The sound of silence at Reading Fest

FORGET the library, it’s Reading Festival’s main stage that’s going silent. Yes, really. And it’s all thanks to the power of disco.

The latest event to be announced for the hugely popular music festival is to be the world’s largest silent disco. And it will be a simulcast event with its sister festival in Leeds.

Also, Brit-nominated and multi-platinum drum ‘n’ bass duo Sigma will headline the historic closing party with members performing on Main Stage West at both venues on the Sunday night, at the same time.

Sigma, aka Cam Edwards and

Joe Lenzie, are one of the only UK dance acts to make it big in the world of pop – achieving Gold certification status on their debut studio album Life and a host of platinum accolades, amassing over 2.7 billion worldwide streams combined – without losing relevance in the Drum and Bass scene where the Londonbased duo spent a decade, pre-fame.

Their latest single is Adrenaline Rush, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Morgan and features the string riff from The Verve’s late 90s hit Bittersweet Symphony, as well as samples from The Rolling Stones The Last Time. n The festivals run from August 25-27, with tickets on sale now, via www.readingfestival.com/ tickets and www.leedsfestival. com/tickets

Sigma join a line-up of more than 100 acts including headliners including Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, The Killers, Foals and Imagine Dragons, as well as Becky Hill, Steve Lacy, Wet Leg, Bicep Live, MK, Loyle Carner, Nothing But Thieves.

Details of how fans can secure their headsets for the silent disco will be announced soon.

Sustainability to be the focus for

ART LOVERS will take a behindthe-scenes look at an arts showcase, which is returning for the 23rd time this weekend.

Whiteknights Studio Trail (WST) takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and will see visitors welcomed into open studios and venues housing the 37 participating creatives.

Works will be presented in a variety of media, ranging from video, painting, printing, glass making, carpentry and sound.

The event adopts a distinctly ‘green’ theme, with several artists finding intriguing ways of showing how they are responding to the climate crisis and are inspiring others to do their bit to tackle the issue.

One such artist is Nina O’Connell, whose colourful batik paintings will be on display at The Museum of English Rural Life – Venue 5. Her contemporary works are founded on the beauty of the natural world and attempt to convey her concern for the environment.

She said: “The result can often make my heart sing. My love of experimentation and unintentional outcomes speaks to me as an echo of the current state of affairs in the world.”

Ms O’Connell works with the

“There have been huge contrasts in my daily life, such as the time I once did a gig in a working man’s club in Stoke then the very next day I was chauffeured to Buckingham Palace to watch my father become a Grand Knight.

“I want my show to, well, show that I’m an ordinary bloke who’s been caught up in an extraordinary situation.”

Tom Houghton may have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth but his humour is gold plated self-deprecating. How many Honourable people can leave an audience in stitches talking about the time he was so thirsty he drank from a puddle?

When asked if he tests his humour on an audience before going on stage, he replies ‘yes, with several long-suffering girlfriends over the years.”

“I also like to write down a basic sketch or idea then go for a run. I find exercise is a great way to clear my mind so that I can think better. As I run new ideas come into my head which I tend to speak out loud which earns me

“I learnt a lot about comedy from Milton Jones who I toured with for three years. He is a genius with a very unique style of comedy which is also very clean and family friendly.

“I knew I’d have to cut out all the swear words I used previously, and it really benefited me because I had to think harder to express myself.”

Tom’s comedy also varies depending in which part of the country he is performing. “Some humour is universal but there are also regional variations. In Essex, for example, they love jokes about taxidermy which don’t go down so well in places like Brighton.

“There are a number of military bases in Berkshire so stories about the armed services are popular. Reading has been one of my favourite gigs. The last time I played there was special because it was the show where I first thought ‘Oh, that really feels like it clicked.’

“When you get a good experience out of a place, you want to go back, so Reading was top of the list for venues I wanted to return to.”

While comedy is by nature a funny business, it is also an academic one. What better way to study and analyse what makes people laugh than to do a degree in stand-up which is just what Tom did at the University of Kent.

“The thing about comedy as opposed to being an actor in a play where the audience stares at

“Every time you tell a joke on stage there’s immediate validation, which is why I enjoy doing comedy, so it just means you second guess yourself in your head all the time. I don’t think anything should be taboo, but I ask myself why am I choosing this topic?”

How does he describe his own style of comedy?

“I’ve been described as the embodiment of male, white privilege.

“As a character I’m the most overly privileged person you can imagine, so I’ve decided to own that as the cards I’ve been dealt. Hopefully there’s a deeper meaning to it too. In a Jack Whitehall-esque way I want to talk about it in a comic way.

“After such an incredible time on my first tour, I’m over the moon to be heading out on my second.

“With twice as many venues and bigger rooms, the reaction has been incredible so far. I am ready to bring a show that is packed with wall-to-wall laughs, but also lets the audience in even further.

“This will be a more personal, slightly darker show, but without sacrificing the belly laughs.” n Tom will be coming to Reading’s South Street on June 22, Maidenhead’s Norden Farm on July 6 and Guildford’s G Live on July 13. (limited availability for Guildford) For ticket prices, booking and more information, contact the theatres.

JAMES HASTINGS

The Smash Hit West End Musical

experimental qualities of wax resist batik which allows for both a degree of precision and the excitement of unexpected outcomes with the vibrant dyes.

Venue 9, Jenny Halstead’s Garden, will present The Butterfly Effect – a community art installation made from upcycled materials, while Venue 14 will house the Hope for the Planet exhibition.

All venues are open from 11am-6pm on both days, with parking available at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus.

n For more information, visit: www.studiotrail.co.uk