We've always headlined the festival with pro bands, so it's a massive vote of confidence from us to give the top slot to Reading's

[boydidgood]

Although they've only been together two years, they've already attracted considerable attention and we won't be remotely surprised when they get snapped up by a major label. This may be your last chance to see them up close.

[boydidgood] are on MySpace.

Past The Point

Past The Point scored an enormous hit with the crowd last year, despite attacking them with water pistols! Simon, Mark, Chris and Tom have been working hard on both material and new presentation. This, unfortunately, will be their last gig as they scatter to various colleges, so expect some sonic fireworks. More details on their website

Mundane Mondays

Formed in Tadley, Mundane Mondays comprise Joe Brownen on vocals and rhythm guitar, John Huitson on lead, Stevie 'Thunder Fingers' Allwright on Bass and the wonderfully named Zak Shrapnel on drums. Playing indie music with a rock/blues flavour, they've been attracting increasing attention on the local scene with recent gigs at the Face Bar, the Light Lounge and Plug'n'Play. They're on the web here.

Absent Realities

Absent Realities are one of the most musically interesting bands we've heard in a while. Playing their own material, they seem pathologically averse to the obvious whilst subsuming an impressively broad range of influences. The fourpiece includes two brothers but the current line-up came together on a Maestro's Rock Course in '04.

They're on the web here, here and here.

The Desired Effect

Last seen at the festival in 2006, The Desired Effect  have a new drummer. Joining Sam (vocals/guitar) and Woody (vocals/bass) is festival regular Gareth Lee - here playing for his fourth year, albeit with a different band each year. The Desired Effect play indie/punk/ska/pop-rock (according to their MySpace page). We've always liked them and believe that you will enjoy their new and more mature offering this year.

Frottage

Individual members of Frottage have always been involved in organising and crewing the festival and, after we finished the set-up early last year, we decided to fill the spare time with an impromptu set. After a very positive reaction, we've decided to go official. With our own quirky brand of accoustic interpretations featuring strong vocal harmonies, we hope you'll want to start every Saturday evening with a little Frottage.

The Yearning

The Yearning play rock like it was meant to be, with balls and sweat and hair and tatoos. The bass and drums come at you like a bulldozer on nitrox while genuinely uplifting guitars soar and scream. The Law's astonishing vocals can be crushingly powerful but can also switch the mood in an instant to tender intimacy or withering scorn. But what makes this hard-working five-piece special is the sheer passion and energy they bring to their performances, electrifying audiences wherever they appear. Check them out on MySpace.

Swallow This

We first met Swallow This back in '05 when we were blown away with their flamboyant guitar pyrotechnics and old-school metal posturing. With some line-up changes, including Tom Earl taking over the vocal duties, the band have changed up a gear and have just completed a demo CD, recorded at SMF's Duke's Ride Studio. Ben Bennet has been putting some serious work into his guitar technique and the band have found a new weight and purpose. If you loved them two years ago, you should not miss this year's set. They stake their claim in hyperspace like this.

Past The Point

Past The Point, seen here against a rather fetching orange and pink background, are Simon (guitar and vocals), Mark (guitar and vocals), Chris (bass) and Tom (drums). They have a huge range of influences and this is reflected in their ecletic set which includes a killer version of Peter Gunn amongst an impressive range of original material. We hope that they are going to send us some more pictures soon! Surf towards their website

Saved By Zero

Silchester's own Saved By Zero are, by now, festival regulars and their current set reflects their new maturity as musicians. A year of hard work has seen Fae (bass) and Adi (drums) morph into a monolithic foundation for Tom's inspired rock noodling, while vocalist Mia is now officially a rock goddess. A wealth of new material combine with some classic tracks to create an unmissable set. They're are also thouroughly nice people - Behold their webfulness here.

The Backseat Project

Originally Sumthing Krazy, we've know these guys for 18 months now. A three-piece song-writing partnership, they've had to leave the live side of their work on hold for most of this year due to exam committments, but have still found time to develop their material. We caught their stunning debut at Pamber Memorial Hall last year and are very excited by the direction their work is taking. Josie (vocals, guitars and gorgeousness), Dave (guitars and vocals) and Mike (drums and vocals) call themselves alt/punk pioneers and are writing some of the catchiest songs we've heard for a long while. They are, of course, on MySpace.

