Heavy Pop’s Are You Listening? Festival is an independent one-day multi-venue music festival based in Reading, that raises money for local learning disability charity partner Reading Mencap who last year celebrated their 60th anniversary.
AYL? is the biggest event in Reading Mencap’s fundraising calendar having raised over £75,000 since its inception in 2013 and plays a key role in helping to support their services.
The multi-venue festival returns on Saturday 6 May and proudly celebrates its 10th Birthday.
70 artists in total announced playing in 10 rooms across the town centre with the final announcement including among others Brighton Queer Punkers Lambrini Girls, garage indie band Holiday Ghosts, alt-pop Jessica Winter and melodic punk rock band Pet Needs.
They join the previously announced Gen Z Indie popper Thomas Headon, recent Top 10 album artists Black Honey, legendary DJ duo The Nextmen, U.S illustrator and acclaimed lo-fi rock musician Jeffery Lewis and the Voltage, who counts Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) and Jarvis Cocker among his admirers. Alt-Pop Gen Z queer artist GIRLI whose been described as ‘Avril Lavigne meets Britney Spears in a hot-pink explosion of angst’ by DIY Magazine.
Isle of Wight Indie four piece and Chess Club records (Jungle, Alfie Templeman) signed Coach Party who are being championed by the music press. 6music championed post punk artists DEADLETTER, indie Brit/ US duo Prima Queen, buzzy Brighton Six piece Opus Kink who blend of punk, jazz, and folk storytelling; emerging pop singer-songwriter Cameron Hayes, pop-disco duo Strabe and Jordan born but now London based psychedelic disco-pop artist Ziyad Al-Samman.
Other artists on the bill include: Radio X DJ legend John Kennedy, Welsh punks Panic Shack, metal influenced Cowboyy, Reading’s very own Indie-Pop and Rudimental collaborator Tayo Sound, and so many more.
Festival stage times can be found online at https://www.areyoulistening.org.uk/stage-times/
