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Our Ten Best Acts to See At BoomTown 2019

Published

7 years ago

April 7, 2019

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Boomtown is one of the maddest festivals of our time, and never fails to pack a punch with its line-up. Notorious for its raucous approach to the festival scene, it always draws a huge amount of attention for its alternative stages that give it a village or better said town feel and a sense of unity for the festival-goers. If you’ve gone before, you’ll know that it’s one of the most incredible shows on the planet, and this year’s going to be greater than ever. Here’s why:

1. Ms Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter and rapper, known for being a member of Fugees, and for her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won many awards and broke several sales records. Raised mostly in South Orange, New Jersey, Hill began singing with her music-oriented family during her childhood. In high school, Hill was approached by Pras Michel for a band he started, which his friend, Wyclef Jean, soon joined. They renamed themselves the Fugees and released the albums Blunted on Reality (1994), and the Grammy Award–winning The Score (1996), which sold six million copies in the U.S. Hill rose to prominence with her African-American and Caribbean music influences, her rapping and singing, and her rendition of the hit “Killing Me Softly”. Her tumultuous romantic relationship with Jean led to the split of the band in 1997, after which she began to focus on solo projects.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) remains Hill’s only solo studio album. It received critical acclaim showcasing a representation of life and relationships and locating a contemporary voice within the neo soul genre. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has sold approximately eight million copies there. This included the singles “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (also a number one), “Ex-Factor” (became her biggest solo hit in UK), and “Everything Is Everything”. At the 41st Grammy Awards, the record earned her five awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. During this time, she won several other awards and became a common sight on the cover of magazines.

2. Prophets of Rage
Prophets of Rage is an American rap rock supergroup. Formed in 2016, the group consists of three members of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave (bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk), two members of Public Enemy (DJ Lord and rapper Chuck D), and rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill.

3. The Streets
The Streets are an English alternative hip hop music group from Birmingham, England, led by the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner.

The project released five studio albums: Original Pirate Material (2002), A Grand Don’t Come for Free (2004), The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (2006), Everything Is Borrowed (2008), Computers and Blues (2011), an internet-only album Cyberspace and Reds (2011) and a string of successful singles in the mid-2000s, including “Has It Come to This?”, “Fit But You Know It”, “Dry Your Eyes”, “When You Wasn’t Famous” and “Prangin’ Out”.

4. Chronixx
Jamar McNaughton (born 10 October 1992), popularly known as Chronixx, is a Jamaican reggae artist. His stage name replaced the name “Little Chronicle” which he was given because of his father, the singer “Chronicle”. Chronixx and his music has been branded as a “Reggae Revival”, alongside other reggae musicians including Alborosie, Dre Island, Jah Bouks, Jah9, Protoje, Kelissa, Jesse Royal, Keznamdi and Kabaka Pyramid. His lyrical content revolves around themes of anti-war, romantic declarations and resiliency.

5. Chase and Status
Chase & Status are an English electronic music duo composed of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). In addition, MC Rage assists the group when they perform DJ and live sets while Andy Gangadeen is the drummer when the band performs live. The duo are from London, and formed in 2003 after meeting at university in Manchester. The duo have since released four studio albums as well as collaborating with major artists such as Plan B, CeeLo Green, Rihanna, Example, Dave Ball (The Grid), and Tinie Tempah. They run the independent record label MTA Records.

6. Groove Armada
Groove Armada are an English electronic music duo, composed of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They achieved chart success with their singles “I See You Baby” and “Superstylin'”. The group has released eight studio albums, four of which have charted in the UK Albums Chart top 50.

7. Slaves
Slaves are an English punk rock duo formed in 2012 in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, consisting of Laurie Vincent (vocals, guitar, and bass) and Isaac Holman (vocals, drums, and trumpet). Their music has been described as “British punk with harsh bluesy garage riffs”.

8. UB40
UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. They have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984 were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. UB40 have sold over 70 million records worldwide. The ethnic make-up of the band’s original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni parentage.

