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. The Amazons – Joe Bought A Gun (At Fiction Studios) –
Readipop Festival took a fallow year for 2025, but in response to demand they mounted Readipop Fiesta last weekend, a one-day celebration of musical talent, much of it locally grown. There was a great line-up, from which we’ve already featured a couple of acts and will likely include a few more in weeks to come; the obvious headliners for such an event were Reading’s own The Amazons, and they played a triumphant set to a packed hall. It was touching that Steven Siddle (universally known as Sid) of Future Transmissions got a name check from the stage for putting on The Amazons’ first gig, sixteen years ago – keep an eye on grass roots events, you may catch the next big thing!This track is their latest single from their album 21st Century Fiction, and explores the effects of toxic masculinity and the role of men in a changing world. They are on tour from October. https:// www.theamazons.co.uk/
2. Nicole Allan – Find Me –
Nicole Allan is someone who is very active on the local music scene, performing and hosting events. She’s a singer songwriter, singing Country and Americana, both classic numbers and her own compositions. Her latest single, Find Me, hit the top of the UK Country charts when it was released at the beginning of this month! Give it a listen, and you’ll know exactly why it’s doing so well. https://www.facebook.com/nicoleallan95
3. Petrea – Breathe –
Petrea are from Cornwall, and take the inspiration for their dark and atmospheric heavy alt rock, with soaring vocals by Ellie Horton, from ancient myths and divine feminine figures. We saw them play a set by the side of the Kennet, at the Oracle, for the recent Riverbeats session curated by Readipop, and were impressed. This is their latest single, out earlier this year. https://www.instagram.com/ petreaband/
4. That Joe Payne – Love (not the Same) –
We had another road trip, down to The 1865 in Southampton, to see the start of That Joe Payne’s latest tour, and what a show it was, catch it if you can! Joe has performed at Wokingham Festival a couple of times now, most recently with a full band, as he has on this tour, which includes Graham Brown on keys – Graham may hold the record for the most appearances with different bands at Wokingham Festival! The band also includes Sarah Bayley on vocals, and the show included this duet, which they segued into a version of James Brown’s It’s A Man’s World, which was every bit as good as when they did the same at Wokingham Festival last year. https://www.facebook.com/ ThatJoePayne
5. Lydia Shute – White Flag –
Lydia Shute is from Wokingham, and we caught her set at The Oakford for Alex West’s monthly Closer To Home residency. Her inspirations are artists like Billie Eilish Gracie Abrams and Renee Rapp, and if her emotionally charged lyrics make you cry, then she’s done what she’s set out to do! https://www.instagram.com/lydiashute/
6. Bone-Idle – If I Could Live Twice –
We featured Reading-based Bone-Idle back in July, and we were looking forward to seeing how they would do on the second stage at Wokingham Festival. In the event, they were rescheduled to the main stage, and more than justified their promotion with a top-notch set showing how much they’ve developed. They played a great set at Readipop Fiesta last weekend. This is a slower, more contemplative number that complements their more upbeat repertoire. https://www.facebook.com/ boneidleband
7. Kepler Ten – Fracture –
Kepler Ten are a trio based in Southampton, and they’ve graced the main stage at Wokingham Festival a couple of times in the past, as well as shooting one of their videos in Simon’s Wood on Wellingtonia Avenue in Crowthorne! This is the brand new single from their forthcoming, and long awaited, album; the album is called Random Number Generator: Episode 1 (RNG1), and will be out on 26th September. After a period of comparative quiet, they look set for a busy time as the album is positioned as the first in a series of concept albums, and they aim to be touring in 2026. https://www.keplerten.com/
8. The Colour Tree – The Grand Marquee –
The Colour Tree are a five-piece band from Reading who specialise in thoughtful melodic music about life’s vicissitudes. They’ve played at a few festivals over the Summer (Marvellous, Maidenhead, and Windsor & Eton Pride), and have a gig in London at the Mascara Bar on the 20th of September. This is their latest single, about the reality of celebrity. https://
www.instagram.com/thecolourtreeband/
9. Baby Said – Take Everything –
Baby Said is a four-piece band from Portsmouth fronted by Italian/ Punjabi sisters Veronica and Jess Pal, and they’ve been making waves after establishing themselves through extensive touring in the UK. They were at Glastonbury, and played a storming set at the Readipop Fiesta hosted at Reading University last weekend; this single is from their debut album, and is about the frustration of feeling unrecognised for the efforts you’re making. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ babysaidofficial
10. Kindred Spirit Band – The Track –
Kindred Spirit Band are based in Twickenham, but have played many times in Reading and surrounding areas. They are at the Face Bar on November 2nd, as part of a great prog line-up for 4 Play Prog Fest IV , and before that, on October 10th, they are launching their album in Richmond-on-Thames, and raising money for Richmond Mind, a very worthy cause. This is the first single from that album, an uplifting optimistic song about finding your destiny. https://www.facebook.com/ KindredSpiritBand
You can listen to all the songs featured in our Spotify playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday
