The Reads

The Reads

The Reads are an alternative rock band from north-east Wales in the United Kingdom. They are based in the North West/North Wales area and release music as a group with a six-piece line-up.

Line-up

The band consists of Marcel Delrue on keyboards and programming, Jamie Russell on lead guitar, harmonica and backing vocals, Stuart Bennett on vocals and rhythm guitar, Clare Goddard on bass guitar and lyricist duties, Matty Goddard on drums, and Chris Goddard on backing vocals and percussion.

Debut album

The Reads release their debut studio album, Stories from the Border, in early 2011. The album is produced by Jim Spencer, whose work includes recordings with Oasis, Doves and The Charlatans. Five of the album’s twelve tracks include string and brass arrangements by Joe Duddell, who works with Elbow, and the record is mastered by Frank Arkwright, who has worked with Arcade Fire, The Smiths and Gomez.

Radio attention

The album receives positive local reviews and attracts the attention of BBC Radio Wales. This leads to the track “Orange Days” being named Single of the Week from 16 May 2011, and the band performing a live session at BBC studios in Cardiff on 27 June 2011. Their first single, “Good Omens”, is also named Single of the Week from 1 August 2011. The band also gains further BBC radio play through Jeremy Vine on The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2.