New festival announced for Reading site
Heavenly Planet Festival will debut next July
19 September 2008
The event, which is being set up Heavenly Planet UK Festivals – a company owned by Reading's bosses
Festival Republic and WOMAD's former artist director Thomas Brooman CBE – will
run from 10-11 July 2009.
Organisers are aiming the festival at families and younger festival-goers,
with 15,000 fans expected to attend the first event.
Speaking about the new event Festival Republic boss Melvin
Benn said: "For two years now the council and I have been discussing the idea of a new, innovative, diverse
and outward-looking festival. But it was only when I ran the idea by Thomas and established that it was possible to bring
his idea's into the structure as Artistic Director and joint shareholder, it became a must.
"Thomas brings
everything we were looking for to the table and the partnership is now complete. It will make for a very exciting future -
a heavenly future I hope!"
Early plans suggest the site will house two big top tents with stages of equal
size with food stalls and camping to be made available too. There are also talks of using the nearby Rivermead Leisure Centre
as a possible indoor venue.
Major world music artists are expect to perform over the weekend as well as emerging
talent from the local area.
The highest weekend tickets are expected to be priced around £70.
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