Each week we like to champion the music scene with ten songs in our playlist that all have a connection to the RaW (Reading and Wokingham) area and, sometimes, beyond. This week we have three new additions – all from musicians based in the local area. 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. Rila’s Edge – Pimlico Road –
Rila’s Edge have had a great year, with a string of successful gigs, including one weekend with four separate appearances one of which was headlining on the main stage at Wokingham Festival! They’re back with a new single, Pimlico Road, and they have two shows this weekend – headlining at The Grace in London tomorrow, 29th November, and supporting Luna Blue in Bristol on Saturday 30th. Pimlico is a lovely slice of indie rock about how being with the right person can transform your experience of a place into something magical. We look forward to seeing them going on to even greater success in the New Year! https://www.facebook.com/rilasedge
2. A Better Life, Holly Taymar – Under The Setting Sun –
This is the first single from the latest album, The Light, from A Better Life, who we’ve featured a couple of times before. Phil Daniels is the producer based in Berkshire who works with a collective of musicians to produce music which promotes a feeling of calm and tranquility. Chris Hillman, the regular curator of this playlist, who is recovering from a recent heart attack, said that this album really did make him feel relaxed; we’re glad to hear that and wish him well with his continuing recovery. The vocals on this track are by Holly Taymar who also featured on a previous track we selected by A Better Life, and they add to the uplifting and calming mood of the song. https:// www.facebook.com/abetterlifemusic
3. Danny Lampo – Fear No Man (FNM) –
Danny Lampo is a Ghanaian born in Italy, and now living in Reading, which suggests his music is influenced by an unusual combination of factors. We’ve featured a couple of his tracks in the past, and here is his latest single, just released, another prime example of his Afrobeat style. If you’re intrigued, you can catch the Lampo Experience performing live at The Butler in Chatham Street on Saturday 7th December. https://www.dannylampo.com/
4. Ez Dickens, Tanti – Take a Breath –
This is Ez Dicken’s latest single, recorded in Spain with DJ and producer Tanti, and it’s a mellow reggae hip-hop number suggesting that we should take a moment to look around, step back from the rat race and appreciate the good things in life. It’s a little slice of Summer to brighten your day as the evenings close in! https://www.facebook.com/ezdickensmusic
5. Eric Street Band – You’re Living A Lie –
This track from the album The Word on the Street showcases the guitar of Gordon Vaughn and harmonica of Dave Raphael, alongside Dennis Siggery’s distinctive vocal rasp. https://www.ericstreetband.com/
6. Mammoth Toe – MaybePG –
Mammoth Toe are a three-piece from Bristol who played at The Purple Turtle recently, and we were impressed by their instrumental progressive post-rock stylings. This track is the single taken from their recently released album, Ok, Well Done. https://linktr.ee/mammothtoe
7. Steve Hackett – Circo Inferno –
The latest single from Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, who put on a great show at The Hexagon recently. https://www.hackettsongs.com/
8. San Demas – Stay Forever –
Another great track from their EP, Love Sick, and the band played last weekend as part of Reading Rising at the Face Bar. https://linktr.ee/sandemas
9. Jess Tuthill – One True Love –
Reading-based Jess Tuthill has been writing and performing for 20 years, and this track is a single taken from her recently-released, and very impressive, debut album, A Beautiful Disaster. https://jesstuthill.co.uk/
10. The Veras – Davey Walking Round With the Sole Off His Shoe –
This is the The Veras latest single, with an intriguing title, from their Get It While You Can album. You should also catch them in their Small Fakers guise. https://www.facebook.com/theverasmusic1