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Too Many Gigs!!!

Posted: Fri, 25 Sep 2009

There is so much happening in Reading over the next week or so that Josaka is at a loss for how to cover it all! Only one thing for it – ROUND-UP!

Seriously, Berkshire is buzzing at the moment, there are some seriously good bands playing over the next ten days or so around here. We’ve been inundated with press releases from excited promoters proclaiming to have booked some of their best line-ups, and although we all know that promoters are always prone to hyperbole, this time we at Josaka are inclined to agree.

Friday 25 September sees local heavyweights MidiMidis and JetsAgainstGiants cause a ruckus in what is guaranteed to be a full Rising Sun Arts Centre. These boys know exactly what to do to get the weekend rocking, and with quality support from Jay Newton (of Heartwear Process), you’d be pushed to find a better place to begin your weekend

Local Label Broken Tail Records recently teamed up with Josaka to release hair-prog fivesome The Wookies’ EP Sparks (which is currently selling quicker than the proverbial hot ones) and to celebrate they are throwing a party at the Oakford Social Club on Sunday 27 September. Supported by power-pop funsters Johnny Arrow and The Cheap Day Returns and Brit-Antipodean Miner’s Club, this will do well satiate that Sunday night thirst for just that little bit more weekend.

Hmmm…time for decisions on Tuesday 29 September, you’ve got two options. Do you fancy girl-fronted nineties tinged punky-pop from The Joy Formidable, who seemingly can’t get enough of Reading after playing a blinding set at the Festival last month? They’re supported by Tripwires (who had a slot at the Festival in 2008) at the Oakford Social Club and are expecting to pack the place out.

Or perhaps you’d rather head to Plug n Play to sample South Africa’s biggest selling band The Parlotones, who apparently “merge innovative and authentic ideas into a comprehensive sound, which lends itself to mammoth live performances, the likes of which audiences have rarely seen.” Sounds good eh? They’re supported by sexy rock’n’rollsters The Circus Sands and The Charlie Parkers, who have recently converted to a 3-piece format over the summer, it says here. Jemma Willard opens up this one.

Who’s planning these things? Two massive gigs on the same Tuesday night? Difficult decisions to be made by all you discerning gig-goers here!

There’s only one choice on 1 October, meanwhile, and lest it be said that Josaka be too Reading-biased, then check this out – The Theatre Royal in Windsor hosts The Fall! (The bloody Fall!). Famously anarchic and unpredictable, Mark E Smith and his mates are unmissable.

Saturday 3 October harbours further gig clash (it’s like a festival). On one hand you’ve got Sheffield’s Slow Club at the South Street Arts Centre, who are currently touring their new album ‘Yeah So’, which was recorded almost entirely within the bosom of their hometown, with Richard Hawley’s long term live and studio engineer Mike Timm at the controls.

And then on the other hand, you’ve got local ledge Dan Le Sac, who is playing at the recently launched ‘Mr Blind Pig vs Ibetya’ night at the Oakford. For nigh on 3 years now Mr Le Sac has been producing the melodies to compliment Scroobius Pip’s insightful lyricism, but as this show promises to prove, his solo performance is just as impressive. Supported by My Toys Like Me and Reading mentalists Elliot to Hong Kong.

There’s just so much on at the moment!

The Details

Friday 25 September

Rising Sun Arts Centre
Silver Street, Reading
MidiMidis + JetsAgainstGiants + Jay Newton
8pm, £5 entry

Sunday 27 September

Oakford Social Club
Blagrave Street, Reading
The Wookies + Johnny Arrow & The Cheap Day Returns + Miners Club
7pm, FREE entry

Tuesday 29 September

Oakford Social Club
Blagrave Street, Reading
Joy Formidable + Tripwires
8pm, FREE entry

Tuesday 29 September

Plug n Play Studios
Milford Road, Reading
The Parlotones + The Circus Sands + The Charlie Parkers + Jemma Willard
Tickets £5.50 in advance from http://www.ticketwerk.co.uk