Here Comes The Sun Festival 2014

Here Comes the Sun is back and is celebrating its fifth anniversary! This huge one-day extravaganza of music, dance, drama, comedy, poetry and art is the centre's biggest event of the year. Set in our rustically charming Grade II listed building on Silver Street, the festival runs on three stages, including the cosy back garden ‘Tree Stage’ and upstairs chill lounge 'Sky Stage' (both rarely open to the public).

27 acts + 12 hours + 30 volunteers + 1 beautiful building = Here Comes The Sun Festival

The 'Sun Stage' line-up kicks off explosively with our favourite voodoo sci-fi blues duo Vienna Ditto at 12 noon!

Topping the bill this year is Circulus - medieval minstrelism meets seventies psychedelia for a folk-prog experience like no other!

These acts book-end a prestigious line-up of talent of which we are rightly proud:

• Reading's king of self-effacing folk-angst Ben Marwood;
• Oxford's Co-Pilgrim, making their Reading debut at this festival with their breezy, melodic west coast pop;
• the Rising Sun's own Uke Box Hero Lawrence Piddock, playing cheeky covers and originals on his ukulele;
• the intricate rock musicianship of Buildings On Fire;
• the beguiling songs and stories of Filip Hnízdo;
• experimental avant-pop cellist Laura Moody;
• Weimar cabaret chanteuse Baroness Maria Von Hackemann;
• the multi-talented singer/pianist Khamsina;
• art-school post-punks Peach Fuzz;
• classical harp & flute duo Syrinx;
• Brighton's cheeky glitter pop kids bentcousin;
• local indie lads Violet Class;
• haunting country porch-folk duo The August List;
• lovelorn, smoky-voiced pianist Haze;
• the infectious, poetic pop hooks of Lonesound;
• pagan folk proggers Spriggan Mist;
• one-woman loop-orchestra Suzy Condrad;
• galloping masked surf-rockers Horse Rock;
• chilled out French indie folksters Żebówka;
• Helen Beth from gritty acoustic rock duo Bright Shadows;
• the sharp-witted, celebrated performance poet A.F. Harrold.

There will also be interactive, anthropomorphising furniture-based performance art from Olivia Stagg, curative poetry from the award-winning Wendy Klein, and - I SAY! - saucy routines from eclectic burlesque dance troupe Scarlet Vixens, while Nathania Hartley will be bringing something unorthodox and surprising to the day.  If this isn't enough, how does a not-entirely-traditional Punch & Jedi show grab you?  Hmmm?  Or Shakespeare performed atop a dinosaur?

See the line-up page for stage times.

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES

Come and have some fun in the Kids' Corner with face painting, outdoor games and puppet making! Become a tiger for the day or play tic tac toe and skittles and so much more - the possibilities are endless and there is something for everyone to enjoy!

WE NEED YOU!

Besides all of the above, there are ways for YOU to join in!

SOUND - Silver Street Studios, next door to the Rising Sun, are offering Live Acoustic Recording Sessions on the day to anyone who fancies it and broadcasting the whole session live via Youtube!  You can book a slot using the booking form on the linked page.

VISION - Our late-night Outdoor Cinema will be showcasing short films and we're looking for more films to include, so let us know if you would like to contribute.

TASTE - The annual bake-off is back, but it's not just cakes we're looking for!  This year, we're having a Freestyle Sweet & Savoury Cook-off!

Join our Facebook event!