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The Reading Thames Festival | 26th – 29th September 2019‎

Mesmerizing show featuring aerial acrobatics, water dives and special effects

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From revolutionary independent female musicians brought together by In Place of War, to Cirque Bijou’s mesmerising outdoor performances, the return of Reading Between The Lines for the next installment of Reading’s medieval history, a conversational meal, a midnight run/walk, classical music from the renowned London Mozart Players, film, history walks, photography exhibitions, promenade theatre from SITELINES and much more.

The Reading Thames Festival takes its inspiration from Reading’s majestic waterways and sets out to create a vibrant, broad appeal arts and cultural festival programme set in venues and unusual outdoor spaces across Reading. Between 6-16 September, Festival-audiences can expect to encounter exhilarating performances and unexpected encounters.
The Reading Thames Festival is back for its second year, bringing together a rich tapestry of artists and performers, venues and unusual outdoor sites across Reading to create exhilarating audience experiences and unexpected encounters. The Festival aims to be a catalyst for collaboration and partnership across Reading’s creative and cultural sector.

The festival aims to be a catalyst for a new spirit of collaboration and partnership across Reading’s creative and cultural sector. The festival brings together the rich tapestry of venues and unusual outdoor sites across Reading to create exhilarating audience experiences and unexpected encounters, illuminating Reading as a place of parks and rivers, culture and diversity.

From revolutionary independent female musicians brought together by In Place of War, to Cirque Bijou’s mesmerising outdoor performances, the return of Reading Between The Lines for the next installment of Reading’s medieval history, a conversational meal, a midnight run/walk, classical music from the renowned London Mozart Players, film, history walks, photography exhibitions, promenade theatre from SITELINES and much more.

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The programme includes nationally-renowned performers and the finest Reading-based arts groups working in collaboration to create a unique experience for audiences. Highlights include In Place of War’s GRRRL featuring Charlotte Adigéry – a live music concert with performances from revolutionary independent female artists from Brazil, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Venezuela, Bangladesh and the UK, fusing music from ghetto base to electronica; fresh from their involvement in Lumière London, Cirque Bijou** will be bringing A Circus Soiree, an immersive evening of the most contemporary of circus, to the banks of the Thames at Caversham Court Gardens; renowned philosopher Theodore Zeldin will be hosting a conversational meal, Theodore Zeldin’s Feast of Strangers, on the top floor of Thames Tower; there will be a night-time arts-filled walk through Reading, The Reading Midnight Run; high-quality classical music from the London Mozart Players in the High Sheriff of Berkshire’s Concert; a film trail; film showings and photography.

Reading Between The Lines will be returning for the next theatrical instalment of Reading’s medieval history (dates tbc); there will be heritage walks linked to VOTE 100 and Reading’s Abbey heritage; a new contribution from the SITELINES theatre programme from Laura Mugridge along the Thames and the Flamingods live in the Abbey Ruins, complete with light installation.

Reading Thames Festival is a Reading UK production with support from the Great Place scheme funded by Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England. The Festival has also received generous funding from Two Forbury Place, The Oracle shopping centre, Graham and Joanna Barker, Savills, PRS Foundation and support from Reading Buses, Landid, VOTE 100 and Reading Borough Council.

Anna Doyle, Festival Director, said: “The festival this year is welcoming new artists from across the UK to respond to Reading’s communities, its locale and is a celebration of the area’s home-grown, world-class local cultural talent. We are proud to connect to Vote 100 nationwide celebrations in which 2018 marks 100 years since Parliament passed a law which allowed the first women, and all men, to vote for the first time. The festival programme is conceived to be developed across the next years with the local community, and this year there are plenty of ways for people living and working in Reading to get involved with shaping the festival. To find out more please visit the website.”

Nigel Horton-Baker, Executive Director, Reading UK said: “After the success of the first Festival last year, we are really excited by the programme for 2018 which mixes many of our finest cultural groups with performers of international repute. Over 10 days in September, the Reading Thames Festival will showcase Reading, its vibrant cultural community and its growing stature as a cultural destination.”

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The Reading Thames Festival was conceived by Reading UK as a legacy event from Reading’s Year of Culture in 2016. It aims to be a catalyst for collaboration and partnership across Reading’s creative and cultural sector, illuminating Reading as a place of culture, diversity, rivers and parks.