Their hit singles include their debut “Food for Thought” and two Billboard Hot 100 number ones with “Red Red Wine” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band’s version of “I Got You Babe”. Their two most successful albums, Labour of Love (1983) and Promises and Lies (1993), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. UB40 and the English ska band Madness hold the record for most weeks spent by a group in the UK singles chart during the 1980s, with 214 weeks each.

9. Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa are an American hip-hop girl group formed in 1985. The group was originally comprised of Cheryl James, Sandra Denton, and Latoya Hanson, before Hanson was replaced with Deidra Roper. They were signed to Next Plateau Records and released their single “Push It” on March 8, 1987, which hit number one in 3 countries. Their debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious sold more than a million copies worldwide, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum-status. Their fourth album Very Necessary sold over 7 million copies worldwide, making it the highest-selling album by a female rap act in history.

Salt-N-Pepa have sold over 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling female rap acts of all time. This group was nominated and received the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, making them one of the first female rap acts to win a Grammy Award along with Queen Latifah who won during that same year. Their success in rap and hip-hop culture has earned them the honorific title “The First Ladies of Rap and Hip Hop”.

10. Carl Cox
Carl Cox is a British house and techno record producer and DJ. In the 1980s, Cox became a mainstage DJ in the electronica industry. He has performed at numerous clubs and events worldwide and has served as a monthly DJ for BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix. He has hosted a residency known as ‘Music is Revolution’ every summer season at the world renowned nightclub, Space Ibiza, from 2001 to 2016.

He runs the record label, Intec Digital, which was founded in 1999 as Intec Records. Cox also had his own radio show, entitled ‘Global’. In 2017 he announced that from February onwards he would no longer work on the show. He has featured his own ‘Carl Cox & Friends’ stage at many festivals, such as Ultra Music Festival, The BPM Festival and Tomorrowland.

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Lib Dem plan to expand free bus travel for disabled in Reading voted down

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2025

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Labour MPs for Reading, Matt Rodda, Olivia Bailey and Yuan Yang voted against a Liberal Democrat amendment which would have expanded free bus travel for disabled people.

Reading Liberal Democrats say that our local Labour MPs have “failed disabled people” by making it harder for them to get fair and accessible transport. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon’s amendment on the 11th September, sought to allow disabled bus pass holders to travel without time constraints, addressing concerns that existing limitations hinder access to employment, education, and essential services.

Despite significant cross-party support, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 300 to 69. Labour MPs from various regions, including Reading, Liverpool, Newcastle, Lambeth, Derby, and Amber Valley, voted against the proposal. Local Liberal Democrat groups have criticized these Labour MPs, accusing them of failing to support disabled constituents.

Reading Lib Dems say that Labour has “simply turned their back” on disabled people by voting against the amendment. The Liberal Democrats have also called on the Government to reverse their ‘bus tax’ by bringing the bus fare cap back down to £2 from £3.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Reading Borough Council, Councillor James Moore, said:

“The Labour Party has failed disabled people in our community.

“Instead of giving people in often difficult circumstances the opportunity to access the transport they need, Labour has turned its back on them.

“The Government keeps saying they want to help get more disabled people into work, but then won’t even help them get the public transport they need.

“By voting against giving greater access to transport for disabled people, this Labour government is failing to deliver the change people are crying out for.”

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Uber in Reading: A Service That’s “Not Allowed” but Always Around

Published

4 weeks ago

September 13, 2025

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Here’s the funny thing about Uber in Reading: officially, it doesn’t exist here. The Reading Borough Council hasn’t given Uber a local licence, so technically the service isn’t allowed. And yet… open the app and you’ll almost always find a car just a few minutes away.

In fact, there are thought to be around 600 licensed drivers who could be working in or around Reading at any given time. If you’re here now, try it — check the app. You’ll see what I mean. I book rides this way all the time.

