Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we have an exciting 2 day exhibition showcasing work from local artists, on the theme of 'Love' and the many shades it comes in.

Alternative electro-pop trio No Feathers celebrate the release of their new single in their first Reading headline show since 2019.

In a group show led by students at the University of Reading, “Masquerade” is an event which will explore anonymity and changing the perception of oneself, not only within the context of physical a

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Big Untidy is back at the Rising Sun with a very special night.

Musical polymath and all round diamond geezer Lee Switzer-Woolf curates an evening of beautifully crafted music featuring:

Oxford Improvisers - Collation No. 1 

Saturday 19th March. 7.00 – 11.00 pm. 

Price: £8 / £5 concs + booking fee 

We are 19 years old on March 25th 2022

This gig

The Go Go Cult

• World Class Billy Punks

Abrasive Trees

Rescheduled date: All existing tickets remain valid for the new date. If you can no longer attend, please contact WeGotTickets for a refund.

The Sunday Alternative (formally The Sunday Assembly) turns on March 27th at The Rising Sun Arts Centre.

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

New DIY collective Nothing Will Change Events presents their third live music "exhibition", and their first here at the Rising Sun Arts Centre.

Random Doodle Club - Saturday 16th April, 4pm-5pm GMT.

This is an online monthly event.

The Fat Kid is a plus-size, sustainable fashion brand where I find clothing items second hand and style them into cohesive outfits you can buy 

You’re invited to the 3rd iteration of S.O.S!

The next Assembly is about bodies!

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Reading's award-winning, one-day/multi-venue festival returns for 2022!

Doors 19:30 / Show begins 20:00

Club Velocity presents Damien A Passmore/Tom Webber/Uncle Peanut

The next Assembly is about helping.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is strictly 18+

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

Performed by actor and storyteller, Matthew Dexter

Suitable for ages 6 plus

Door time: 8:00pm, Start time: 8:30pm

Come down to the Rising Sun Arts Centre for our Summer Art Market organised by our very own visual arts team.

Big Untidy returns for a new regular bi-monthly night, and bass-slapping modern-day troubadour Grant Sharkey is back with them! 

Your philosophical thoughts on the momentous and trivial in a rotating carousel of friendly buddies.

The next Assembly is about thinking and sharing.

Two weird tales adapted and performed by R M Lloyd Parry

For their Rising Sun debut, The Bohman Brothers will perform two 40 minute sets preceded by a short film featuring the brothers by Peter Strickland called ’The Farewell Party’.

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

With Penn & Doyle Dance Academy

Tuesdays, for 8 weeks, staring 28th June 2022

Beginners: 7pm till 7.30pm Cost £5

Intermediate 7.30pm till 8pm Cost £8

Doors open 7pm, show starts 8pm

With Penn & Doyle Dance Academy

Tuesdays, for 8 weeks, starting 28th June 2022

Beginners: 7 till 7.30 Cost £5    Intermediate 7.30 till 8 pm Cost £8

This is an interactive art event - come and create a fun, colourful and communal work of art through body painting!

With Penn & Doyle Dance Academy

Tuesdays, for 8 weeks, starting 28th June 2022

Beginners: 7pm till 7.30pm Cost £5

Intermediate 7.30pm till 8pm Cost £8

Doors 8pm, music starts 8:30pm

The next Assembly is all fun and games.

With Penn & Doyle Dance Academy

Tuesdays, for 8 weeks, staring 28th June 2022

Beginners: 7pm till 7.30pm Cost £5

Intermediate 7.30pm till 8pm Cost £8

Door time: 8:00pm, Start time: 8:30pm

After an absence over the last two years, Reading’s biggest summer house party is back for 2022!

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

The Visual Arts team are really excited to put on a Pride Art Exhibition, showcasing work from LGBTQIA+ artists in Reading!

The Visual Arts team are really excited to put on a Pride Art Exhibition, showcasing work from LGBTQIA+ artists in Reading!

Fresh from their US tour with Frank Turner, Pet Needs are bringing their duo show to Reading as part of the Borrowed Toothpaste 2 tour!

Iota Events And Double Okay Are Excited To Host Reading's First Trans Pride After Party At The Rising Sun Arts Centre!! 

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Double Okay are excited to host making sessions for LGBTQIA+ people at the Rising Sun Arts Centre! All sessions are free to LGBTQIA+ people, but please sign up for a place as we ha

A night of soul-blues with this 3 x British Blues Awards nominee

The next Assembly is about the role of psychedelics in mental health and their wider societal effects.

Pink Diamond Revue
World class electro punks

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

Big Untidy presents a special Jazz night featuring the talents of The Fleur Stevenson/ Hugh Turner Jazz duo.

Artists' book fair

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

Double Okay are excited to host making sessions for LGBTQIA+ people at the Rising Sun Arts Centre! All sessions are free to LGBTQIA+ people, but please sign up for a place as we ha

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

After a little summer break, we're back again with a couple of acts we've had the honour of sharing a stage with in the meantime, and who are definitely worth pointing your eyeballs and earholes at

The next Assembly is about Reading’s Standup Comedy community.

doops Excellent Reading pop noise kings
Jopy Jo from Keep Cats going solo-full band alert/gig

An evening of LIGHT, as an antidote to the darker side of Hallowe'en.

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

Moonshine Spectrum will be joining us at The Rising Sun with pop-up stall! Moonshine Spectrum is a handmade jewellery brand by Monica Hudson.

You’re invited to Sheer Obsession's Suspenders: PUNK!

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

Enjoy an evening of local indie rock & shoegazing bands at this fundraising event for Berkshire Greenpeace.

Double Okay are excited to host making sessions for LGBTQIA+ people at the Rising Sun Arts Centre! All sessions are free to LGBTQIA+ people, but please sign up for a place as we ha

Nigel Firth used to write songs and  break things in popular Reading group Vienna Ditto and now he has an EP of danceable material out in his solo guise as The May, with all of the gear but none of

Beginner and Improver's Balboa Dance Class

Tuesday  7pm - 9.30pm 

Draw from a life model, a variety of short and long poses. relaxed atmosphere suitable for expert and beginner alike.

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

Update from B-Sydes

The November Assembly is about our stories - why we tell them and why we shouldn’t always listen

Beginner and Improver's Balboa Dance Class

Join us for our annual Christmas Market at the Rising Sun!

Dreading Slam is a friendly, open mic poetry competition. We welcome poets of all standards, as well as any audience who want the chance to appreciate live poetry.

Beginner and Improver's Balboa Dance Class

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

For well over a decade, possibly two, the Big Untidy Night Out has been a staple part of the programme here at the Rising Sun.

Beginner and Improver's Balboa Dance Class

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

The Queer Time Traveller Mister Frank Will Take You On A Dramatic Journey Of Love And Heartbreak In Their Debut Solo Drag King Show

Double Okay are excited to host making sessions for LGBTQIA+ people at the Rising Sun Arts Centre! All sessions are free to LGBTQIA+ people, but please sign up for a place as we ha

The Scarlet Vixens get festive (and anti-festive!) in this one-time-only show, bringing you the best (and worst!) of their festive favourites!

Hosted by:

Rock Yule is the secular answer to a traditional Carol concert.

Beginner and Improver's Balboa Dance Class

Join the Reading Hand Drumming Revival in their new weekly drumming workshop led by Aslam Emrani.

The world famous Club Velocity New Year's Party is back to say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023!