Tickets will be on sale for each individual event. Many of the events are free and where ticket prices apply, they have been set to make the Festival as accessible as possible.

Future Vision The festival, as a part of Reading Place of Culture Great Place, has funding secured for the next three years. The vision for the festival across the forthcoming years is to go beyond the traditional festival model to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the cultural and local economy. Through working in partnership, the festival will not only act as an advocate but as an instigator for new talent and cultural development.

The Festival is organised by Reading UK, but we couldn’t do it without the support of a great many other organisations, particularly the Reading Great Place scheme, funded by Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England.

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The University of Reading’s Community Festival 2024 is back this May!

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The University of Reading's Community Festival 2024

Mark your calendars! The University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus is gearing up to host another fantastic one-day family-friendly festival on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Building upon the resounding success of last year’s inaugural Community Festival, this year’s event promises to be even more spectacular. Running from 11 am to 5 pm, it’s a free affair that guarantees fun for all ages.

The Community Festival is a melting pot of entertainment, featuring live music, theater performances, delectable street food, and an array of hands-on activities tailored for both kids and adults. With multiple indoor and outdoor venues, attendees can immerse themselves in the talents of local artists, performers, and community organizations while exploring the offerings of various vendors.

For the active souls, there will be sports taster sessions to participate in, or you can opt for a leisurely stroll around the picturesque Whiteknights lake and gardens. Additionally, there’ll be an opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of research happening at the University, with engaging activities and presentations aimed at igniting a passion for science and learning among visitors of all ages.

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The Community Festival is a collaborative effort between the University of Reading, Reading Students’ Union, and various partners from the town. Local community groups and organizations are encouraged to join in the festivities by offering performances, workshops, or exhibitions. Proposals can be submitted through the online community activity expression of interest form, with the deadline set for Monday, February 12.

Molli Cleaver, the Community Engagement Manager at the University of Reading, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, highlighting its role in fostering a stronger bond between the university and the local community. She emphasized the diverse range of activities and entertainment planned for the festival, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

Stay tuned for the full festival lineup, which will be unveiled soon. For more details, visit the University’s Events page.

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WOMAD 2024: First wave of artists revealed for Wiltshire festival

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WOMAD is thrilled to announce the first slate of global artists who will be descending to the picturesque landscape of Charlton Park in Wiltshire Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 July 2024. Aneclectic mix of talent,from newcomers to legends, unknowns to visionary songwriters  spanning every genre; R&B, hip-hop, rap, rock, blues, electro, folk, punk, jazz and everything in-between; New Orleans brass band, funkadelists, drum and bass, neo-soul, gospel, indie-pop, psychedelic rock, Qawwali, mambo, boogaloo, and flamenco.

Making their long-waited WOMAD debut are progressive hip-hop trio Young Fathers [UK]whose most recent album Heavy Heavy was described by The Guardian as “something that’s unique and completely modern, that couldn’t have been made before now.” Their upcoming performance is sure to provide a live commentary to our confused and chaotic times, as is that of Sampa The Great [Zambia]regarded as one of southern Africa’s greatest hip hop heroes, if not of the entire continent she will be bringing her unique blend of electronica, gospel, neo-soul, jazz and Zamrock to WOMAD for the very first time, with lyrics that wrestle with the themes of home, identity and injustice. Joining them at the World’s best party festival electronic trailblazer and dance icon Alison Goldfrapp [UK] will be showcasing her recent debut solo album, The Love Invention, her self-confessed “tribute to the dancefloor.”

Musical legends Amadou and Mariam [Mail] who are amongst the world’s finest musical ambassadors with their signature swinging blues will make a timely return this year long with the musical powerhouse Baaba Maal [Senegal], whose commanding vocals and timeless body of work have put him at the top of the Senegalese musical tree. Also making a triumphant return are legendary gypsy punks Gogol Bordello [USA], who still know how to cause a musical riot with their intoxicating and feverish performances and hip hop crew DAM [Palestine] who live in the mixed Israeli cities of Lydda and Haifa. Their unique sound explores an array of hard-hitting topics with universal resonance through intricate and powerful musical compositions, fusing traditional Middle Eastern sounds, the rhythm and intonation of Arabic-language rap and an unmistakeably hip-hop attitude.

