So, here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun … and they will be rocking around the Christmas tree too thanks to this week’s Raw Sounds Today playlist.
Why have chestnuts roasting when they could be listening to some fantastic music?
We’re on a mission to champion and showcase great music from acts that have a connection to Reading and Wokingham (that’s the RaW in our Sounds Today name).
It’s an eclectic mix of stuff that will help you discover something new. All you have to do is find it on Spotify.
To hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and enjoy the music.
There is also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.
Third Lung – The Christmas Song (Stranger to the Cold)
What a year this band have had! They’ve released excellent singles, headlined Sub 89, played gigs and festivals, sold out their own Loddfest, performed live on a tour of record stores including HMV and released their brilliant debut album, Gameplay.
As if that isn’t enough they end the year with the release of a brand new Christmas single to raise money for Reading’s Launchpad charity and as usual with this band, it’s great.
What a year, what a band – http://www.thirdlungband.com/
Spriggan Mist – Green Santa
Does Santa really wear red? Listen to the lyrics and see what you think as you dance along to their new single. Don’t miss the band’s special Wassail event with Flutatious at Wokingham Music Club on January 27 – https://www.sprigganmist.com/
Voodoo Radio – Christmas Eve
This exciting duo from Cumbria visited Reading recently as support for Spizzenergi at their Club Velocity show. They’ve just released this great new Christmas single, a brilliant uplifting party anthem – http://www.voodooradio.co.uk/
Spizzenergi – Christmas in Denmark Street
They visited Reading to perform a brilliant show for Club Velocity at the Facebar and here’s their single about Denmark Street. Not Wokingham’s Denmark Street or could it be? – https://www.spizzenergi.com/
Rocket Kings – Christmas Without You
Have a Ukelele Christmas with Rocket Kings! They’ve just released this seasonal feel-good song – https://www.facebook.com/rocketkings
That Joe Payne – Gloria
Joe played a great set at Wokingham Festival in the summer and he has now released a Christmas album, ‘Ding Dong’ from which this is taken. It’s a wonderful album which deserves to be a perennial Christmas classic – https://www.thatjoepayne.com/
John Otway – Middle of Winter
With John recently performing his Christmas knees-up at Club Velocity’s recent show, it’s a good excuse to include this version of John’s song from his 2014 EP A John Otway Christmas – http://www.johnotway.com/
Albion Christmas Band – Christmas Wreath
Here’s a band made up of folk legends that get together to create seasonal folk music.
They recently visited Maidenhead and Basingstoke as part of a UK tour and released their new album, All Are Safely Gathered In.
It’s an excellent offering with traditional and new songs that capture the seasonal spirit. Christmas Wreath is a beautiful example – https://www.albionchristmas.co.uk/
RyeWolf – When the Snows of Winter Fall
Local band, RyeWolf perform fun folk music plus softer songs too like this from their new ‘Christmas Cheer’ single- https://www.ryewolf.co.uk/
Greg Lake – I Believe in Father Christmas
Not much of a local connection here for this one although I did see this sadly missed great musician and vocalist play a brilliant live set at Reading Festival many years ago with a band that included another sadly missed musician on guitar, Gary Moore.
It was brilliant.
Included as our final seasonal selection as it’s one of my all-time faves and doesn’t seem to get played as much as it used to be, even though it should do.
Happy Christmas Everyone. Thanks for listening – http://www.greglake.com/