So how does that work if Uber isn’t licensed locally? It comes down to geography and the way licences operate. Drivers don’t have to live where they’re licensed. Many are registered in nearby areas like Slough, London or South Oxfordshire, and they’re free to pick up jobs in Reading. We even spoke to a few drivers who live here but are licensed in Southampton — as soon as they leave home to start their shift, they’re allowed to accept rides from anywhere. And that’s exactly how Reading stays on their map.

For passengers, it’s hard not to see this as a win. Reading has plenty of taxis and private hire firms, but Uber brings that familiar mix of convenience, clear pricing, and app-based ease that so many people now expect. Visitors are often surprised by how quickly they can get a ride here, despite the “unofficial” status.

Of course, not everyone is happy about it. Local taxi operators have long argued that it’s unfair and that the rules should be enforced to protect homegrown businesses. And there’s no denying it creates a bit of a grey area — riders get the benefit of Uber, but it’s happening outside of the council’s official system.

Still, the reality is simple: if you’re in Reading and need to get somewhere, Uber is just a tap away. Whether it’s a driver heading out from Maidenhead or one leaving their driveway in Reading with a Southampton licence, chances are someone will be ready to pick you up and get you where you need to go.

Additionally, it’s just a matter of time before Uber is allowed here.

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Should RBC Incorporate Theale, Pangbourne, Calcot, Purley-on-Thames, and Tilehurst?

Published

1 month ago

September 1, 2025

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The question of whether Reading Borough Council (RBC) should incorporate nearby areas such as Theale, Pangbourne, Calcot, Purley-on-Thames, and Tilehurst has been a topic of local discussionin the streets and local forum. While on the surface it might seem practical to expand Reading’s administrative boundaries, a closer look at infrastructure, education, and community services suggests that maintaining these areas within West Berkshire is the preferable option.

Population and Demographics

Reading currently has an estimated 178,196 residents across 67,700 households (2024), making it a dense, urban area. In comparison, West Berkshire has an estimated 163,367 residents in 66,658 households (2021 Census), with a population density of 232 people per square kilometer. Theale, Pangbourne, Calcot, Purley-on-Thames, and Tilehurst benefit from being part of this more dispersed and rural district, which allows for a better quality of life in terms of space, community, and accessibility.

Education

Education is another area where West Berkshire outperforms Reading. Secondary schools in West Berkshire have a higher rate of Good or Outstanding ratings at 92%, compared to 80% in Reading. Primary school ratings also favour West Berkshire, reflecting the district’s strong commitment to educational excellence. Incorporating these areas into Reading could risk administrative disruption in schools that are currently performing well.

Infrastructure and Services

West Berkshire also leads Reading in terms of infrastructure and public services:

Roads: Only 3% of West Berkshire’s roads require maintenance, lower than Reading’s proportion.
Children’s Services: West Berkshire’s services were rated as Good, while Reading’s received a “Requires Improvement” rating.
Sports Facilities: The district provides more sports facilities per 100,000 residents, supporting community health and recreation.
Recycling: West Berskshire collects glass recycling at the kerbside.

Residents of the areas under consideration already rely on Reading for shopping, entertainment, and rail travel to London. However, these practical links do not outweigh the advantages of remaining in West Berkshire’s jurisdiction.

Urban vs. Rural Characteristics

Reading is a dense, urban borough with a high concentration of its population. West Berkshire, on the other hand, is largely rural with dispersed communities, though it has population centres in Newbury and Thatcham and a large suburban area adjoining Reading. This rural character, combined with strong services, makes West Berkshire a better fit for these communities.

Conclusion

While RBC is a dynamic and growing borough, incorporating Theale, Pangbourne, Calcot, Purley-on-Thames, and Tilehurst is not recommended. West Berkshire currently provides superior infrastructure, higher educational standards, and a well-serviced rural environment. Keeping these areas within West Berkshire ensures residents continue to enjoy these advantages without unnecessary disruption.