Other artists hailing from across the pond are contemporary New Orleans jazz band The 79rs Gang [USA]whose extraordinary reinvention of Mardi Gras frivolity interweaves with vibrant hip-hop and rap and San Francisco’s indie-rock innovators Deerhoof [USA], known for their fabulously frenetic psychedelia will bring their improvised punk noise in full force.

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From South America come two Latin Grammy-Award winners; the euphoric sounds of Bala Desejo [Brazil],whose avant-garde approach to their carnival roots will blow audiences away and iLe [Puerto Rico]who originally made her name in alternative hip-hop group and family band Calle 13, she isknown for her varying classical latin styles, enchanting vocals and steely lyrics pushing her politics in exciting ways.

From the Real World label are Tibet’s legendary musical export Yungchen Lhamo [Tibet], the viola-playing master John Metcalfe [New Zealand] who willpresent his latest acclaimed album ‘Tree’,  the folk gospel flavoured duo The Breath [Ireland/England]andnew to the spotlight African musical sensation, The Zawose Queens [Tanzania], the daughter and granddaughter of the late great Tanzanian musician and WOMAD legend Hukwe Zawose.

WOMAD has long been a byword for thrilling musical collaborations, at this year’s gathering the first female professional tabla player Anuradha Pal willjoin forces with brothers Kedia Bandhu [India], Qawwali Flamenco [Pakistan/Spain] will fuse Sufi Islamic tradition with magnificent flamenco and experimental collaboration 41323142” [Tarta Relena, Cocanhaand Los Sara Fontan] [Catalonia/Spain] will enchant with their spellbinding harmonies.

Every WOMAD event is fuelled by the spirit of discovery, by encountering performers previously unknown and unheard, a new favourite could well be found among some of the other performers;

The Allergies [UK/USA]

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What started as the vinyl-spinning duo of DJ Moonshot and Rackabeat has evolved into a high-action live hip hop band, with funky beats and breaks a-plenty.

Ars Nova Napoli [Italy]

Vibrant re-interpreters of the folk music of their native Naples, armed with fiddles, accordion, bagpipes and the like.

Bhutan Balladeers [Bhutan]

Zhungdra music from Bhutan is among the most secret sounds made on this planet. Expect extended vocal tones, double-stringed lutes, wooden flutes, and two-stringed fiddles.

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Cerys Hafana [Wales]

Brilliant player of the triple harp, recalibrating this most challenging of instruments but never losing a drop of that Welsh flavour.

Dr Meaker [UK]

Led by the titular keyboard player, this multi-membered outfit deliver full-on, high-bpm live dance music – where nu-soul meets drum & bass.

Duo Ruut [Estonia]

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Duo Ruul’s unusual set-up finds its two female members either side of a giant zither which they both play, their voices also sharing the air on which they rise higher and higher.

Faiz Ali Faiz [Pakistan]

In Faiz Ali Faiz, the honourable tradition of qawwali singing has a true successor to the mighty Nusrat Ali Fateh Khan. A voice that soars and soars and soars.

The Great Malarkey [UK]

Spiky-edged folk-punk Londoners draw from heroes like The Pogues and Manu Chao for an intensive, unforgettable live experience that never fails to electrify.

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Henge [UK]

Call it cosmic rock, call it space rock… Manchester’s cult heroes Henge take you on an idiosyncratic, galactic musical voyage to places you have never imagined.

Hirahi Afonso [Canary Islands]

From Gran Canaria, Hirahi plays the timble, a five-stringed instrument native to the Canary Islands which he introduces to a wide, jazz-tinged repertoire with his lively band.

Islandman [Turkey]

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Trio from Istanbul who fuse gentle electronica and acoustic Turkish folk to create mellow grooves that are utterly redolent of the sun-hazed Mediterranean.

Justin Adams & Mohamed Errebbaa [UK/Morocco]

The venerable, well-travelled guitarist teams up with gnawa master musician Mohamed for a deep voyage into the heavy sounds of North Africa and beyond.

