Are You Listening Festival logo. Reading Mencap step back from partnership with Are You Listening? Mandi Smith, Reading Mencap's CEO, said: "All the funds raised from the festival during the last decade have been vital in helping us to improve quality of life for people with a learning disability in Reading. We are incredibly grateful to Heavy Pop and everyone who has supported us on this journey." Read more at areyoulistening.org.uk The festival is looking for volunteers to support the event this year, please email volunteers@heavypop.co.uk for more information. We will very shortly be announcing the next wave of artists joining our 2024 line up this May and we hope you can join us for our 11th festival edition!

Fond farewell to partnership with Are You Listening? Festival

A huge thank you to our incredible friends at Are You Listening? Festival for their fantastic support over the past decade. Sadly, after 10 fantastic years as Are You Listening? Festival’s charity partner, Reading Mencap is stepping back from aligning with the festival this year.

In the post-pandemic years, the fundraising landscape has changed considerably; this, coupled with increased costs and stretched resources means we have had to take the difficult decision not to be involved this year.

In terms of the festival itself, the grassroots live sector has been dealing with existential challenges in the last few years. In the Music Venue Trust’s Annual Report 2023, it reported that the UK permanently lost 16% (125 venues) of its grassroots music venues. Many loved and established UK festivals are also not taking place in 2024 as they battle an average 30% increase in costs, coupled with decreased attendance.

Festival organisers Heavy Pop have worked entirely unpaid in the  last 12 months to keep on delivering events like this to the local community and supporting the development of artists in the early stages of their career. Clearly, this is not a viable situation in the long-term. While ticket sales for the 2024 event remain strong, Heavy Pop are currently reviewing all historical aspects of the festival for this year’s edition and to ensure Are You Listening? remains viable into 2025 and for years to come.

Although Reading Mencap are stepping back nothing fundamentally changes for what Are You Listening? is all about – to bring together the local community to a friendly, safe, supportive and welcoming event; and to support grassroots music and give artists a platform.

To date, we’ve received £79,576 from activity around Are You Listening Festival? over the 10 year period. We’re thrilled that Heavy Pop is encouraging its audience to continue to donate to us!

Mandi Smith, Reading Mencap’s CEO, said: “All the funds raised from the festival during the last decade have been vital in helping us to improve quality of life for people with a learning disability in Reading. We are incredibly grateful to Heavy Pop and everyone who has supported us on this journey.”

If you would like to donate, all the information you need is at areyoulistening.org.uk 

While our official partnership is coming to an end, the memories and the music will stay with us forever. We wish Are You Listening? continued success and we’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and dedication to our cause.

The festival is looking for volunteers to support the event this year, please email volunteers@heavypop.co.uk for more information.