Rufus Ruffcut Xmas Bash with Mince Pies
2025-12-20 20:30 (Europe/London)

Low-Key Sunday
2026-01-18 15:30, 2026-03-22 15:30
Expect a more relaxed couple of sets of music..it’s Low-Key. And it will be less structured than most of our evening live music events.
In keeping with the nature of Low-Key Sundays, we list performers in alphabetical order.
It IS NOT an open mic event.

The definition of low-key:
low-key
/ləʊˈkiː/
adjective: low-key
not elaborate, showy, or intensive; modest or restrained.

Jazz with Stuart Henderson, Simon Price and guests
2026-01-25 15:30
Lineup:
Stuart Henderson – trumpet
Simon Price – drums
Piers Green – sax
Pete Billington – keys
Stuart Barker – bass

Jazz Singers’ Night
2026-01-28 20:00, 2026-05-27 20:00, 2026-06-24 20:00, 2026-07-22 20:00, 2026-08-26 20:00, 2026-09-23 20:00, 2026-10-28 20:00, 2026-11-25 20:00

The Sidemen
2026-03-07 20:30

Jazz Singers' Night
2026-03-25 20:00, 2026-04-22 20:00

Jazz with Stuart Henderson, Simon Price and guests
2026-03-29 15:30, 2026-05-31 15:30, 2026-06-28 15:30, 2026-07-26 15:30, 2026-08-30 15:30, 2026-09-27 15:30, 2026-10-25 15:30

Phil Braithwaite & Friends | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-02 21:00 - 23:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
Phil Braithwaite is a composer, guitarist and author currently based in London.
Composer, Phil has written music for TV, adverts and commercials all over the world. Credits include American Horror Story, Harley Davidson, Ocado, Crystal Palace Football Club and many more.
An up-and-coming film composer. Composed the score for the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival nominated ‘Nan’ and ‘Buster’. Currently working on his first feature film ‘Everything After’.
Guitarist for the internationally renowned violin virtuoso Vanessa-Mae, other credits include Shane Filan, Westlife, X-Factor, The Game, Four Tops, Jonas Blue and many more.
Author of two critically acclaimed guitar tuition books. Adventurous Open Chords for the creative guitarist and Developing Phrasing and Solo’s for guitar.
After struggling at school, Phil got an opportunity to study music at Coventry University. During that time he practiced guitar between 8-15 hours every day. This period in his early 20s changed his life. Upon completing his degree he achieved the two highest grades the university had ever awarded, 95% and 98% for his final performances. Phil attained a First Class Honours Degree in Music and Professional Practice. Following these achievements, Phil was offered a scholarship from the record label EMI to study the master performance course at Tech Music Schools in London. Upon graduation, Phil was given the award for the ‘Best Performer’ on the course.
At 23 Phil became the youngest university lecturer in the UK, lecturing at The Academy of Music and Sound in Southampton and Birmingham as well as Coventry University.
In 2011, wrote his first book ‘Adventurous Open Chords for the Creative Guitarist’. This book was really well received by the guitar community and picked as one of the Best Guitar Tomes by Guitarist Magazine. He followed this book up two years later with his second book ‘Developing Phrasing and Solos for Guitar’. This was again picked up by Guitarist Magazine as one of their Best Guitar Tomes in 2013.
Since then Phil has toured the world as guitarist, session musician and musical director for some of the biggest names in the music world as well as performing on major TV and Radio shows. Also featuring on ex-Westlife singer Shane Filan’s top 10 debut solo album, playing guitar, ukelele and backing vocals.
Guests to be confirmed.

Stuart Maxwell's Blues Raiders | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-03 15:00 - 17:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
An evening of lively Blues music with vocalist and harmonica player Stuart Maxwell.

David Gray & John Dunsterville | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
Join us for an evening of blues, rock and silliness!

The Acetones | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-04 17:00 - 19:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
The Acetones (pronounce it how you like) are a London 4 piece Blues Band, playing standard blues songs with an individual twist. The band consists of: Pete (lead guitar & vocals), Steve (drums), John (rhythm guitar, harmonica & vocals), Carlos (bass). They have all played in various recording and live bands in London over many years, with recordings being released in different genres.
Steve is a regular Cajon player at the Retreat for Low Key Sundays.

Rufus Ruffcut | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-04 21:00 - 23:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
Great musicians playing an eclectic mix of blues and soul.

Ma Bessie & her Pigfoot Band | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-05 13:00 - 15:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
Classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years with a selection of original songs and hand-picked covers.

Hybrid P.I.G | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-05 21:00 - 23:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
Folk-rock with original material, rock and pop covers and even a little community singing.

Acoustic Beatles Shambles | The Village Easter Festival
2026-04-06 15:00 - 17:00 | The Retreat Pub, 8 St John's Street, Reading, RG1 4EH, United Kingdom
This gig is part of The Village Easter Festival.
A group of musicians who put equal emphasis on “acoustic”, “Beatles” and “shambles”. A wonderfully uplifting sing-a-long experience.
Check them out on Facebook!
The band
Lawrie Wright
Carlton Taylor
Matt Girling
Peter Wright