Kumbia Boruka [Mexico]

Lyon-based collective who put a 21st-century twist on cumbia, that soundtrack of Latin America. The accordion is there, the horns are there with a discernible Jamaican flavour.

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Laura Misch [UK]

Sax-playing singer-songwriter whose breathy vocals, field recordings and electronic enhancements create deeply atmospheric soundscapes.

London Afrobeat Collective [UK]

Horn-heavy grooves from London Town that reach beyond Nigerian Afrobeat and add swirling Congolese guitar and a dose of Latin bounce.

Ndox Électrique [Senegal]

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One of the most unlikely musical collaborations finds the music of the super-secretive Senegalese n’döep ritual fusing with thick and heavy electric guitars.

Noriko Tadano [Japan]

The shamisen is a Japanese lute-like instrument which, in the hands of Noriko Tadano, is played with a combination of virtuosic perfection and bluesy abandon.

O. [UK]

London duo who use a baritone sax and a drum kit to astoundingly imaginative effect, exploring the hinterland between improvisational jazz and experimental rock.

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Old Time Sailors [UK]

Set the time machine for the 19th century as this 20-strong bunch raise a chest of sea shanties from the ocean floor and fire them up in riotous, rousing fashion.

Sangjaru [South Korea]

Lithe and deft trio who – unlikely as it seems – seamlessly stitch together the swing of gypsy jazz with the folk traditions of their Korean homeland.

Seckou Keita – Homeland Band [Senegal/UK]

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Seckou is no ordinary kora player. His virtuosity is matched by his open ears and sense of adventure, whether collaborating with Welsh harpists or Cuban jazzers.

Sheelanagig [UK]

“Original jumping East European folk music” is how Sheelanagig sell themselves. Expect groove, expect exuberance, expect a fine time indeed.

Soema Montenegro [Argentina]

A complete musical free spirit, Soema is a singer, a poet, a storyteller and a shaman, and her untethered music celebrates the natural and spirit worlds of South America.

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Two Canoes [Ireland]

Aiming to recreate the feel and spontaneity of a live session in a rural Irish pub, Two Canoes deliver the goods, whether playing wistful ballads or rousing reels.

WOMAD is not just about incredible music; it has an abundance of activity; the World of Words, celebrates all things spoken; fascinating talks, thought provoking conversation and inspirational authors and the Hip Yak Poetry Shack will have some of the best-spoken word artists in the country. There will be mind-expanding talks, experiments, and performance at the Physics Pavilion; pampering and tranquility at the World of Wellbeing and luxury at the WOMAD Spa, an oasis of calm with wood-fired hot-tubs, and all-day yoga. And some of the weekend’s performers will get the chance to show off their culinary credentials in the legendary and unique Taste the World stage.

On top of that, festivalgoers have the unique opportunity to learn from experts and get involved with a whole array of workshops; from taking dance lessons to picking up a musical instrument from the other side of the globe. And at the World of Children there are more child-friendly activities and workshops than at any other festival, this year’s theme is Superheroes, the culmination of which is the now-legendary Sunday afternoon parade across the festival site. All children 13 years and under are free.

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First Round of Music Line-up Announced at Carfest 2024!

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Prepare yourselves for an electrifying musical experience as CarFest proudly announces its first-round line-up, promising nights filled with unforgettable performances. We are delighted to share a sneak peek of the stellar bands and artists who will be gracing our stage for the very first time, alongside some of your all-time favorites.

Kick off the weekend with a blast from the past as Scouting for Girls takes you on a journey of 80’s rock vibes on Friday night. On Saturday, reach for the stars with Sam Ryder, and on Sunday, immerse yourself in the legendary tunes of UB40 featuring Ali Campbell.

Make sure you secure your spot at the enchanting Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire from the 23rd to the 25th of August 2024.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the outstanding artists confirmed for each day:

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FRIDAY 23RD AUGUST 2024
Beberley Knight
Scouting for Girls
Reef
Furnace & the Fundamentals

SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST 2024
Olly Murs
Sam Ryer
RPJ

SUNDAY 25TH AUGUST 2024
UB40
Deacon Blue
The Feeling
Billington Queen

Stay tuned for more exciting additions to the CarFest 2024 line-up! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary musical celebration. Grab your tickets and get ready for a weekend of non-stop entertainment.

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