Looking back at the best music in Reading and Wokingham across 2022

WHAT a great 12 months it’s been for the music scene in Reading and Wokingham.

We’ve had some big names pay a visit, some great acts make massive strides, and new acts have come to the fore.

We’ve loved every second of it.

Each week, the RaW Sounds Today playlist has presented 10 great tunes for you to enjoy, and this week we thought we’d look back at the best of the best.

A panel that supports the local music scene has come together to select the 20 top tunes. And best of all, you can tune in courtesy of our free Spotify playlist.

It’s a different link to our usual one. Head to https://spoti.fi/3YGqokU and you can hear it in all its glory.

Pilates plans for Places Leisure

Music Club acts unveiled

We wish you a very happy and musical new year.

Third Lung – No Names

They were No 2 in last year’s Top 20 of the year. At the time we said that they were ‘clearly one to watch in 2022’. They certainly proved that we weren’t wrong.

Third Lung have had an incredible year and their hard work combined with the band’s great musicianship and front person, Tom Farrelly’s impressive songwriting ensured that they are very worthy of this year’s top spot.

No Names is taken from their critically acclaimed debut album Gameplay, which is surely one of the albums of the year. They were one to watch in 2022 and they are clearly one to watch in 2023 too – http://www.thirdlungband.com/

Split the Dealer – Dreamstate

Here’s another artist that has climbed our Top 20. Last year he was No 9 with ‘Chinchilla’ and this year’s he’s at No 2. He performed a brilliant showcase set at Wokingham Festival in the summer where he came on and owned the stage.

It felt as if we were watching a star in the making and one of the highlights of the year was the Split the Dealer headlining show at Sub 89. What a night that was.

Being part of the crowd singing along to this anthem was a moment to savour – https://www.splitthedealer.com/

Selina and the Howlin Dogs – Slow Train Blues

Selina and the band performed great shows during 2022 including a support to the legendary Dr Feelgood and at Wokingham Festival where they were interviewed by festival MC, Andy Jones for broadcast on his BBC Radio Berkshire Show.

The band also released their debut album Blues Revisted which was well received as evidenced by this high Top 20 entry – https://www.selinaandthehowlindogs.com/

Rila’s Edge – Someone New

This is an excellent single from a local band who have been growing their audience with some great live shows. They have exciting plans for 2023 and, if this single is anything to go by, they are destined for a good year – https://www.rilasedge.com/

Reliant – Pain of it All

Reliant are another band that have been picking up new fans with their shows at gigs and festivals during the year as well as releasing a couple of indie anthem singles which showcase their powerful sound – https://linktr.ee/wearereliant

Adomania – Heavy Rain

It’s wonderful when you hear an exciting debut single, such as this one, from a new young local band that shows great potential. This three-piece have just released their second single and that’s great too – https://www.facebook.com/AdomaniaBand

The Wave Machine – So Far So Good

This artist and his songs have such a feel-good vibe that you have a smile on your face whenever you see him play live. His performance at Wokingham Festival in the summer sun was wonderful – https://linktr.ee/thewavemachine

Katie Ellwood – Twice

Katie, from Wokingham, has had a very good year with the release of her incredibly creative album Interference, some very well received live shows and this single which showcases her songwriting talents – https://www.katieellwood.com/

Lonely Robot – Recalibrating

As well as touring with Frost* and Arena, Reading’s John Mitchell joined The Room and The Paradox Twin on stage at Wokingham Festival and released a brilliant Lonely Robot album, A Model Life including this song – https://johnmitchellhq.com/

Dakorra – Elevate Me

Dakorra released the Elevate Me EP during the year, a four-track EP combining Electronica, guitars and voice to great effect. Having seen a very good live set at Loddfest we look forward to hearing more in 2023 – https://www.facebook.com/dakorraband/

Spizzenergi – Where’s Captain Kirk?

As well as supporting local bands we like to support venues and promoters that bring artists from elsewhere to play. One example is Club Velocity who put on a show bringing this legendary artist to Reading – https://www.spizzenergi.com/

Toyah – Levitate

Another promoter bringing legendary artists to play in the area is Stan Hetherington through his Wokingham Music Club. What a great show Toyah performed when she visited back in January to play her classics and new material – https://toyahwillcox.com/

Deva St.John – DIE

Deva is an exciting artist that has released a number of impressive singles over the last few years including this one in 2022. She certainly went down well at Wokingham Festival with a brilliant powerful set – https://www.facebook.com/dayvasaintjohn/

Spriggan Mist – Remember the Day

During 2022, Spriggan Mist have been spreading their magic throughout the country at festivals and gigs with their unique live performances. This is from their latest album, Isambard the Mechanical Dragon – https://www.sprigganmist.com/

That Joe Payne – End of the Tunnel

Joe performed a wonderful solo set when he visited to perform on the Wokingham Music Club Stage at Wokingham Festival. This is from his By Name, By Nature album. Watch out for new music in 2023 – https://www.thatjoepayne.com/

OSP – Breathe

OSP are a rap collective from Reading who released a number of singles in 2022 including this one. They create music and lyrics with a positive attitude and when they perform live that positivity really lifts the audience – https://www.facebook.com/ospmusicuk/

The Telephones – Pale Saints

Beautifully melodic vocal harmonies with a psychedelic feel from a Derby band who released their album, Prosaic Turbulence on Billywitch Records, a label of Wokingham’s Mega Dodo Records – https://www.facebook.com/TheTelephonesUK

Louis and the Shakes – TRAILBLAZR

These London-based indie rockers performed a blistering set at Third Lung’s Loddfest in the summer and released this single. They also came to Wokingham’s The Redan a few weeks ago – https://www.louisandtheshakes.com/

Mellor – Meet Me by the Ocean

This Reading based band showed how good they are during the year with the release of their impressive debut album, Problematic Passions from which this is taken. They also performed a great set at Loddfest – https://linktr.ee/melloruk

Lilac – Losing Myself (In You)

We first heard this single when the band posted it in the Wokingham Loves Music chat group. It was so good we went to check them out live and were very impressed. Looking forward to seeing what they do in 2023 – https://lilacband.co.uk/

THE PANEL AND THEIR TOP TRACKS OF THE YEAR

Andrew Merritt (Andrew Merritt Photography)

No Names by Third Lung

Chris Hillman (White Star Records / Magick Eye Records)

Heavy Rain by Adomania

Nathan Fullbrook (Jamma Music)

Laura by Third Lung

Dean Nelson (Generation Studio)

Someone New by Rila’s Edge

John Blaney (Mega Dodo Records / Billywitch Records)

Where’s Captain Kirk? by Spizzenergi

Roger Dudman (The Walrus and The Carpenter Show on Rock Radio UK)