeds on Sunday 25 August, with the fierce, raspy-voiced rock artist LION headlining the stage.
Raucous grunge rock three-piece The Mysterines will headline the BBC Music Introducing Stage on Friday 23 August in Leeds and Sunday 25 August in Reading, bringing their high-energy, angsty protests and catchy melodies aplenty. Kid Kapichi,Balcony, Kofi Stone, The Extons, Lavz, VC Pines, Prima, and Leeds own Talkboy will also be performing.
Further appearances at both sites will come from the likes of mesmerising American singer-songwriter Two Feet who will make his Reading & Leeds debut, as well as hypnotic YouTube sensation Poppy with her musical influence from kooky computer-game synth-pop, with the odd bit of metal thrown in as a special guest on The Pit – expect an altogether outlandish performance not to be missed. Added to the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage are the in-demand London DJ Amy Becker, and Communion signed Allan Rayman, plus the ever-growing indie favourites Vistas have been added to the Festival Republic Stage. Radiant Macclesfield calypso-rock band Cassia, and West London’s alt-rock trio Mantra have also been confirmed to join the line up at Reading Festival only.
Boasting a ban of single-use plastic cutlery, containers and straws from its traders, caterers, and bars since 2009, Reading & Leeds Festival aims to be greener than ever. Julie’s Bicycle has awarded Leeds Festival a 4-star Creative Green result for the second year in a row, plus the festivals won the award for Best Festival at the Creative Green Awards 2018. Total waste has decreased by over 40% since 2009, and last year, Leeds used 18,000 litres of biofuel made from waste vegetable oil.
Reading & Leeds will be using recycled plastic water bottles (rPET) this year and aims to be single useplastic free by 2021. It is also recommended that festiva lgoers bring their own refillable bottle as there are numerous free water points around the festival. We have advised that festival goers say no to single use plastic and buy a good tent that can be taken home and reused, as an average tent is the equivalent to 8750 plastic straws or 250 plastic pint cups. Free festival merchandise, or 2020 festival tickets are up for grabs by using the Nifty Bin Recycling Points in the campsites and the Greenpeace Deposit Return Points give £1 for every 10 pint cups or rPET water bottles returned. As well as this it is encouraged that festivalgoers travel by coach or train to reduce their carbon footprint, as Big Green Coach have 39 pick-up locations, and shuttles operate to and from the train station to make is easy for everyone.
Fans can be the first to hear further line-up announcements, artist news and much more by signing up to the newsletters at www.readingfestival.com and www.leedsfestival.com or via the official Reading & Leeds Festival app, available to download now on Android and iOS.
Reading is about to get a little more magical this winter. From Saturday 15th November 2025, the town will light up with its very first Winter Light Trail at Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins — a sparkling new event designed to delight visitors of all ages.
Take a 30–50 minute stroll through the historic grounds, now transformed into a glittering winter wonderland. From colourful light installations to twinkling pathways, every corner offers something to marvel at and photograph — the perfect backdrop for creating festive memories.
The fun doesn’t stop at the lights. Warm up with festive drinks from the bar, enjoy delicious treats from the food court, and even toast marshmallows under the glow of the sparkling displays. It’s an experience that’s as tasty as it is magical.
Open daily from 4pm to 8pm between 15th November 2025 and 4th January 2026, tickets start from just £7.95 for children and £11.95 for adults. Bring the whole family and step into a world of winter magic right in the heart of Reading.
Reading is falling just shy of England’s national recycling target, according to the latest government figures for 2023/24, with some nearby councils pulling well ahead.
Data released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reveals significant differences in how much household waste is being recycled across the south of England. While the national average sits at 44%, some councils are exceeding that by a wide margin — and others lagging far behind.
South Oxfordshire District Council leads the way for the second consecutive year, recycling 62.9% of its household waste. Close behind are the Vale of White Horse (60.7%) and Dorset Council (60.5%).
By contrast, councils like Portsmouth (27.9%), Gosport (26.3%), and Slough (24.9%) are well below the national average. Slough, which neighbours parts of Berkshire, has one of the lowest rates in the country.
In Berkshire, just three councils are currently meeting the target set in 2020 to recycle at least 50% of household waste:
Reading Borough Council recorded a recycling rate of 49.8%, narrowly missing the target. Nearby Windsor and Maidenhead also fell short, recycling 49.1% of waste.
The wide variation in performance is down to a mix of factors, including population density, housing types, and the amount of garden or organic waste being collected.
While Reading’s figures show progress, the close miss highlights the need for further improvement if the town is to meet future environmental goals and keep pace with neighbouring authorities.
A deeply emotional and historic vote took place this week. The House of Commons approved the Terminally Ill Adults Bill—law that proposes to grant terminally ill persons under English and Welsh jurisdiction the right to have assisted death by a medical practitioner if it should pass the House of Lords.
The bill passed with a thin majority of 314 votes to 291 and sparked national debates brimming with saxophonic emotion. It was a free vote; that is, members of Parliament could vote according to conscience, and the party was not expected to bind them. The bill secured the support of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer but apparently was rejected by Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
All three of Reading’s Labour MPs, Matt Rodda (Reading Central), Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire), and Yuan Yang (Earley and Woodley), voted against the bill. They may well have objections rooted in such concerns as the safeguarding of vulnerable people, possible pressure being put on those with life-limiting conditions, and just the sheer moral gravity of a change of that kind.
For many people in Reading and elsewhere, this bill goes well beyond politics. It arises out of dignity, choice, and compassion for the hardest moment. Respect goes to those who voted with care and conviction; passing of this bill has been another step toward giving people in unbearable suffering the freedom to choose how and when their life ends-on their terms, with support, been one of the options, and without pain. It’s a difficult subject to deal with, but at its basic level, one of a few simple human desires is to die with dignity.
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