Are you an undiscovered singing sensation? Maybe you're an incredible solo artist, or you're part of a duo or trio? If you've got what it takes to be the next big thing, auditions for The Voice 2020 are being held in Reading this month. Hopefuls will need to prepare one song, along with a backing track or an accompanying instrument. Auditions will be held at the Purple Turtle Bar, Gun Street on Saturday, May 25. The popular music venue announced the news on its Facebook page , and so far the post has attracted hundreds of likes and shares. Auditions will take place from 12-2pm. You must be at least 16 years old, on or before October 1, 2019 to audition. To book a time slot email [email protected] This year, 18-year-old Molly Hocking took home the crown, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Bethzienna Williams, Jimmy Balito and Deana Walmsley. Molly's rendition of Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi - as well as a duet with Olly Murs - earned her a record … [Read more...] about Auditions for The Voice are being held in Reading this month
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Spice Girls tribute and more events in Reading this weekend
The weekend is upon us again, which means a whole number of things for you to get stuck into. Fans of the Spice Girls will be taken back to the glory days of the girl group at Wannabe: The Spice Girl Show. Rugby fans are also in for a treat this week, as Reading's London Irish team has their St Patrick's Day Party on Saturday. The Exiles are facing down the Doncaster Knights at the Madejski Stadium, and after that, fans can go to an after party at the Lola Lo Club. There are also plenty of learning opportunities this weekend. On Saturday, those who want to learn yoga techniques can get a masterclass at the Hindu Temple, or learn how to knit with the experts at Jelly Reading. Then, on Sunday, you can learn how to do a handstand with teacher Ben Lowrey. And villagers in Hurst can head down to The Jolly Farmers for a dance along with DJ Deck Chair. All this and more is coming up in and around Reading this weekend. Watch mesmerising Spice Girls t ribute act When: 4pm and 7.30pm on … [Read more...] about Spice Girls tribute and more events in Reading this weekend
Gin and Rum Festival on its way to Reading this year
So drinkers, which do you prefer? Is it finely spiced Caribbean rum for you, or is a bit of the old mother's ruin more your thing? Whatever the answer, there’s good news for everyone, as one of the biggest touring gin and rum festivals will be in Reading this year. The best bartenders will be on hand to serve you more than 60 gins and more than 60 rums at the event, which will be held in the Great Hall at the University of Reading's London Road campus. There'll also be live entertainment and succulent street food to soak everything up once you've built your appetite. The Reading Gin and Rum Festival will take place on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14. The festival will run in three sessions: a Friday and Saturday evening session running from 6.30pm to 11pm and an extra early session on the Saturday from 12:30 pm until 5pm. The founder of the Gin and Rum Festival, Bobby Nanua, said: "I am delighted to have launched the UK's very first Gin and Rum Festival. We have … [Read more...] about Gin and Rum Festival on its way to Reading this year
Think you’re having a bad Valentine’s Day? Read this…
Madeline Grant Follow 14 February 2019 • 9:02am Valentine’s Day isn’t all chocolate and roses. Dating is fraught with potential disaster - from awkward silences, bad table manners, even the danger of a no-show. The whole exhausting process can leave many of us wishing we’d stayed at home. Luckily, the unhappier side of love has been reflected in art and literature since man first put quill to parchment. In honour of the least romantic aspects of this often deeply unromantic day, here’s my pick of the most appalling dates in fiction. Tony Last and Milly in ‘A Handful of Dust’ by Evelyn Waugh (1934) Tony Last, the hapless protagonist of Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust, gallantly agrees to protect his unfaithful wife Brenda’s reputation by... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for … [Read more...] about Think you’re having a bad Valentine’s Day? Read this…
Read this, Marie Kondo: 30 books guaranteed to spark joy
What makes a book spark joy? The empress of tidying, Marie Kondo, sparked controversy earlier this year when her thoughts on book collections, first laid out in her 2014 bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, appeared again in her new Netflix show, Tidying with Marie Kondo. Kondo has said that, for her, 30 books is the ideal amount to have in her personal library but that this might vary for other people. With the dark days of winter still dragging on, and the uncertainties of Brexit over the horizon, sparking joy is something we can all do with. A quick poll made it clear that what sparks joy for one person (Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes) is too sad for someone else, who would... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week Register for free … [Read more...] about Read this, Marie Kondo: 30 books guaranteed to spark joy