Sonic Republic

We are fantastically proud to be featuring the mighty Sonic Republic at the top of this year's festival bill. Their unmissable stage performances, thoughtful songwriting and silky-smooth sound have earned them a deserved following on the club scene and converted many people who didn't know what a trip-hop was. Point your google at their website.

Saved By Zero

Saved By Zero Tom from Rope and Widow has teamed up with Matt (guitar), Fae and Adi (bass and drums) and the wonderful Mia on vocal duties for this powerful Silchester-based five-piece. Playing mostly original material, which they describe alluringly as Rock/Ghettotech/Shoegaze^TM, they've set their sights firmly on world domination. They have cyberpresence at http://www.myspace.com/savedbyzerouk and we think they're great.

Pink Liquorice

Narrowly missing the bill for last year's bash, Pink Liquorice (The Pink Liquorice, according to some ugly rumours, but we'll ignore that) have been working hard at their edgy, tingling, agitated post-pop vision and have notched up some significant successes: second place in the Willink Battle of the Bands and getting two gorgeous young women to pose with them in their publicity photos. They've got a great web-site too, at www.pinkliquorice.com... but all I write will be meaningless unless you come and listen to their music.

The Headliners

Not part of your dad's car's interior trim, but a real band with real musicians and everything. They actualy snuck onto last year's bill as the rhythm section of the Blues Band and they asked very nicely if they could come back this year and play their own music. We said "no" but they said they were coming anyway 'coz they beat Pink Liquorice in the Battle of the Bands. Check out their website.

The Desired Effect

After working as a song-writing partnership for several years, The Desired Effect have just started gigging. Three of the nicest blokes you could hope to meet in the business got an enthusiatic reception from a mostly female and clearly adoring audience when we caught them at the Hurst School in May. We don't know how to categorise their music and neither do they - it's skinny white boy indie punk alt rock with a lyrical twist. The obligatory website is here.

Rope and Widow

Rope and Widow live to play rock. They have an impressive selection of original material, in the tradition of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Lynerd Skynerd, as well as blues and rock standards. Although the average age of the band is fifteen, they have been together for eight months and already have a number of gigs under their belt, most recently winning the Burghfield "Battle of the Bands". If you haven't heard them play yet, don't miss this chance.

The B Minors

The B Minors (formally the Wilink School Blues Band) has been around together for about 3 months now and have been impressing audiences wherever they have played. It started when a teacher, Mr. Grindrod, formed a small blues band in the school but has developed into something much bigger and more impressive than he ever imagined. From left to right on the top row are Gareth, Harry, Rachel, Susie, Emma, Ali, and Sharky. Beneath are Paul, Suzy and Sam. The ages range from year ten to sixth-form pupils.

Swallow This....

Swallow This... have achieved an astonishing amount over the brief 8 months of their existence. Playing nearly all original music (citing Zep and Metallica amongst their influences), their brand of dark, brooding metal is complex and genuinely exciting. Real talent serves the music rather than being an end in itself and, if they can maintain the pace, they are soon likely to be attracting national interest. Check out their web site and come and see them for free while you still can!

Right Eye Rush

Right Eye Rush is a dynamic four piece rock band based in Surrey. Developing a strong fan base, gig by gig, they provide the live circuit with a unique, roller coaster of a show with a mix of "in your face" rock songs and immediate and catching melodies penned by band members Matt Price and Dave Sykes. Nothing could have kept Dave from the festival, so we thought we'd better let them play!

The Reptiles

Back again, by popular demand (honestly), The Reptiles have been strutting their stuff since the mid 80s in various line ups, playing 70s rock covers. The current line-up is: Robin Hutchinson (Lead Vocals) - a man of enormous talent, sometimes seen doing his tax returns on stage; Brian Willman (Bass) - what can you say? - he's our very own sex god; Fish (Guitars) - has been playing some form of instrument ever since he was a wee lad, great to watch and a thoroughly nice guy; Ray Doyle (Drummer) - he's a drummer. We should not forget the Spouse Girls: Angie Willman - Keyboard/Tambourine and Backing Vocals; Jane Doyle - Tambourine/Backing Vocals; Ann Hutchinson - Cow Bell and Backing vocals; and Sonia Grout - Backing Vocals.