This weekend is the return of the Are You Listening? festival, one of our favourite events in the year.
There is so much music to enjoy, it’s hard to pick favourites. But we have highlighted some bands we think you will love.
Each week, there are 10 great acts in our playlist, all with a connection to Reading or Wokingham. Tune in for free on Spotify at: bit.ly/rawsoundstoday.
Don’t forget, we’ve got a Facebook group too with some lively banter. Search the social networking site for RaW Sounds Today and join in the fun.
Marisa And The Moths – Just Like Me
We were so impressed with this Reading-based band at Wokingham Festival last year that we were keen to see them again last week when they performed a home town show at Sub89.
It was the opening night of their What Doesn’t Kill You album tour and with the album due for release a few hours after the show it was a night of excitement and celebration.
The set was opened by frontperson Marisa Rodriquez, coming on to perform a song on her own.
How brave is that for the opening song of a new tour?
She was excellent in that song and throughout the set showing what an incredible vocalist and performer she is.
The rest of the band was impressive too, all being excellent musicians and enthusiastic performers who interact so well with each other and with Marisa to create an electricity that feeds into the audience and back again for an intoxicating atmosphere.
If you haven’t seen them yet, the tour is continuing throughout the UK, so have a listen to the album and check out this fast-rising band – https://www.marisaandthemoths.com/
Heartworms – May I Comply
Last year we went along to the Are You Listening? Festival warmup party, headlined by the incredible Dream Wife. It was a brilliant night and we were impressed with the whole line-up but one of the support acts that really grabbed us was Heartworms with an atmospheric set.
This is their last single and it’s another emotional and powerful burst of dark energy, and it’s great to see that they will be coming back this year to play on the festival day this Saturday, May 11 – https://www.facebook.com/heartwormsband
Antony Szmierek – Dance Better
Are You Listening? festival has such a wealth of great artists that we thought we’d feature another and one we haven’t seen before.
Antony from Manchester is one of the headliners this Saturday, May 11, and it’s easy to see why. With his spoken word melodic indie hip hop, he’s gaining quite a reputation – https://linktr.ee/antonyszmierek
Ozric Tentacles – Sploosh
Here’s a classic from this year’s August Bank Holiday Monday headliners of Wokingham Festival, the legendary Ozric Tentacles – https://ozrics.com/
Aaron Cilia – Apocalypse 1 – What Are We Waiting For?
This is from a new epic EP created by local musician/producer, Aaron Cilia – https://www.facebook.com/AaronCiliaArtist
Chalk – Claw
Here’s a band from Belfast performing at the warmup party for Are You Listening? this Friday, May 10 – https://www.facebook.com/chalkbelfast
The Hawkmen – What’s The Worst?
Fun rockabilly pop from a band that visited Reading Face Bar recently for a joyous Club Velocity/New Mind show – http://www.thehawkmen.com/
Sonic Whip – Come On In
A new exciting band from The Netherlands who will be at Wokingham Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday – https://www.sonicwhipband.com/
Tom Webber – Keep Calling
Another quality melodic single from Tom with a great hook that sticks in your brain – https://www.instagram.com/tomwebbermusic
Kyros – Esoterica (Radio Edit)
If you want to hear the awesome full-length version of this song, check out the band’s acclaimed album Mannequin – https://www.kyrosmusic.com/
