We love those Christmas traditions and here’s one of ours! The Christmas playlist is here again!! If you like to hear festive music that is different to the usual fare that you hear everywhere at this time of year, this is for you. As always we champion the local music scene so each artist has either visited venues in the area or is from the area or both!! This year we’ve included every song we’ve featured in previous years and added a few new ones too. So you can have a listen and enjoy the festivities whilst celebrating our vibrant music scene at the same time. The Christmas playlist is in a different place to our usual weekly playlist so follow the link at https://bit.ly/RaWChristmas
1. When Rivers Meet – Christmas Is Here –
A bit of festive blues rock to add to our playlist this year from a band that visited Reading to play in the area for their first time recently. We went along to the Sub 89 show and loved it. They were brilliant! – https://whenriversmeet.co.uk/
2. Astralasia – Snowman –
Beats, sleigh bells, children singing and a Christmas (w)rap!! It’s those dance floor legends with roots in the local area and their classic single has just been made available to stream for the first time – https://www.instagram.com/astralasia_/
3. Selina and the Howlin Dogs – Bluesy Kind Of Christmas –
Local faves with a new single out now and it’s a wonderful slow blues which the band describes as a reflective moment looking back to cherished Christmas memories – https://www.selinaandthehowlindogs.com/
4. Katie Ellwood – Snowfall –
A beautiful instrumental piece evoking that feeling of watching the snow fall outside while you sit beside a roaring log fire. Katie is from Wokingham and has been recently working on film and TV soundtracks in London – https://www.katieellwood.com/
5. James Walker – Snowfall –
A beautiful song with the same name from Reading based singer songwriter inspired by a poem written by his grandfather – https://linktr.ee/jameswalkerofficial
6. Ricky Warwick – All I Want for Christmas is Christmas –
This man of many bands came to Reading Face Bar a few years ago with the Flaming Hearts – https://www.rickywarwick.com/
7. Ajay Srivastav – Come Thou Font of Every Blessing –
Ajay is an inventive artist with his unique fusion of East and West and here’s his version of a Christian hymn written in 1758 which he released as a single a few years ago – https://www.facebook.com/ajaysrivmusic/
8. The Reading Festival Crowd – Merry Xmas Everybody (Alive! At Reading) –
Were you there and singing along in this one minute crowd sing-along when Slade blew everyone away with an incredible set in summer 1980? – https://www.davehillslade.com/
9. Modesty Blue – Christmas Nights in White Satin –
Local musician, Sean Lynch, with guest vocals from Sam Nolan with a song based around the classic Moody Blues song, ‘Nights in White who played a great show https://www.facebook.com/modestybluemusic/
10. Wyldest – Another Christmas –
London based Zoe Mead’s band who played a great show in their early days at Reading’s Oakford Social Club – https://www.wyldest.co.uk/
11. That Joe Payne – Greatest Gift of All –
He’s become popular in the area following his incredible performances at Wokingham Festival – https://www.thatjoepayne.com/
12. Peaness – Kiss Me Sweet Pea –
This band were due to play in Reading at Independent Venue Week a few years ago but sadly had to cancel. We loved their Christmas single though, so here it is – https://www.peanessband.com/
13. Eddie & The Hot Rods – It Feels Like Christmas –
This legendary band performed in Reading a few years ago for Future Transmissions – https://www.eddieandthehotrods.com/
14. Third Lung – The Christmas Song (Stranger to the Cold) –
A single from a few years ago for the Launchpad charity and as usual with this band, it’s good – http://www.thirdlungband.com/
15. Spriggan Mist – Green Santa –
The Bracknell band that continue to go from strength to strength. This is becoming their festive classic 0- https://www.sprigganmist.com/
16. Voodoo Radio – Christmas Eve –
This exciting duo from Cumbria have visited Reading a few times and always put on an impressive performance – http://www.voodooradio.co.uk/
17. Spizzenergi – Christmas in Denmark Street –
They have played in Reading a few times in recent years and here’s their single about Wokingham’s Denmark Street. OK maybe it’s not about Wokingham but we can pretend – https://www.spizzenergi.com/
18. Rocket Kings – Christmas Without You –
Have a Ukelele Christmas with Reading’s Rocket Kings! They are always fun – https://www.facebook.com/rocketkings
19. Selina and the Howlin Dogs – Miracles –
It’s them again! Prolific and talented, this time it’s their song from last Christmas – https://www.selinaandthehowlindogs.com/
20. That Joe Payne – Gloria –
It’s Joe again! This, like his track above, is from his Christmas album, ‘Ding Dong’ which is worth digging out every year – https://www.thatjoepayne.com/
21. John Otway – Middle of Winter –
With John performing his Christmas knees up this week (11th) for a Future Transmission’s Face Bar show let’s have a listen to this version of John’s song from his 2014 EP ‘A John Otway Christma5’ – http://www.johnotway.com/
22. Albion Christmas Band – Christmas Wreath –
A supergroup that create seasonal folk music and play Maidenhead and Basingstoke this month – https://www.albionchristmas.co.uk/
23. RyeWolf – When the Snows of Winter Fall –
Local band, RyeWolf perform fun folk music plus softer songs like this from their ‘Christmas Cheer’ single- https://www.ryewolf.co.uk/
24. Greg Lake – I Believe in Father Christmas –
One of Chris’s all time Christmas faves and he did see him live at Reading Festival some years back so that sort of counts, especially as this year celebrates 50 years since the song was released – http://www.greglake.com/
You can listen to all the songs featured at https://bit.ly/RaWChristmas
