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Festival Alternatives
So it’s Reading Festival this weekend. Being charitable sorts, Josaka previews some alternative local nights that you might like to catch if you’d rather not get caught up in a portaloo fire or a chav riot…
Doesn’t it always come round so quickly? The unofficial end of the festival season is upon us, and if you are unimpressed with the line-up at Richfield Avenue this year or were unwilling to remortgage your parents’ house to buy yourself a ticket, there are plenty of offerings in and around the town centre to keep your live music glands dripping.
Wednesday 26 August
Off to a flyer with Vices headlining the BBC Introducing night at the Oakford Social Club. This is their first show back after recording their album so expect some new tunes and long hair. Ably supported by Dead Legs.
Thursday 27 August
Things really start to kick into gear on Thursday with a couple of warm-up parties at two venues strategically placed on route from the station to the festival site.
First up an all-dayer at The Jazz Club under the arches on Caversham Road beginning at 1pm and showcasing (deep breath) Robbie Williams (not that one), Johnny Arrow and The Cheap Day Returns, Digby’s Yard, Gravity Circus, PRDCTV, Jets Against Giants, BoyDidGood and Vienna Ditto.
Also on Thursday but starting at a more reasonable hour (8pm we believe), The Northwestern headline a night curated by Reading beard worshippers The Wookies at Plug n Play. The Northwestern is the singer and drummer from The Hope of The States’ new band, and The Wookies say that they are “bloody awesome”. The hirsute hosts are also on the bill along with Sixty Watt Bayonets, of whom Reading is justly proud being as they are the only locally based band to be playing at the festival itself. Heartfelt congratulations to them – fully deserved in Josaka’s opinion.
If you don’t fancy either of those, then Black & White Music bring us a DJ set from The Smiths’ Mike Joyce at the Oakford Social Club. The event is free entry, and the line-up also includes local garage rockers The Circus Sands – who are rather good, as well as the charming Alphabet Backwards from Oxford. BBQ food will be available in the daytime at the front courtyard as well as other treats, and the thing doesn’t finish until 4am.
And as if you needed even more choice, there is a very special appearance at Pitcher and Piano from The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band
Friday 28 August
Things calm down a little on Friday, but Global Café host a barrage of bands in their little bohemian corner of London Street. Laz of ReadiRockRevolution presents Amy’s Ghost, The Fabulous Laggards and Mark Adler, along with a few more acts sprinkled in there too. Guaranteed plenty of Pink Floyd and stoner rock in between live acts too, if previous nights with Laz are anything to go by
Saturday 29 August
Black & White Music have really taken over the Oakford this weekend, presenting Magistrates on Saturday night, who are playing at Reading Festival the following day (and presumably will have played Leeds previously. Catch them here in case they’re too knackered to play at the festival).
At The Butler on Chatham Street, ReadiRockRevolution present Mortdelamer, Familiar Grounds, Jagged Lexico, Flame to Fire and more more more. Apparently.
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Sat 29th August@The BUTLER, Chatham st, pretty much town centre
just b4 Face bar, where emo kids go...we dont....
from 6pm till late...
so far acts confirmed
-Mortdelamer
- Familiar Grounds
- Jagged Lexicon
- Flame to fire
on Sunday 30th August
- Graham of No Connection
- Chris Lambert
- Sabbata(TBC)
- Rames n co
more tbc
RRR
the Butler
Chatham St
Reading
RG1 7JF