Dance music event in Reading to host more revellers

Events company Curate Group has been running the student focused Stories in the Park dance music festival at Palmer Park since 2019.

The festival has seen some of the biggest names in drum and bass DJ to crowds of revellers.

This year, capacity will be increased from 4,999 to 9,999 festival-goers.

However, neighbours expressed fears about the intensification of events in Palmer Park and the nature of Stories in the Park.

Neighbours complained about public drinking, drug taking and urination, smashed glass and loud noise from the event.

READ MORE: Concerns raised over 'drink and drug fuelled' festival causing disturbance at Reading park

In a council meeting, Toby Mullins, the CEO of Curate Group and his licensing representative Luke Elford ensured councillors the event would be handled professionally.

They argued that the intention for the increased capacity would allow the event to grow in prominence.

Mr Elford said: “No licensed event starts at its desired capacity. We start with a smaller event to show that we can do things properly. The applicant has earned his stripes.”

A neighbour also claimed that tickets are already being sold advertising an enlarged capacity and a VIP area on its Instagram, which they called “presumptive at best”.

However, Mr Elford explained that Stories in the Park already has a licence for 4,999 festival-goers and tickets are being sold on that basis.

The organisers conceded that they would not be asking for greater capacity down the line.

The Stories in the Park event at Palmer Park in East Reading, organised by the Curate Group. Credit: Curate Group

A major concern was over whether dispersal of festival-goers would be orderly.

Councillor Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) asked how stewarding staff will limit disturbance from the festival.

Mr Mullins replied: “We manage the egress exceptionally well. We do everything in our best power to ensure good behaviour in and around the park.

“The perimeter is an area we manage closely.”

He added that the event is glass free and hired cleaning teams sweep the site and surrounding areas in the evening and morning after the event.

Cllr Debs Edwards (Labour, Southcote) asked how sound would be managed.

Mr Elford replied that specialists will monitor noise levels on and off site to ensure it is kept within agreed decibel limits.

Summing up, Mr Elford conceded that Stories in the Park would not be disturbance free, but argued on balance that Curate Group follows the council’s licensing objectives.

The licence to increase the capacity of the festival to 9,999 was granted by the licensing applications sub-committee on Thursday, February 1.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Mullins said: “I’m delighted with the result, and obviously we can up all the levels of the show, the production, the line-up, the number of stages, everything now grows and it’s a real success story.

“I’m really pleased the council has had no objections whatsoever, so it's great news.”

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Acts already announced include Hedex, Sub Focus and Dimension.

Mr Mullins said: “The first stage is drum and bass, and the second stage is house, garage and techno style music.

“We’ve got a very special guest on the first stage this year, on the second stage, which is much bigger this year, we’ve got some very well known world class DJs.”

Stories in the Park will be held on Saturday, June 15.

Curate Group is also holding the following events over that weekend:

• Thursday, June 13 – Student boxing event
• Friday,  June 14 – Ibiza Summertime Live Orchestra
• Sunday, June 16, 2024 – Blue, Scouting for Girls, and Boyzlife