This Weekend's Events (15th to 31st December)

Hi Everyone

Christmas is lurking in the wings. East 17 have used their download royalties to pay off their credit cards (and maybe, just maybe take care of the gas bill), Noddy Holder has booked next year's holiday and turkeys all over Britain are listening to a non-stop selection of Leonard Cohen and Morrissey whilst hoping that it's all just a nasty rumour put around by the sheepdogs.

Which, in many ways, is somewhat convenient as we have plenty to keep you entertained from new until the end of the year

On Friday, we bring you something different from THE GREEN ROCK RIVER BAND

The Green Rock River Band are a hybrid of old time sounds that universally connects with audiences all over, a sound that has echoed throughout decades of music history, in music hall, Americana, folk tradition and jazz. All this blended with a contemporary sound. Modern songwriting and original arrangements for 21st century audiences wanting to connect with a music that runs a little deeper, a little more primitive than the clean over produced sound of modern folk and pop.

A Green Rock River Band show will promise loud, brash string band music; banjos, fiddles, guitars and washboards all over-scored by melodic trombone and soaring three part harmonies. The band however has always been keen not to box themselves in as a party band. They have always focused on the craft of songwriting and strong arrangements. Sometimes this has led them to write big ‘stamp your feet‘ anthems, at other times they emerge with striking ballads, sensitive songs that reach out to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It’s the universal appeal of their songs that elevates them as one of the UK’s top original folk bands. There is a refreshing grit and dirt to their songs, a sweaty energy that fills up venues with excitement and atmosphere.

Support comes from Dolly and the Clothespegs. Hailing from the “Kennet Delta”, they're what you might call a Riverbilly band. Their repertoire dips into the archive of Alan Lomax and other folk and country classics, as well as self-penned tunes and the odd song or two from an unlikely artist or genre. 

We're open at 8pm and it'll cost you £10 on the door (£7 concessions)

On Saturday, it's time for another BANDORAMA

The third saturday of the month?  The third saturday of the month at a certain venue in Reading? Surely that means another helping of one of the best band nights in town.  Not only will there be an abundance of shizzle, christmas joy and mince pies but also the following musical delights

BEN MARWOOD
The Rising Sun/Club Velocity/Reading legend is back.

His latest album, is definitely one of the best albums of the year.
You should own two copies.  He played the Olympics, is mates with Frank Turner/Beans of Toast/Chris TT.  He really should be played a lot more on national radio.  He also has a great recipe for "Duck a la Banana".  (Gary, is your source reliable)  

NON CANON
You might recognise his face.  First time in Reading as Non Canon.  Debut album release on Xtra Mile Recordings earlier in 2017.

This what said record label website states

"Non Canon exists apart from the story we know and love. A concurrent storyline, a different perspective, the world we experience through someone else's eyes; familiar but insightful for its new dimension.

In another life entirely, Non Canon gathers maelstroms of guitar noise and feeds them with caustic, yelled, (a)stringent sentences, calling himself Oxygen Thief. Having spent ten years deftly swerving expectation at every measure as OT, Non Canon turns things on their head again. He threads cello where there may have been feedback once, places a third chord where two key changes could have lain, and repeats a chorus line where a scream may have broken the silence instead. He's returned to his acoustic beginning, that’s true, but he’s torn that up and refused to retain his previous self-taught lessons.

When recording the self-titled album, all the strings, piano and drums were written on a computer before being sent to musicians to learn and play on recordings. Chris T-T's piano playing stand out on 'Bad Twin', while Ben Marwood and Charlie Barnes (a touring member of Bastille) contributed backing vocals, along with Gareth from My First Tooth playing drums, and the guitarist from Barry’s first ever band playing violin and viola.
Non Canon is a new story, but it’s a story of its own, one that we will soon know and love with its own history, character and setting."

BAND OF HOPE
As requested by Mr Marwood.  From memory this could be their first time round these parts.

Facebook says this.....

Band of Hope are a British indie-folk-rock band from Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Individually they've graced studios and stages with the likes of Mew, Danny & The Champions of the World, Jackie Oates, Ben Marwood, and Sadie & the Hotheads. Together they are an eclectic indie-rock collective, touching on genres such as folk and country while keeping the emphasis on solid song-craft. Extra Mile Recordings artist Ben Marwood has recently recorded a cover of their song Baby You’re A Mess for his latest album, Get Found. The band also featured as the backing band for Neil Halstead of Slowdive’s last solo LP, Palendrome Hunches.

"Causing a stir on both the BBC Introducing circuit as well as the unnaturally vibrant Oxford scene, Band of Hope are experts of dark, inherently tragic country-folk, in the realms of Villagers and the ballads of Jonny Cash." The fourohfive.com

"As his backing band for the new project, Halstead turned to the Wallingford, Oxfordshire musical collective Band Of Hope, a like-minded outfit of rustic English folk rockers." Direct Current

We're open at 8pm, and it'll cost you £10 on the door or £8 in advance from www.wegottickets.co.uk

If you're free on Tuesday, ZAP COMEDY bring you THE WIZARD OF OZ

Don't miss this year’s panto from the Zap Comedy Group. This year The Zap Team in association with Finchies Bar and Volunteers from The Rising Sun Arts Centre will present an epic Christmas production of Dorothy in the Land of OZ. (The Untold Story). Followed by a disco and possibly a visit from Santa. Anything (and I mean anything) is possible. (Matinee also available for local groups)

The Panto begins at 7pm and entry is absolutely FREE!!

Finally on New Year's Eve, we bring the season and the year to a close with the CLUB VELOCITY/BANDORAMA NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

THE MARK II
Local seven piece party band.Made up of very familiar faces.  They blast off a great mix of classic soul and Motown tunes.A must see live band.

CITY SCAFFOLD
Teen three piece blues rock(ers). They really do have it going on.  Great band alert.

DAMIEN A PASSMORE
Living local cowpunk legend.  Sings about Thai Brides, Hillbilly Weddings and Roadkill

We're open at 8pm, and it'll cost you £10 on the door or £8 in advance from www.wegottickets.co.uk (Includes a free glass of punch on arrival
and finger buffet)

That's everything for another weekend and also for 2016, just to remind you first of all, that you can find us at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST  (If you put us in your Google or Sat Nav, we shall magically appear)

Also, there's just to time to say...

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM EVERYBODY AT THE RISING SUN!!

See you all next month!