Down at the Abbey

Set within the surviving stone walls of a twelfth-century monastery a short walk from Reading station, this is a festival built around its setting as much as its music. Two stages run without clashes, so the day moves at a considered pace rather than forcing choices between acts. The programming spans indie, folk, acoustic, jazz and world music, drawing on breaking and independent artists rather than heritage headliners, with quieter daytime sets giving way to livelier evening energy. Friday runs as an over-18s event, while Saturday opens up to families with free children's activities and free entry for under-11s. The scale stays deliberately small and the town-centre location keeps everything walkable. It tends to suit those who want to hear new music in an unusual historic space without committing to a campsite or a rural trek.