Beat Connection

Important information

Doors: Friday 24th March 2023 18:30pm - Saturday 25th March 02:00am

Ends: Saturday 25th March 2023 15:00pm - Sunday 26th March 2023 02:00am

Additional information

Heavy Pop & Dork team up again for now a weekend of music, dancing and togetherness: BEAT CONNECTION __________________________________________ FRI 24TH and SAT 25TH MARCH Venue: Saint Laurence Church, Reading FRI: DOORS 6:30 PM till late  |  SAT: DOORS 3 PM till late AGES: 14+ (Under 18s with an adult) TICKETS - Day and Weekend Tickets On Sale Now. Line-up &  timings are subject to change Entry subject to venue capacity + ticket company booking fee - FRIDAY ARTISTS- - Headliner: Porridge Radio - "spiky, strange and uncompromisingly brilliant" The Guardian Back to the radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDw9nTQKGd4 We are happy to announce that Porridge Radio will headline the Friday night (24th) of Beat Connection. The band are one of the most vital new voices in alternative music, having gone from being darlings of the DIY underground to one of the UK’s most thrilling bands in the space of less than a year. Their barbed wit, lacerating intensity and potent blend of art-rock, indie-pop and post-punk sounds like little else around, and led their 2020 album Every Bad to make the nominees list for the coveted Mercury Music Prize. The band last year released their second album 'Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky' to further acclaim. - Lime Garden - "Brighton’s new guitar heroes " NME Bitter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1kPfF1VObE Sliding from one music genre into another – from indie to surf to disco – they play with noise in a completely fearless and youthful way, unique to the chaotic energy of their close-knit group. Named as one of NME’s top 100 artists for 2022 and will be playing at U.S festival SXSW soon. - Baba Ali (late-night guests - "Stevie Nicks, Sleaford Mods and Fela Kuti are among the touchstones for this free-ranging New Yorker’s adventures in sound" The Guardian Burn Me Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrSGMhitMO8 BBC 6Music Playlist endorsed Anglo-American Indie electro duo Baba Ali will support and they are an act with one foot firmly placed on the dance floor! - Adam & Elvis - Currency: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPV7X-ccKN0 Reading/London-based 'Frustrated Pop' band Adam & Elvis support. The band has been championed by BBC Radio legend Steve Lamacq and are known on the local circuit for always putting on a show. - This. - Lo Fi Indie band based in Reading. - Tracks & Grooves DJ - Derry born and Reading based multi-genre party DJ will be entertaining us all in the early hours. - SATURDAY ARTISTS- - Headliner: Billie Marten - "From the moment she surfaced, we knew Marten was a unique talent" - The Line Of Best Fit Nothing But Mine:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXDHKhEU1No The Folk-Indie singer/songwriter will headline Saturday night and she joins our previously announced Mercury prize-nominated Friday headliners Porridge Radio. Billie Marten will be releasing her new album Drop Cherries in April and which is the follow-up to critically-lauded 2021 album Flora Fauna which received praise from the likes of CLASH (9/10), The Line Of Best Fit, Uncut, NME, Dork, The Independent, Gigwise (all 4* reviews). She's an exceptional talent and we are excited to have her on the bill. - Gwenifer Raymond - Acclaimed instrumental singer-songwriter and revered guitarist Gwenifer joins our bill. - Cowboyy - "Rhythmic shredders running wild off an outlaw spirit"  NME Tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz6esQvnfw8 Art pop, math rock four-piece cowboy influenced by 00s bands like Bloc Party. - Liam O'Brien - Reading's Liam returns to perform a solo set for the first time in years. - Damaged by Circus Elephants - An Indie band inspired by Bombay Bicycle Club and more. - The Mirror Pictures - The Mirror Pictures are a 4 piece indie punk band from Reading, Berkshire who have been supported by BBC 6Music and Radio X. - AK/DK (late-night guest) "krautrock and new wave overtones invoking Kraftwerk and New Order." Louder Than War Maxwell's Waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84s-K7TrJaY Brighton's two drum synth duo return to Reading following their last appearance at Are You Listening? Festival a few years ago; and we dare you to not be able to dance to their electro drumbeats. - KEG (late-night guest) - "muscular art-punk statements from Brighton upstarts" NME Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ5ril_1DIo The Brighton 7-piece are making waves and are hottly tipped in the music press. The band are knowing for their fun live shows and have toured with the like of Squid and PVA. - Tracks & Grooves DJ - Derry born and Reading based multi-genre party DJ will be entertaining us all in the early hours. Previous Beat Connection artists include: BC Camplight, Jane Weaver, Matt Maltese, Peaness, JOHN, Talk Show, The Lounge Society and more. --- For all listings, go to: heavypop.co.uk Socials: @heavypoppromo --- Support Heavy Pop by becoming a Friend with Benefits: heavypop.co.uk/friends-with-benefits