Each week, there are 10 great acts in our playlist, all with a connection to Reading or Wokingham. As always, we have a wide variety of musical styles, but we think they’re all worth a listen, and we think you will find something new to enjoy as well as maybe getting out to experience the thrill of live music. We have three new entries this week, all with a local connection of one sort or another.
1. When Rivers Meet – Addicted to You –
If you wanted to show someone who’d never been to a gig before, why live music is so good, you couldn’t do better than take them to a ‘When Rivers Meet’ gig! Brilliant musicianship, great songs, fun banter and exciting uplifting, powerful songs. At Sub 89 last week the band, led by husband and wife duo, Grace and Aaron Bond, were incredible, with the energy and emotion of their brand of blues based independent rock connecting with the packed crowd who were clearly lifted by the exhilarating performance. As well as songs from their earlier albums, they showcased many from their latest album, ‘Addicted To You’, which reached No.4 in the Official Album Chart. This track is the title track of that album. If you haven’t been to a gig before, and, of course, if you have, make sure you check out ‘When Rivers Meet’. They give you live music at its best, that’s for sure! – https://whenriversmeet.co.uk
2. Brave Rival, Catfish – Up in Smoke –
Matt Long was an exceptionally talented young guitar player and singer, and we were fortunate to see him play more than once, both with Catfish and Matt Long and the Revenant Ones, in Bracknell and at Wokingham Music Club. He sadly died last year, way too young, from bowel cancer. The Blues music community rallied round to support him and his family, with fund-raising concerts to help pay for treatment. His family and friends want to continue this effort to help others in the same situation and the result is the Matt Long tribute album, With A Little Help From My Friends with a roll
call of UK and US blues and blues rock artists taking part and recording a selection of Matt’s songs. This is the initial single featuring Brave Rival. The album is on pre-sale now, and profits go to the Royal Surrey County Hospital cancer ward where Matt was treated (also where playlist co-curator Andy’s better half is being treated, so we have an interest to declare). https://www.facebook.com/thecatfishbluesband
3. Tomorrow Bird – Follow the Light –
Reading-based Folk-Americana duo Jen Bird and Simon Driscoll have featured in the playlist before, and we love their vocal harmonies. This is their latest single, a haunting and tragic tale of a lighthouse keeper and his sea-faring love, and the cruelty of Mother Nature, but beautifully sung.You can catch them playing in Windsor early in the new year, but they’ll surely be playing in Reading again before too long. https://www.tomorrowbird.com/
4. Sypha – Here We Go Again –
Reading Rising last month was a great success, with 22 bands over the two days, and a good crowd enjoying the non-stop music alternating between the two rooms. There were lots of bands we hadn’t seen before, and we’ll be featuring some more of them in the future. This is the latest single from Sypha, who are based in Brighton, and, like quite a few of the numbers over the weekend, addresses a serious social issue, in this case misogyny and abuse of women, where the screaming vocals at the end convey the justifiable rage at the treatment described. https://www.facebook.com/syphaband
5. Red Tape Resistance – Hellbound –
As we mentioned earlier this year, when we first featured The Outliers, Bracknell-based Red Tape Resistance have been on pause as one of their members is working in Argentina (!), but they’ve found time to release this new track which continues their run of great original rock songs, and we look forward to more when they can all be in the same country at the same time!
6. Demented Are Go – Black Valium –
Welsh Psychobilly band Demented Are Go hit the Face Bar just a week before Christmas, on 18th December courtesy of Future Transmissions, with local legend Uncle Peanut in support. They were one of the first bands to mix a punk rock aesthetic with rockabilly, and their stage show incorporates elements from horror films, so expect an intense experience! Vocalist Sparky has been described as having a voice that sounds like he’s been gargling hot gravel, which you can hear for yourself on this, their latest release. https://www.facebook.com/Official.DementedareGo
7. One Last Day – Don’t Go Under –
We featured Crooked Shapes recently, and we made it along to their album launch gig at the Face Bar (the same night as the Perfect Beasts launch, but luckily The Butler and the Face Bar are close to each other!). Also on the bill were One Last Day, who we’ve featured a few times over the years, and this was the first time we’ve seen their current line-up with Huw now on vocal duties as
well as bass, alongside founder-members Gareth and John . They’ve just released a five track EP, with the enigmatic title Eyes Like Glass // Thoughts Like Fuel and we’ve chosen this song which builds from a quiet melodic start to an epic finish. https://onelastdayofficial.com/
8. Perfect Beasts – Three’s A Crowd –
We recently went to the launch party at The Butler in Reading for a brand-new band — a sort of supergroup featuring Darren Redick (Planet Rock), Steve Hales (Kepler Ten), John Mitchell (Asia, Frost*, Lonely Robot, etc.), and the impressive guitarist Nick Andrew. Their debut single, Three’s a Crowd, is powerful, melodic rock — brilliantly performed, as you’d expect from such exceptional musicians. The track comes from their forthcoming self-titled album Perfect Beasts. At the launch, we enjoyed an exclusive album playback and a Q&A with the band. The night was meant to include a live performance, but sadly John had taken a fall a few days earlier and couldn’t play. Wishing him a speedy recovery! The album itself sounded excellent — every track strong — so watch out for its release in January – www.perfectbeasts.co.uk
9. He Fired First – Warmongers –
He Fired First got Wokingham Festival off to a great start this year, opening the main stage with their politically-aware folk punk, but with an accessibility that got the crowd singing along and dancing even at such an early hour. This is their latest single, recorded just down the road at Generation Studio, run by Wokingham Festival supremo Dean Nelson, and is a fine example of their brand of social commentary and agitpop. Also, Super Early Bird weekend tickets for Wokingham Festival 2026 are on sale now! https://hefiredfirst.com/
10. Leoni Jane Kennedy (feat. Eóin de Paor) – Cold Fire –
Last month we had the pleasure of seeing the incredibly talented Leoni Jane Kennedy two nights in a row. On the first night, she performed a solo acoustic set supporting Perfect Beasts in Reading. The next evening, on one of our road trips to Aldershot’s West End Centre, she headlined her own New World Woman show, performing acoustic versions of songs originally recorded by Rush. It was an outstanding performance showcasing Leoni’s skill as both a vocalist and guitarist. Rush’s music is known for its complex, powerful arrangements, yet Leoni’s inventive acoustic interpretations retained that virtuosity while revealing just how strong the songwriting is. She was joined for much of the set by her former music teacher, Eóin de Paor—also a member of the Rush tribute band Moving Pictures—whose musicianship perfectly complemented hers. This track is taken from Leoni’s New World Woman album — www.leonijanekennedy.com
You can listen to all the songs featured in our Spotify playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday
