Reading Festival asks for changes
Organisers want an open-air stage at this year's event
Reading Festival is seeking changes to its licence ahead of plans to return this year on its 50th anniversary in the town.
Festival Republic has confirmed its intention to go ahead with the event this August and revealed its lineup, although no formal decision has yet been made on whether festivals can go ahead this year.
Trial events held in Liverpool to test Covid-19 transmission did not cause any detectable spread of the virus, the city’s health chief has said, evidence which could lead to festivals being given the green light.
More than 13,000 people attended two nightclub events, a music festival and a business conference in April and May.
Eleven people later tested positive for coronavirus, though less than half of all the attendees returned a PCR test.
Festival Republic has applied for changes to its licence to allow for “conversion of Stage 2 to an open-air stage and to update terminology and existing licence conditions”.
This is part of plans to have two main stages this year, main stage east and west, featuring six headliners:
Stormzy and Catfish and the Bottlemen on Friday
Post Malone and Disclosure on Saturday
Liam Gallagher and Queens of the Stone Age on Sunday
"nothing has been agreed by the council"
Earlier this year, the council played down suggestions the festival had been given the go-ahead.
Councillor Graeme Hoskin, speaking at a Covid-19 Outbreak Engagement Board meeting in February, said “nothing has been agreed”.
He said: “What’s become apparent from comments on social media and people contacting the council is that some people are under the impression that the council has approved Reading Festival taking place this summer.
“That is not the case. Reading has not, and nor has anyone else, agreed anything. But, certainly, the announcement is the intention of Reading Festival to happen.
“That is going to be a major item for our licensing department and various other national bodies to consider but nothing has been agreed by the council.”
A spokesman for the council added at the time: “Reading Festival is a major highlight of the cultural calendar in Reading and, like everyone, the council would love to see it return this summer.
“The council notes Festival Republic’s announcement that it would like to push ahead with this year’s festival, but the government has been clear its roadmap is dependent on many aspects.