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 hope you find something new to enjoy as well as maybe getting out to experience the thrill of live music.
1. Funke and the Two Tone Baby – Can’t Stop The Music –
Despite the act’s name, Dan Turnbull is the only person you’ll see onstage at a Funke and the Two Tone Baby gig, but he makes music that you wouldn’t believe possible from a solo performer, with acoustic guitar, keys, drum machine and loop pedals (of which he’s a master). Hear for yourself with this track from his recent live album, and experience the one-man mechanical alt-blues band in person at the Face Bar on Thursday 30th January, as part of Independent Venue Week for Club Velocity. https://www.facebook.com/funkeandthetwotonebaby
2. Glitch – Patience –
Just announced as the band to open this year’s Wokingham Festival (date for your diaries – August Bank Holiday weekend), Glitch are a new young band from Maidenhead, and have just released this, their debut single. Their aim is to restore catchy pop and rock songs to mainstream radio, and we think they’re going in the right direction with this track! https://glitchmusic.uk/
3. Selina and the Howlin Dogs featuring Five Points Gang – Rock Bottom Blues –
As featured in Reading Today last week, Reading’s own funky blues rock specialists are back with the first single from their latest album, “Third Time Lucky”. It features special guests Joe Pearson and Dinho Barral from Five Point Gang, and is in part inspired by that band’s life on the road. https://www.selinaandthehowlindogs.com/
4. The Go Go Cult – Black is the Colour of My Love –
This is the title track from Reading-based gothabilly merchants The Go Go Cult’s latest waxing, released just last month. A frantic slice of dark intoxication, as Nige contemplates the dark place he’s in, and how he’s going to deal with it. http://www.thegogocult.com
5. BarrelHaus – Mayday –
Oxford-based duo of Marc Challans and Ian Mitchell played at Are You Listening Festival last May, and they return to Reading for Club Velocity at the end of April. This new single is a wonderfully layered piece, with infectious rhythms and uplifting vocals. You can pre-order “Superstition Abolition”, the album it’s from, now. https://linktr.ee/barrelhaus
6. The Dazed Minded – Oh Boy –
This is their excellent first single. They describe their sound as indie sleaze, and their influences include indie bands, 90s Britpop and 60s rock bands. We saw them live at The Butler just before Christmas, and look forward to seeing them again this year! https://www.instagram.com/ thedazedminded/
7. Puma Theory – Foolish Boy –
Another fine example of melodic indie rock from Reading-based Puma Theory. You can see them for yourself at the Face Bar on Tuesday 28th January as part of Independent Venue Week, courtesy of Club Velocity. https://www.facebook.com/pumatheory
8. Tomos Lewis, Caitlin Lavagna – Run –
Caitlin Lavagna teams up with Tomos Lewis for this single in aid of three very worthy charities – Bigmoose, The Safe Foundation and the British Heart Foundation. https:// www.facebook.com/caitlin.lavagna
9. Purple Grace – Ride –
The recently released latest single from Berkshire-based Purple Grace. They’re headlining at Boundary Park in Didcot on January 25th. https://www.purplegrace.co.uk/
10. Deva St John – Oedipussy –
Another long-time favourite of the playlist, Deva also featured in the Top 20 of 2024. Inspired in part by the Greek myth, this is her latest track. https://www.facebook.com/ dayvasaintjohn
You can listen to all the songs featured in our Spotify playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday
