A POPULAR festival held annually in Caversham has announced it will be taking place virtually this month.

Readipop Festival, which was meant to be celebrating its fifth anniversary this summer in Christchurch Meadows, will be holding a Virtual Readipop Festival 2020 on Saturday, July 11 between 2-5pm.

READ MORE: 'It would mean absolutely everything to us': Couple raising money to achieve their dream of having a baby

The three hour live stream will include special lockdown live sets from previous and future acts alongside exclusive children's workshops, award winning poetry, cooking lessons and much more.

Virtual Readipop Festival 2020 will be free to stream online, however, Readipop are also hoping to raise money from the event to help support their charity work, providing access to music for vulnerable young people and other underrepresented communities.

Mercury Music Prize winner Badly Drawn Boy, world-renowned human beatboxer Beardyman and Jay-Z sampled soul powerhouse Hannah Williams and The Affirmations head up the line-up, with Beardyman performing a live, improvised and interactive set similar to his mainstage headlining set at Readipop Festival 2017.

Joining them are a diverse array of new and established musical talent including Nigel Clark, frontman of nineties indie favourites Dodgy, eighties reggae chart topper Musical Youth, 6Music championed newcomer Freya Beer and T.S. Elliot prize winning poet Roger Robinson. Supporting local talent is a key goal of both Readipop Festival and Readipop’s charity work.

READ MORE: Reading gym permanently closes following lockdown struggles

The virtual Readipop Festival 2020 line-up reflects the quality and variety of local acts, including powerful soul from Tabi Gazele, reggae from The Drop and Culturemix, singer songwriters Amya Ray, Siôn Sollis and Ophelia Ray, Vocal Networking’s hip hop and RnB artists and indie rockers Searchlight Sun.

All of Readipop’s community bands make special appearances too.

Director of the festival, Gavin Lombos, said: "We were so disappointed to have to reschedule our fifth birthday Readipop Festival until next year as it was set to be our best one yet.

"However, the positive response and overriding support we received from ticketholders, artists, staff and volunteers inspired us to mark the occasion with an online ‘Readipop Festival experience’ which brings together all the elements that make the festival so special.

"For over three hours on Saturday, July 11 we'll be presenting a unique mix of special lockdown performances, both from previous acts and many of the artists who were due to play for us this year - and will do in July 2021.

"We’re particularly excited to have such strong headliner in Badly Drawn Boy, whose new album is up there with his best, Beardyman, who blew us away with his incredible vocal looping skills when he headlined our second Readipop Festival in 2017 and Hannah Williams and The Affirmations, who will bring the full sound of her funk/soul ensemble through the wonder of split screen!

"Every year the festival supports our work changing lives through music in Reading and the Thames Valley.

"From providing youth provision and 1:1 music mentoring, supporting some of Reading’s most vulnerable young people, to running accessible community bands for a wide range of ages and much more.

"This year more than ever, we need the help of our supporters in doing this and we are very hopeful that this free online event will encourage people to donate or, even better, become a Readipop Friend to enable our work and the festival to continue over the coming years."

Virtual Readipop Festival will be available to stream here and on Readipop Festival’s Facebook page and Youtube channel from 2-5pm on Saturday, July 11.