With only two weeks to go until Readipop Fiesta 2025, the final lineup and the stages that will perform on have been revealed.
The event will be held at Reading University Students’ Union on Saturday, September 13, will see profits go to the work of Readipop’s music charity.
The charity is taking over the venue, utilising four indoor spaces plus the meadow area just outside. The latter will include a music stage, circus performances, family music workshops, Reading’s Indie Market, a mini record fair, and an array of street food vendors.
The all-day event will culminate in a big homecoming gig with The Amazons headlining on Saturday night.
The Readipop team are delighted with the way preparations are going … and the way in which Reading has got behind the event, which ensures there is still a festival even though the usual three-day event in Christchurch Meadows is having a fallow day.
“We’re so excited for Readipop Fiesta 2025 being just around the corner,” said Readipop co-founder Gavin Lombos.
“The response has been fantastic and we know that, rain or shine, we’ll be able to bring everything people love about Readipop Festival to Reading Students’ Union both during the day and into the night.”
Readipop is, like many great events in The Ding, a collaboration between many people and groups.
Two new additions to the lineup are the 1980s indie pop band The Primitives, best known for their Top 5 single Crash, and festival favourites Hip Hop Karaoke, who will turn audience members into rap stars.
Both acts are fan favourites, and Gavin is delighted to welcome them to the stage: “The Primitives played a brilliant set at Readipop Festival 2019 and we’ve been wanting them to come back ever since,” he said.
“Hip Hop Karaoke will be a fun opportunity for hip hop fans of all ages to perform their favourite tracks in front of a festival audience.”
Readipop highlights
The event promises a wide range of genres and entertainment across its many stages and zones:
3SIXTY
This stage will run from 3.45pm until 2am, featuring headline performances from The Amazons and Roni Size, as well as sets from Stealing Sheep, The Primitives, and Baby Said.
MOJOs
Running from 12.15pm to 9.30pm, this stage will showcase a diverse range of acts including Rose Rey, Jopy, Puma Theory, and Vanity Fairy.
PATIO
From 12.45pm to 7.15pm, this area will feature performances by the Beatroots Samba Parade, Oh Dear, and Ben Marwood.
FLEX – XOX STAGE
From 1pm to 1am, this stage will feature a Vaultage Takeover with Mr. C (from The Shamen), and a Reading EMOM Takeover. It will also host synth and drum machine drop-in sessions and kids’ workshops.
GLITCH
From noon until 1.30am, this area will host Hip Hop Karaoke as well as DJs and workshops from Jelly Arts.
Meet the artists on the Readipop Fiesta bill
The event promises some of the best live acts in the UK, with organisers providing mini bios on some of the announced performers:
The Amazons are back with their new record, 21st Century Fiction. The Reading band has three huge Top 10 records and sold-out shows under their belts. Their new music, which features Royal Blood frontman Mike Kerr, is described as their “darkest and most heartfelt record to date.”
MORE CHEESELOGS: The Amazons rock the SCL … days ahead of 21st Century Fiction album launch
Roni Size, a pioneer of drum ‘n’ bass, famously won the Mercury Prize for his album New Forms. His triumphant set at Readipop Festival in 2023 proved why he is still an unmissable artist.
The Primitives are a mid-80s indie pop band, known for their Top 5 single Crash. Now reformed and revitalised, they will be celebrating their 40th anniversary tour at the Fiesta.
Stealing Sheep, a Liverpool-based girl band, have carved out a unique space with their ‘visual pop’ that fuses medieval electronic pop, rave, UK garage, and PC music. Their dedicated cult following and new music promise a bold new chapter.
Mr C, frontman of The Shamen, will be bringing his unique DJ / Live Hybrid set to the Vaultage club night. A pioneer of the house music scene since 1987, he remains an instrumental force in the industry.
Hip Hop Karaoke is a UK fixture that allows the public to live out their rap fantasies. With hundreds of songs to choose from, it’s a “euphoric, addictive experience and definitely something to cross off the bucket list.”
Vanity Fairy is a “disco darling”, earning a reputation as one of the most mesmerising live performers around. She has been championed by BBC 6, CLASH, and NME.
Jopy, a Brighton-based three-piece, celebrates queerness through “camp-horror fictions” in their punk-influenced glam sound, which is chock-full of “incendiary punk riffs and frantically infectious choruses.”
Rose Rey is a proud advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Blending alt-pop grit with raw energy, she has performed at major festivals like Reading & Leeds and Lollapalooza.
Puma Theory is an alternative rock duo whose songs explore themes of identity and challenge toxic ideas of masculinity. The band’s introspection acts as a vehicle for the duo to make sense of the anxiety that comes with growth and change.
Tasha K-P is a Caversham-based techno, rave, and house DJ who has been bringing her trademark hard, uplifting grooves and breakbeats to clubs and festivals since 1990. In 1997, she became one of the first women DJs to produce a Radio 1 Essential Mix.
Readipop is more than just music
As Gavin notes, many of the festival’s partners will be making sure the daytime programme is fun for all ages. Arts charity Jelly will be running workshops, including block printing and friendship bracelet making.
Circus skills specialists Larger Than Life will also be on hand with workshops and performances in the Meadow Area. The all-day outdoor area will also feature a family jam and a ukulele workshop, along with food stalls, an indie market, and a mini record fair.
When is Readipop Fiesta 2025 coming to Reading, and how can I get tickets?
Readipop Fiesta 2025 is an all-day fundraiser taking place at Reading Students’ Union on Saturday, September 13. Adult and teen tickets are currently £35, with under 13s tickets available for £2. For more information and to book tickets, visit the official website.
To book tickets, log on to: www.readipop.co.uk/festival
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