30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST

This Weekend's Events (12th to 14th October)

Lawrence's picture

Hi Everyone

With the nights drawing in, what better place to spend them than a friendly, well-stocked and welcoming bar complete with its own fire?

Well, you’re in luck, because starting this month you can do just that – right here at the centre!

Launching on Tuesday 23rd October, we’ll be opening up the bar on weeknights. All your favourite bottled ales and ciders, as well as our wide selection of lagers, spirits and soft drinks will be available, served up by our friendly volunteers.

And we’re working on having some fun events and activities in the bar, too – quizzes, board games and more are all being feverishly discussed by our team – giving you even more reasons to come and spend time at your favourite independent arts centre.

We’d love to see you at our launch event on the 23rd – complete with free nibbles – and any weeknight after that!

And before all that, we have one or two things happening this weekend to tell you about

On Friday, we bring you THE BIG UNTIDY NIGHT OUT

The Big Untidy Night Out specialises in bringing new unusual talent into the Rising Sun.  Singers, songwriters, poets, punk outfits, ambient experimentalists, sensational cellists and demonic banjo-players, the possibilities are endless.

This month happens to be a Sound and Vision special, featuring musicians who also create other forms of artry!

DAMIAN CLARKE and GEORGE WHITFIELD, known locally from their time with Pressgang, will each be playing a solo set of their current music, accompanied by other aspects of their creativity. Damian will be displaying some of his paintings and banners that relate to the songs and music that he now plays on Hammer Dulcimer and Hurdy Gurdy. Atmospheric tales of places and people.

George will be playing on the midi-accordion, surrounded by his extraordinary musical instruments, made from upcycled materials and objects. Steam-punk meets blues.

PINK DIAMOND REVUE are a unique aural and visual experience combining surf guitar and psych rock with startling and original video projection.

Expect an evening of rare sounds, passion and creativity, all in one room!

We'll be open at 7.30pm, and it'll only cost you a paltry £7 at the door

Saturday and Sunday sees the return of BOOKFACE

Browse stalls selling and exhibiting artists books and relax in our cafe and bar, with homemade snacks and refreshments.

Stalls include: handmade books, altered books, printmakers, local writers/poets, illustrators, comic books, limited editions and more. Plus demonstrations, workshops, installation, poetry readings and exhibition.

EXHIBITORS:
Atlantic Collective
Bookface Bookclub
Nela Bligh
Richard Conway Jones
Corridor Comic/Graphic Novel Group
Denis Cotter
Peter Driver
The Engine Room
Jane Glennie
Lisa-Marie Gibbs
Ross Hale
Lina Johansson
Sam Knight
Janina Maher
Jaz Meader
Wendy Proctor
The Move Up Project 
Mary Riley
Neile Wright
ZAP Publishing

Poetry: The Dreading Poets, 1pm - 2pm Saturday (upstairs)
Workshop: Jelly printmaking drop-in on Sunday (upstairs)
Installation: 'Under The Stairs' by Mary Riley

We’re open from 11am to 5pm both days and it’s absolutely FREE!

That’s everything for another week, just to remind you that we are, as always, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST (If you pop it into your satnav or Google, we shall magically appear!)

Latest news

Lawrence's picture

This Weekend's Events (30th June to 2nd July)

Hi Everyone

Have you seen our YouTube page? 

Damien's picture

The Reading Fringe Festival is coming!

We’ve got a weekend packed with acts as part of this year’s Fringe, all equally unique.

Lawrence's picture

This Weekend's Events (23rd to 25th June)

Hi Everyone

There’s been one particular piece of conversation that’s been had by everyone with everyone they met, everywhere they went, these past seven days (except possibly Aberdeen…)

Damien's picture

Winners at the RVA Awards.

We had a grand time at the inaugural Reading Volunteer Awards, taking home two awards – one for the team, and one for a very special volunteer.

@risingsunarts