August bank holiday can only mean one thing: festival time.
Not only does Reading enjoy three days of great music, but so does Wokingham.
OK, the Wokingham one is a smaller affair, but it’s a packed programme of terrific music from bands and artists great and small.
We can’t wait.
To whet your appetite, tune into the RaW Sounds Today playlist. 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.
Spriggan Mist – Lair of Isambard
This Bracknell-based band are a local favourite and this year their fame has been spreading as they have wowed crowds at festivals around the country including HRH Prog, Cambridge Rock Festival and Weyfest.
Next week, they return to Wokingham Festival and, although the band have played here before, it’s the first time for new singer Fay Brotherhood.
With dance group Jadoo Tribal Dance joining the band too, it should be quite a party with plenty of ‘spriggery pokery’ – https://www.sprigganmist.com/
Aaron Cilia – The Illusion
Aaron has a connection to Spriggan Mist. He’s the son of Baz and Maxine Cilia from the band and is the band’s sound engineer.
He’s also released a solo album and a few singles but he’s never played any of his music live … until now.
He has put together a band of musicians to perform his own music for the first time ever at Wokingham Festival.
You may see a guest or two joining him also so this is likely to be one of those ‘I was there’ moments. Don’t miss that – https://www.facebook.com/AaronCiliaArtist
Curved Air – Back Street Luv
Here’s a song that reached number four in the UK Singles Chart.
It’s from Curved Air, the legendary band led by the iconic Sonia Kristina. They make a return visit to Wokingham Music Club on September 9. – https://www.curvedair.com/
Focus – Hocus Pocus
Here’s another legendary band who have had UK hits such as this one and they will be headlining the Main Trademark Stage at Wokingham Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday 29 – https://focustheband.co.uk/
Kepler Ten – A New Kind of Sideways
It’s the title track from Kepler Ten’s acclaimed album on our White Star Records label. They have only played songs from the album once before so we are excited that we’ll see them at Wokingham Festival – https://www.keplerten.com/
TRIM – Still Waters (Live)
TRIM is a Reading-based band led by singer-songwriter Chris Trim who perform original pop rock songs with a blues and folk feel. The band will be making a welcome return to Wokingham Festival – https://www.facebook.com/christrimmusic
Split the Dealer – Hard to Take (Live Lounge Acoustic Session)
It’s Reading-based Split the Dealer with an acoustic version of his 2022 single performed by Split and guitarist Rory Evans at Northbrook Met Studios in Brighton – https://www.splitthedealer.com/
Papa Truck – Million Miles
Here’s a five-piece band from High Wycombe who perform their own original bluegrass songs. This one is from theirs 2020 album By Your Side. They will be live at Wokingham Festival – https://www.facebook.com/papatruck
A Better Life – Take A Deep Breath
Local producer and musician Phil Daniels, who heads up this electronica collective, says that this title track of their excellent 2021 album will be the last single release from that album with new material to come – https://abetterlifemusic.com/
The Telephones – Pale Saints
Derby-based psychedelic pop rockers with a song from their new album Prosaic Turbulence. It has just been released on Billywitch Records, the offshoot of Wokingham- based, Mega Dodo Records – https://www.facebook.com/TheTelephonesUK