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. Leoni Jane Kennedy (feat. Eóin de Paor) – Cold Fire –
A couple of weeks ago, 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
2. Still Remains, The Red Cord – The Wound and the Weapon –
This is the sixth year of alt-rock festival Reading Rising, and they’ve grown each year so it’s now over two days this coming weekend, 15th and 16th of November, at the Face Bar. This is the latest single from Saturday headliners Still Remains, who hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Saturday features mainly alt-rock and metalcore, while Sunday has more of a punky vibe, and both line-ups look great. We’re especially looking forward to seeing Sunday headliners Millie Manders and the Shutup again, we last saw them at the much-missed Acoustic Couch in Bracknell, back in 2018. https://www.facebook.com/stillremains
3. Trashcat – Changing Me –
This is the new release from Charlie Stokes’ latest musical incarnation, Trashcat. Regular playlist followers will know we’ve been fans of her work for many years now, and this track is a collaboration with James Brown (not that one!). This is a pop punk number about the positive effect another person is having on you; we look forward to more soon! https://www.instagram.com/trashcatmusic_
4. Who Ate All the Crayons – Saving File –
Who Ate All the Crayons (“Crayons” for short) must have one of the best names of any current band. They’ve been busy recently, playing in the Fan Zone at Reading FC and then with a tour last month which covered the South and South West of England and ventured into Wales, finishing with a hometown gig at the Purple Turtle. This is their latest single and is a fine example of their indie folk rock sound. They have one more gig before the end of the year, at the Haig House in Newbury on December 13th. https://www.instagram.com/whoateallthecrayons
5. Worms – Arrakis –
Steve Stanton is a man of many talents. Not only does he support live music through his own Reading venue, ‘The Butler’, and run the annual ‘Marvellous’ festival, but he also creates his own music. Under the name ‘Worms’, Steve has just released his debut solo single — and it’s a quality release. With a melodic, progressive sound, Steve shows that he certainly has talent as a singer, songwriter, and musician, wonderfully evoking the atmosphere of the planet ‘Arrakis’ from ‘Dune’. He also knows how to choose talented collaborators. The single was recorded with renowned producer John Mitchell – https:// worms-music.bandcamp.com/track/arrakis
6. Beans on Toast – Glastonbury Oak –
Beans on Toast has built a following through appearances on the festival circuit, and this song was inspired by a gift he received at Glastonbury. A charming tale, and as with much of his work, there’s a message of tolerance and hope to go with it. You can see the man himself next month when he appears at the Face Bar courtesy of Future Transmissions on December 7th. It’s a Sunday night, but it’s an early start so you can get home at a reasonable hour! https://www.instagram.com/ beans.on.toast/
7. Healthy Junkies – Son and a Daughter –
Healthy Junkies have a real rock’n’roll backstory (you can find it in their bio on Spotify, among other places) and we saw them for the first time recently at the Face Bar and really liked their style. You might have noticed that we like spotting connections, however tenuous sometimes, and here’s another: their latest single, Son and a Daughter echoes the name of a band we had in the playlist recently, Sundaughter, but that’s not the reason for choosing it, it’s a great track, and we’ll be checking out more of their back catalogue too. https://www.facebook.com/healthyjunkiesband
8. Scott Lavene – Muscle Car –
Scott Lavene tells stories about real life, with humour and a sharp eye for detail. He’s often compared with Ian Dury, partly because they both were born in Essex, but also for their approach to life and their slightly off-beat way of looking at things, but Bruce Springsteen is another reference point, for the fascination with cars, among other things. Here, Scott starts by daydreaming after buying the number plate from a muscle car at a carboot sale, but ends up musing on music, mushrooms, Memphis, life, death and love. Check the video out, too, and you can see him live at the Face Bar on December 4th, courtesy of Future Transmissions. https://www.instagram.com/scottlavene/
9. Steve Hackett – Firth of Fifth (Live in London 2024) –
Time for an epic! This is the live version of the Genesis classic, performed by legendary former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. Recorded the night after he and his outstanding band played at The Hexagon in Reading last year, it’s taken from his live album ‘The Lamb Stands Up – Live at the Royal Albert Hall.’ We’ve chosen this track to celebrate Steve’s newly announced ‘Best of Genesis and Solo Gems’ tour, which includes a stop at Basingstoke’s Anvil on Friday, 9th October 2026. ‘Firth of Fifth’ features one of the most inventive and beautiful guitar solos ever recorded — and witnessing the master who created it live is an experience you truly shouldn’t miss – www.hackettsongs.com
10. Bugeye – This Ain’t a Love Song –
We had the pleasure of seeing Bugeye perform on the trailer stage at Fifest last year, and loved the energy of their set, which culminated in the unplanned but very rock’n’roll tossing of a guitar from the stage. Their latest single captures that energy, “a sharp, sarcastic anti love anthem” with a spiky lyric gleefully telling a narcissistic potential suitor where to go. You might also hear the track in the background on a current ad campaign! https://www.facebook.com/bugeyemusic
You can listen to all the songs featured in our Spotify playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday
