A READING band is tuning up its ukuleles after releasing a new album last month.
Rocket Kings, a five piece “uke pop” group, finally launched Everyday Adventures after the pandemic has delayed its release.
Formed in 2016, the band was put together by ukulele player Dave Stewart, who writes a lot of the songs.
He initially put a few tunes and demos together for fun and booked a gig in before finding other band members.
The group features Greg Forys on bass, David Heath on drums, and Dave Stewart, Jess Tuthill and Bex Crossland on both vocals and ukulele.
Due to originally release the album in Summer last year, band member Dave said the group is “very pleased” to reveal the 13-track collection.
“We went to record it in the studio and we ended up just carrying on recording more and more until we eventually made it into an album,” he said.
“We really enjoyed it going to South Hill Park to piece it all together and we had it all ready to go last year until the pandemic hit.
“And we’ve already film a couple of music videos for the tracks Green Zone and one of the bands favourite songs, Rendezvous, which is the opening track and we just love it because it’s a song that resonates with us all.”
Dave explained Rocket Kings soley perform for pleasure and entertainment.
“We’re very much about playing our music for pure enjoyment and we love to have as much fun as possible at our gigs,” he said.
Looking back on the groups memories, Dave said the best moments are when the audience sing-a-long to the songs.
“We really appreciate the little moments like, for example, when we played our song Space Camp at the Global Cafe a few years back, I got all the audience involved in the song and it was so exciting to hear them all sing back to us.”
Rocket Kings has performed regular monthly shows in and around the Reading area.
And most recently, the five-piece band took to the stage at Readipop Festival, the Castle Tap and the Oxjam fundraiser event earlier this year.
Dave, who also teaches ukulele full time, said the band is “raring” to get back into the swing of regular gigs again.
“It’s been lovely to have so many people come out and watch us perform in the shows we’ve done so far since the lockdown,” he said.
“We’ve enjoyed playing all of our songs off our new album as well as our old EP tracks and we can’t wait to continue entertaining crowds over the coming months.”
Rocket Kings will next be performing at Fisherman’s Cottage, on Kennet Side, Reading, on Friday, November 12.
And on Saturday, December 18 the band will take to the mic at The Weather Station, on Eldon Terrace, Reading.
To listen to Everyday Adventures, visit: rocketkings.hearnow.com
For updates on future gigs, follow the Rocket Kings Facebook page.
