Line up revealed for return of The Village’s festival

A MUSIC festival is returning to a Reading ‘village’ this Easter, and the line-up has been announced.

Pubs and clubs in the Eldon Square Conservation area are teaming up for the event – its eighth year.

The event launches on Thursday, March 28, with a performance of The Big River Blues Band at The Retreat in St John’s Street.

On Good Friday, March 29, there is a whole day of music from lunchtime through to closing time.

Cafe Zazous will bring swing gipsy jazz to The Lyndhurst in Watlington Street from 1pm.

That finishes at 3pm, which is when The Keith Alen Band will perform blues, rock, folk and soul in The Retreat.

Then at 5pm, it is back to The Lyndhurst for local legend Steve Morano.

From 7pm, Phil Braithwaite will be in The Retreat, before the day closes with David Gray and John ‘Dusty’ Dunsterville rocking The Lyndhurst.

On Saturday, March 30, The Retreat is first into bat. The Thomas Heppell Band will perform blues, rock and roll and jazz from 1pm.

Five-piece soul, jazz, blues and swing band Heather and the Red Shoes will be at The Lyndhurst from 3pm.

Jackie Doe and The Uncertainty of Passion will be in the Retreat from 5pm, bringing original songs with a European flavour.

The Hugh Turner Funk Trio then perform at The Lyndhurst from 7pm, with Rufus Ruffcot at The Retreat from 9pm.

On Easter Sunday, Mayor and James will sing the blues, share some standards and present some folk songs at The Retreat from 1pm.

Fleur Stevenson and Hugh Turner will be at The Lyndhurst from 3pm. At 6pm, the Marshall Couzens Band