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You are here: What's On > What's On in July
June really brough the heat – and July will turn that heat up with a hotter-than-hot calendar of events celebrating some of our best cultural assets, and welcoming plenty of national and international visitors, too. We’ve got choral concerts and community celebrations, top tribute artists and indie icons, music festivals and open-air theatre – and, of course, the start of the summer holidays with plenty of fun for kids. Check out our highlights of What’s On in Reading in July – and, as always, don’t forget to check whatsonreading.com for so much, much more!
Hometown heroes at Reading Biscuit Factory – 3, 10 & 14 July
Reading’s independent cinema and arts space has some special screenings this month, showing films that come from the heads and hands of talented Reading creators. There’s a screening of The Imaginary, based on the book by local author/poet AF Harrold, on 3 July – complete with a Q&A with the author afterwards. And on 10 & 14 July, it’s Season of the Witch, a night of indie horror shorts from women and non-binary directors curated by Stephen Graves and Nicci Brighten.
Top Tributes – various dates
Even better than the real thing? Reading goes tribtastic this month, hosting the 21st annual Marvellous Festival – the UK’s top tribute festival – on 20 & 21 July. And the rest of the month is filled with creative copycats – there’s The Simon & Garfunkel Story at The Hexagon, Fleetwood Mad, CODA – a Tribute To Led Zeppelin and Never 42 at The Flowing Spring, The Black Charade + Fell Out Boy at Sub89, and two more Concerts by Candlelight at Reading Minster performing the music of Queen and Adele.
Nowt as Choir as folk – 5 & 6 July
Some of Reading’s choirs will be in full voice as summer concert season continues this month. Thames Vale Singers sing Songs From The Shows on both Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July, it’s the Reading Male Voice Choir Young Singers Gala Concert featuring the winners of their Young Singers competition on 6 July, and Reading Phoenix Choir perform Music of the Americas on 6 July too.
Berkshire Motor Show – 7 July
The Berkshire Motor Show returns to Prospect Park, promising a great event for car lovers and fun for all the family, too. As well as classic cars and bikes, trucks, 4x4s and other vehicles – including Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters! – there's plenty of other things to see and do, including Rebel Buckshot Drifters (wild west living history), a funfair, archery and even World War Wrestling!
Indie Icons come to Reading – 11 & 27 July
From Madchester to Britpop, if you love your indie you’ll love who we’ve got visiting us this month! On 11 July, The Bluetones make a (Slight) Return to Sub89 for an exclusive festival warm up show. And on 27 July, Tom Hingley – ex lead singer of The Inspiral Carpets – comes to The Purple Turtle to sing all this hits from his Madchester days with his band the Kar-Pets.
Readipop Festival – 12-14 July
Music charity Readipop return to the banks of the Thames for their annual music festival that brings together a bevy of big-name bands like Ash, Space, Republica, Echobelly and Fabio & Grooverider, alongside big-stage opportunities for plenty of local artistes too – including new acts supported by their own AAA programme. There’ll also be craft, music and dance workshops, story telling, immersive performances and other fun activities – in short, loads of fun for all the family!
Bastille Day Festival – 13 & 14 July
Forbury Gardens will soon have that certain je ne sais quoi again with the return of Bastille Day Festival, a two-day celebration of all kinds of French culture, with lots of live performances, some wonderful food and much more! And as an extra treat, this year 12th-century reenactment group Historia Normannis Reading will take you back to the time of the Norman conquest, with dynamic and exciting combat, displays of woodwork, leatherworking & cooking and more!
Open-Air Theatre – various dates
They say “all the world’s a stage”, and this month that becomes rather literal with some wonderful outdoor theatre performances from home and away. Reading’s own Progress Theatre return to the Abbey Ruins on 17-27 July for a production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest directly in the shadow of where Wilde was incarcerated. And we’ll get our annual visits from Mikron Theatre with two shows across four different waterway-adjacent locales: Jennie Lee (the extraordinary life of the radical MP you’ve never heard of) and Common Ground (a ‘hill-arious’ ramble through the history of land access in England).
Revival Reading – 19 July
The throwback festival returns to Prospect Park for an evening of 90's & 00's nostalgia! This year’s line-up boasts some of the best pop and dance artists of the turn of the millennium, including DJ Luck & MC Neat, A1 and Liberty X – musical heaven for those of us of a certain age! Revival Reading is also a family fun day out with fairground rides, kids entertainment, a street food village and fully stocked bars.
Heritage Live weekender – 19-22 July
The grounds of historic Englefield House once again play host to a long weekend of wonderful live concerts featuring a breadth of musical stars and styles. This year’s concerts offer up Madness with Lightning Seeds & Old Time Sailors on Fri 19 July, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics with Jules Buckley & The Essential Orchestra, plus special guests The Grid & Groove Armada (DJ set) on Sat 20 July, and Elbow with Villagers & Hamish Hawk on Sun 21 July. And Monday 22 July brings the return of Flackstock, the festival celebrating the memory of Caroline Flack, with lots of her famous friends including Olly Murs, Shaznay Lewis, Chesney Hawkes and more giving their time to support mental health charities.
Edinburgh Fringe previews – 22 & 26 July
Catch a couple of shows here in Reading before they head up to the Fringe! On 22 July, Reading Rep hosts Outpatient by Harriet Madeley: When journalist Olive starts recruiting dying people to interview for her hot take on mortality, the last thing she expects is to become one of them… And on 26 July, award-winning New York duo Xhloe and Natasha bring A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First to South Street, an absurdist two-hander about the idealised American childhood and the boys it left behind.
Reading Gin & Rum Festival 2024 – 27 July
Thirsty for knowledge? Or just thirsty? The Gin & Rum Festival returns to The Great Hall for another chance to taste gins, rums and cocktails from all over the world, with over 120 of them on offer. Discover new favourites, treat yourself at the themed Gin and Rum bars, and let your hair down with friends whilst enjoying music from the award-winning DJ and live entertainment.
School Holiday Theatre Camps – from 29 July
As the schools break-up, our wonderful local creative types take over with some cracking summer theatre camps for talented tots and teens! Join RABBLE theatre for musical fun with Aladdin Jr (6-16yr olds) or magical fun with Potteriffic Lumos (8-16 yr olds). Or head to Reading Rep for a Summer on Stage for ages 5-8 or a West End Experience for ages 9-16. And there’s plenty more Summer Holiday fun for the rest of the school break too!
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