Each week we like to champion the music scene with ten songs in our playlist that all have a connection to the RaW (Reading and Wokingham) area and sometimes beyond. This week we have new entries from acts who have played in the area. As always, we have a wide variety of musical styles, but we think they’re all worth a listen and we hope you find something new to enjoy as well as maybe getting out to experience the thrill of live music.

1. EBB – No One’s Child –

EBB are based in Scotland, but travel all over the country as they are very much in demand as one of the leading attractions in the prog rock sphere, with their dramatic stage shows. We were very fortunate that they visited Berkshire twice last year, gracing the main stage at Wokingham Festival, and then at the Four Play Prog Fest IV at the Face Bar, organised by Spriggan Mist and Kindred Spirit Band. This is a track from their recent live album, recorded just down the road at the 1865 in Southampton. https://www.facebook.com/EbbBandUK

2. Two Year Break – CRASH BANDICOOT –

A bit of nostalgia; for those of a certain age, Crash Bandicoot was the game to play on your Playstation or Game Boy in the ‘90s and ‘00s, and this track looks back to those simpler days of the Spice Girls, Walkman players and Busted (or maybe we were just younger then with less to care about). Based in London, Two Year Break were just one more of the excellent line-up at Reading Rising at the Face Bar last November. https://www.instagram.com/twoyearbreak

3. Factor 50 – Comfort –

We don’t know a lot about this band, except they’re based in Bristol, and played at the Purple Turtle back in September, but we really like this track from their current EP, Good News! They recently had the opportunity to write and record a track at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, so we’re looking forward to hearing the result of that! https://linktr.ee/factor50protectyourskin

4. Millie Manders and the Shutup – Me Too –

We first saw Millie Manders and the Shutup (MMATSU, for short) back in 2018 at the Acoustic Couch in Bracknell, when the band had been going for about three years; it’s now been over a decade that they’ve been touring with their brand of punk and ska, and the rage which fuels some of their material is still strong. It was a joy to see them in action again, headlining at Reading Rising at the Face Bar back in November; this is their latest single, a fierce demand for social change in response to injustice which has been accepted for far too long. https://www.facebook.com/ milliemandersmusic

5. Tom Robinson – War Baby –

We’ve featured Tom Robinson before, when he played at the Face Bar and then headlined at Wokingham Festival. He’s back in the area again, celebrating over 50 years of grassroots music, with an acoustic show accompanied by Adam Philips on guitar at Wokingham Music Club on Thursday 29th January. This track is the one that he’s most proud of writing, even though he probably couldn’t explain what the elliptical and allusive lyrics are actually about. https://www.tomrobinson.com/

6. Attila the Stockbroker – Arirang –

Something a bit different, both in general and from this particular artist. Attila the Stockbroker is mostly known as a performance poet, though he first appeared on stage playing bass in a punk band nearly 50 years ago. Since then he’s toured the world as a musician and worked as a journalist. This track is a slight departure from his usual material, though in keeping with his cultural activism; it’s a Korean folk song which is sung as a symbol of unity between North and South; coincidentally, K-Pop band BTS have just announced their next album will be titled Arirang. You can see the man himself in action at the Rising Sun Arts Centre on 30th January, courtesy of Future Transmissions. https://www.facebook.com/attilathestockbroker

7. Forlorn – Let Them Run –

Here’s a bit of folk-horror metal to kickstart things and wake you up! Forlorn were one of the many highlights of Reading Rising Festival at the Face Bar back in November, and were particularly striking visually, with their set being more of a sacred ritual led by vocalist Megan Jenkins than a simple musical performance. This is the second single since their debut album Aether, and explores what it means to be true to your self, whatever others may think. https://www.facebook.com/weareallforlorn

8. Leoni Jane Kennedy – Temple –

Something a little more contemplative now, from Leoni Jane Kennedy, though the song shares some of the same themes of self-determination as Let Them Run. We always have time for Leoni, as she’s an extremely talented songwriter and performer, and we managed to see her perform four times last year around the Reading area. This latest single is one she’s been performing for some time, and in fact she wrote it when she was just 13, which just emphasises how talented she is. https:// www.facebook.com/LJKmusic

9. TRASHCAT, Akin S. – HONEST –

Long-time playlist favourite Charlotte Stokes links up with Akin Sivatheeswaran (one-time guitarist of Brighton-based industrial metal merchants Rage Doll) for this pop punk expression of frustration with the other party in a relationship. Charlie’s just released a new single, GOSPEL, so give that a listen too! https://www.instagram.com/trashcatmusic_/

10. Perfect Beasts – Non Stop to the Moon –

Something a little more upbeat: this is the second track from the prog supergroup featuring Darren Redick (Planet Rock), Steve Hales (Kepler Ten), John Mitchell (Asia, Frost*, Lonely Robot, etc.), and guitarist Nick Andrew, ahead of their debut album due out later this month. The Beasts wonder what went wrong with the optimism of the 50s and 60s, when we had the vision of a future with space travel and flying cars, and how we get back there. https://www.facebook.com/ perfectbeasts

You can listen to all the songs featured in our Spotify playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday

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