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Organisers and press sailed towards the river-side site of Heavenly Planet, which is touted as a festival of music and optimism with around 40 international artists, including UK acts, playing in three undercover 'all-weather' marquees.

Twenty of the artists were announced by the festival's creative director Thomas Brooman CBE, who named the Royal Drummers of Burundi, The Wonderstuff and Eliza McCarthy as some of the big names.

Co-organiser Melvin Benn from Festival Republic, who organises the Reading Festival as well as Latitude, told ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Berkshire why Heavenly Planet will stand out from the scores of other new festivals that have cropped up in recent times.

"It is hard to come up with a really unique concept because there are a lot of festivals around," the festival boss admits,Ìý "and it may be that people think that the festival market is saturated, and it maybe that people think I'm semi-insane for launching a new festival in what Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are telling us are troubled times.

"But the festival is about optimism and we really will be needing some optimism by July next year when the festival is on.

"This will be a family festival and that in itself will be a uniqueness because there's not a great number of festivals around that are genuine family festivals.

Festival organisers Brooman, Benn and Hoskin

"But I think the perhaps the thing that will make this festival stand out more than anything, as well as the diversity of music, is the absolute beautiful backdrop of the River Thames and the Reading promenade."

So with its international music line-up and its aim to promote global awareness, will Heavenly Planet be a conscious rival to the former Reading-based WOMAD festival?

"I think all festivals are rivals to each other," Melvin responds. "We haven't set about creating a festival to rival WOMAD. We've set about creating Heavenly Planet festival - that in its intent is very clear.

"Whichever festival we rival we wish them well, but we wish ourselves better!"

Heavenly Planet is organised by Festival Republic, Thomas Brooman CBE and Reading Borough Council.

Heavenly Planet logo

Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport says: "I'm certain that Heavenly Planet festival is going to be a fantastic festival experience.

"When WOMAD left Reading there was real disappointment in our town and many people were telling us they hoped we could introduce a new family-friendly, internationalist festival.Ìý This festival fits the bill."

And good news for the Reading band scene - two local bands have already been booked: Bloco Electro and Sleeps In Oysters.

Melvin Benn also mentioned other opportunities for unsigned artists.

"We're going to have a huge amount of workshop activity in terms of people from the area of Reading being able to participate in workshop performances and there will be an opportunity for the unsigned bands to perform as well."

Tickets to Heavenly Planet are on sale now.

Details

Price: Weekend Adult Ticket £75
Friday Adult TicketÌý £35
Saturday Adult Ticket £45

Telephone: 0118 9606060

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