For a town on the edge of London (and now even on the Underground map), Reading does well with a number of music festivals it holds. Clearly the internationally renowned Reading Festival is the big one on the calendar although as it moves more into pop territory, it is less appealing to the older more seasoned music lover. Filling that gap is the multi venue festival, Are You Listening?

Now into its tenth year, the festival has grown in statue and reputation as one of the highlights in the town’s year. Over the years we have seen incendiary sets from the likes of Idles and Bob Vylan to early shows by Dream Wife and Black Honey, the latter two bands paying their respects by headlining the Friday night warm up party and Saturday night in the stunning St Lawrence Church this year. With over 60 acts to choose from across nine venues, decisions would need to be made on who to see.

Marisa and the Moths - May 23 Local rising rock stars Marisa and the Moths open proceedings at Sub89 with a consummate set, which after a technical delay demonstrated why they are becoming one of the town’s best exports. The band have a good number of really strong songs that suit Marisa’s impassioned vocals. With album two due to make an appearance soon, 2023 should be a stellar year for the band.

Playing Fields - May 23

Over at the Oakford Social Club. I catch the last song by Playing Fields which has a nice laid back groove to it. I’ve seen Eat Daddy Eat a few times and am a big fan of their late 80s/early 90s mix of indie rock. Seeing Rich wig out on his guitar is always a pleasure to watch.

Eat Daddy Eat - May 23 There’s a massive queue over at Sub89 and by the time we get in, we’ve missed the first ten minutes of Coach Party’s set. It’s heaving in there and their forthcoming Queens of the Stone Age support slots are well deserved. They have got loads of big tunes that should see them moving into the field currently occupied by the likes of Wolf Alice.

Coach Party - May 223 The Facebar is on the edge of the town and can easily be forgotten about by the general gig going public, but it is one of the town’s best venues with a truly eclectic range of artists performing there. By the time we arrive, talk of the town Lambrini Girls are already performing to a rammed room. Invoking the spirit of riot grrrl, lead singer Phoebe spends a large chunk of the set in the crowd and hanging off the lighting rig. The songs are short sharp visceral punches to the head and are some of the most invigorating punk rock blasts of energy you will hear all weekend. They’ve already got a support slot at Iggy’s Crystal Palace Park gig with the likes of Generation Sex and Blondie and look like they should take the scene by storm.

Lambrini Girls - May 23 I knew nothing about Deijuvhs before today, but what a discovery. Mixing drill and jungle with punk and metal, they make a ferocious sound. They have an incredible amount of energy and it does not take long for their singer to be in the middle of crowd. Back on stage he pushes both his guitarist and bass player into the crowd where they perform in the raucous melee that has erupted. I cannot say how much I enjoyed watching and photographing this set. Long may the chaos and beats continue.

Deijuvhs - May 23 Pet Needs have been making waves recently and a support slot with Frank Turner was well deserved. They are heading to the US soon which can only lead to greater things. Musically we are in earnest anthemic punk rock tunes with plenty of energy which go down well with the bouncing audience. Credit to the lads for quite literally selling their merchandise out of the back of a van.

Pet Needs - May 23 Final act of the night is Black Honey over at the impressive St Lawrence Church. I have seen the band several times since their debut appearance at Reading Festival in 2015. Early single ‘Spinning Room’ with its spaghetti western guitar has remained a firm favourite of mine. Tonight, the crowd is far larger and with three albums to their name, the band have a wealth of material to choose from. Songs from the new album dominate the set but they go down well. Sadly, whilst I was at the front of the stage for the set. my friends left early as the sound at the rear of the venue was not great which is a shame as it was a cracking set.

Black Honey - May 23 And so ended another fantastic Are You Listening? This is a festival that is going from strength to strength with its pleasing mix of local acts and more well known national names. Here’s to the next ten years.