Reading's reputation as one of the south-east's biggest and most successful cultural hubs received a huge boost today with the news that the town will play host to an exciting new music festival from 2009.

The`Heavenly Planet' festival is a two day music festival aimed at both families and younger festival goers which will take place annually on the same site as the Reading Rock Festival.

This initiative is the result of a partnership between Reading Borough Council (RBC) and Heavenly Planet UK Festivals - a company jointly owned by rock festival organisers Festival Republic, and Thomas Brooman CBE, previously Artistic Director of WOMAD.

The three-way tie-up will tap into the years of knowledge and experience accumulated by Melvin Benn of Festival Republic, Thomas Brooman and the Borough Council in running highly successful music events in Reading and aims to build upon RBC's commitment to enhance further the cultural life of the town.

Subject to the proposal being approved at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on September 29, the first-ever Heavenly Planet Festival is currently scheduled for Friday July 10 and Saturday July 11 2009. The aim is for 15,000 people to attend in year one, although it is hoped this figure will grow significantly as the event becomes more established.

Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport at Reading Borough Council, said: "We're extremely excited to be announcing this new summer festival. When WOMAD left there was real disappointment in Reading and many people were telling us they hoped we could introduce a new family friendly, internationalist festival. There has been a huge amount of work behind the scenes and we have faced some big challenges, but I believe 'Heavenly Planet' fits that bill. We're particularly delighted to be entering into a partnership with Thomas Brooman and Melvin Benn with their huge experience and knowledge of festivals and international music and culture".

Melvin Benn of Festival Republic said: "For two years now the council and I have been discussing the idea of a new, innovative, diverse and outward-looking festival. But it was only when I ran the idea by Thomas and established that it was possible to bring his idea's into the structure as Artistic Director and joint shareholder, it became a must. Thomas brings everything we were looking for to the table and the partnership is now complete. It will make for a very exciting future - a heavenly future I hope!"

Thomas Brooman said: "This festival, with its concepts of music, optimism and positivity, will create an event entirely new and unique for Reading. It is a privilege to be able to work together with Melvin and Reading Borough Council on the Heavenly Planet project and we are wholly committed to a long-term and successful future for the festival in the town. Viva Reading!"

The WOMAD festival was a well-recognised and established festival that had a relationship with Reading, growing from 5,000 people attending in 1990 to more than 40,000 in 2006. WOMAD left in 2006 to establish a new home in Wiltshire but there has been a strong desire by Reading Borough Council to find a festival that would provide a complement to the current cultural offering in Reading.

The intention of the Heavenly Planet title is to evoke ideas of optimism, global awareness and an open-minded enthusiasm for music, culture and society. While planning for the festival is still at an early stage, the current thinking is that two big top tents will be the focal point for the event, accommodating two stages of equal scale.

It is hoped that the close involvement of Thomas Brooman - a well known figure in the genre of world music - will help to attract major artists to the event but the aim is also for up-and-coming artists from the Reading area to be given a major platform to showcase their talents. 

Camping will be available as well as a food court concept, celebrating food from around the world. Discussions are also underway about Rivermead Leisure Centre being used as a possible indoor venue for night and day-time events, offering a reliable venue in case of bad weather. And while Heavenly Planet is currently a two-day event, there is the possibility of offering some sort of festival activity on the Sunday as well.

The proposal for a Heavenly Planet Festival will go before a meeting of Reading Borough Council's Cabinet on Monday September 29 for approval. Full agenda papers can be found at www.reading.gov.uk