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 tracks for you from acts with connections to Reading and Wokingham. 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. Jack Foz – Can’t Be Easy to Love –
Jack Foz is based in London, but popped along to the Purple Turtle to headline the party celebrating 10 years of Dean Nelson’s Generation Studio. We’re glad he did, because his set was excellent, with great songs and a fantastic sound from his five-piece band; hear for yourself with his latest single! (Dean is a busy chap, as well as running the studio and doing sound engineering for bands, he’s also in charge of Wokingham Festival!) https://www.facebook.com/jackfozmusic
2. Cheap Suits – Half A Heart –
April 18th was Record Store Day, when various special vinyl editions are released, and independent record stores are celebrated. Pop Classics in Caversham had a very busy day, and the many customers were entertained by in-store performances from a couple of local bands, including Cheap Suits, who will have the honour of being the first band performing at this year’s Wokingham Festival! This is their latest single, which bodes well for the future. https://www.instagram.com/cheapsuits.band/
3. Adult DVD – Real Tree Lee –
Just over a week to go until Are You Listening? Festival in various venues around Reading on May 8th and 9th. One band we’re looking forward to seeing are Adult DVD from Leeds – we caught an interview with them on BBC 6Music recently, and loved their sound and sense of humour, and they are reputed to put on an electric live show. Hear for yourself with their latest single, or even better pop along and see them. https://www.facebook.com/Adltdvd
4. Spriggan Mist – Faery Wood –
If you’ve been outside recently, you’ll have noticed that it’s bluebell season, with the woods around displaying a carpet of violet-blue. You’ll also be aware that wildflowers are protected and you should avoid damaging them; if that wasn’t enough, however, Spriggan Mist bring an additional warning that you should keep off the flowers otherwise you might find yourself trapped by the Queen of the Fae for a thousand years or more! Spriggan Mist complete their current UK tour of The Glare
album with a gig at The Butler on May 9th. https://www.sprigganmist.com/
5. Snayx – Strut –
Spring is here, and Festival season will soon be with us, kicking off with Are You Listening? on May 8th and 9th in half a dozen venues around Reading. It’s a fantastic chance to catch a variety of great music, as well as getting your step count up! This is the latest track from Snayx, which explores “the aspirational hustle of the digital generation”, a similar theme to that of The Paradox Twin. Catch them at Sub89 on 9th May as part of AYLFest, before they return for Reading Festival in August. https://www.facebook.com/SNAYX
6. The Dynatronics – Vibraphone –
The vibraphone is a sort of aluminium xylophone, once quite popular with jazz musicians (Lionel Hampton played one with the Benny Goodman band at the seminal 1938 Carnegie Hall concert). This latest single from The Dynatronics extols the joys of the instrument, though sadly doesn’t feature one. They played a great set at the Face Bar last week. https://www.instagram.com/
thedynatronics
7. The Paradox Twin – Null the System –
Danny Sorrell is the creative force behind The Paradox Twin, who have been been on the Wokingham-based White Star Records label since 2018. This track is from the eagerly anticipated third album, A Romance of Many Dimensions, which explores the blurring between the real world and our digital existence. We look forward to seeing them live on the main stage at Wokingham Festival in August. https://www.theparadoxtwin.com/
8. Purple Grace – Narcissist –
Didcot-based Purple Grace have evolved since we last saw them play in 2023, with a new bass player and vocalist, and have moved in more of an alt-rock direction. This is their latest single, and the contributions of the new members are well to the fore, from the catchy bass intro to the
confident vocals, complemented by the keys and great guitar riffs. Catch them live on the Marquee stage at Wokingham Festival in August! https://purplegrace.co.uk/
9. shallowdaze – Need to Know –
shallowdaze had their first gig in January this year, and we saw them last month at the Purple Turtle, where they made a very good impression. This is their debut single, Need to Know, and is a good example of their post-punk dreamy shoegaze sound. They also have a song coming soon about a meeting in the Purple Turtle itself! Only The Poets also have a song referring to that venue, do you know of any others? https://linktr.ee/shallowdaze
10. Tomorrow Bird – Crossroads –
Simon Driscoll and Jen Bird, better known as Tomorrow Bird, have been producing fine acoustic Americana together for the best part of a decade, and this latest single is a fine addition to their discography. It’s inspired by the story of blues pioneer Robert Johnson supposedly meeting the Devil at the crossroads at midnight to exchange his soul for musical success. Look out for them gigging in the Reading area! https://tomorrowbird.com/
You can listen to all the songs featured in our Spotify playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday
