Glitterbox DJ Natasha Kitty Katt completes Disco Abbey line-up

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@rdg.today

BLUE Collar has made its final line-up announcement for its upcoming event at the Abbey Ruins.

As part of Reading’s Water Fest weekend, Disco Abbey 2023 will welcome DJ Natasha Kitty Katt on Friday, June 9.

The Glitterbox and Southport Weekender resident DJ joins previously announced headliners: New York disco originals Odyssey, Soul II Soul frontman Jazzie B and festival favourites Fleetmac Wood.

Pete Wheeler, Blue Collar’s event manager, said: “The response to our first Disco Abbey announcement last month was incredible.

“We’re so happy to have received such a positive reaction for our first night of disco in Reading’s Abbey Ruins and to have earlybirds and first three ticket tiers sold out already.

“Natasha Kitty Katt is a brilliant disco DJ with well-deserved residencies at Glitterbox, Southport Weekender, Soul Heaven and Ocean Beach Ibiza. Her infectious energy makes her the perfect headliner for our second stage on Friday, June 9.”

In addition to the live acts and DJs playing across two stages, Blue Collar is providing bars with their usual combination of local craft beers, lagers, prosecco and Pimms, as well as award-winning street food.

“Our Discorama party at Blue Collar Corner on New Year’s Eve showed us what a fun crowd, both young and old, comes to a disco party,” Pete explained.

“So when we were given the opportunity to take over the iconic Abbey Ruins as part of this year’s Reading Water Fest, we all agreed it had to be a disco night.

“Also playing live will be local disco act Alive By Night who took the mainstage of Readipop Festival by storm last year, combining incredible vocalists with infectious danceable grooves.

“With two music stages alongside Blue Collar bars and street food, we’re ready to put on a seriously fun party this June.”

New York disco originals Odyssey will mix in plenty of disco classics by other artists, alongside their own big hits. These include: Inside Out, Going Back to My Roots, Native New Yorker and UK number one: Use it Up, Wear it Out.

Their frontman Steven Collazo was formerly a Caversham resident, making it a homecoming of sorts.

Jazzie B is the founder of soul band Soul II Soul and is one of the most in-demand soul and funk DJs on the circuit.

Closing our mainstage will be DJ collective and festival sensations Fleetmac Wood, who perform their exclusive remixes and edits of Fleetwood Mac songs around the globe.

The final line-up for Disco Abbey 2023 is: Odyssey (full live band), Jazzie B OBE (DJ Set), Fleetmac Wood, Alive By Night (live), Natasha Kitty Katt (Glitterbox), Jet Boot Jack, Even Funkier, Twin Sun (DJ Set), Elle Cee & Kingpinn and Ryan MacGregor n To book tickets, visit: discoabbey.eventbrite.co.uk

Tier 4 tickets are now available to purchase.

Masked protesters supporting Hong Kong take a

ON SATURDAY, Broad Street was host to protest as part of a worldwide series of action protesting human rights violations against Hong Kongers.

The Hong Kong diaspora and support organisations took part in a silent protest in cities across the UK as well as those in Australia, Canada, the US, and Taiwan.

There were similar events in Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Nottingham.

Protesters wore white masks to demonstrate unity and convey the message that “anyone can be the Hong Kong 47.”

It follows the arrest of 47 people in Hong Kong in 2021, who were then detained until the beginning of their trial in February this year.