Pop Classics Record Shop, Reading
Pop Classics Record Shop, Reading - Sunday 15th February 2026.
Because we now have lots of lovely merch to sell (CD’s, vinyl, T-shirts) we have recently embarked on playing a few in-store gigs at select record shops. We do our ‘skiffle’ set-up (with Ted just playing stand-up snare) and these gigs tend to be real good fun and great promo.
Today we’re at Pop Classics, a stockist of new and second-hand vinyl in Reading.
Ted arrives to pick me (and the PA!) up on the day and it’s absolutely hammering it down with rain! Just what we need! We manage to get everything we need in the car. We’re heading over early to give me time to set the PA up and ‘take control’.
After being a little unsure of which is the correct door at the back of the shop we bang on the door but no-one answers! We’ve already been told that owner Damian will not be there today (family crisis) but his daughters will be on hand to help. Ted and I walk round the front. The girls greet us enthusiastically and apologise for not hearing us banging on the back door. It is a record shop after all and there is music playing. We’ll let them off!
We load in and are told we can leave the car exactly where it is, right outside the back door. Result!
There’s only a small area in the corner of the shop to set up in but we’re travelling light (just one PA speaker!) and I begin to set about making everything fit in and set up. Ted goes off to get coffee! Much needed!
After moving a few record boxes we work out that we have enough room and all the microphones etc all get set up.
Rusty and Buzz arrive soon after, squeeze in to set up and head off for more coffees! Eddie is the last to arrive.
A quick soundcheck and we’re done. A nice easy set up with no problems. We even have to tell Buzz to turn up! That really is a first!
The record collectors amongst us (that’s most of us actually!) proceed to get stuck into looking through the racks as we await the stage time. The wonderful staff at the shop are happy to give us freebies or discounts on what we’re buying, we don’t take the mickey though. We’re happy to just be playing and promoting our albums, picking up records for our collections is just an added bonus.
Stage time comes and the shop has filled up nicely with people browsing the records and enjoying some live music on a Sunday afternoon. It’s so lovely to see so many familiar faces amongst the crowd. There’s a lot of people hanging around outside too, watching and listening.
We proceed to inform everyone that we are selling (and happy to sign!) copies of both of our albums (CD or vinyl!) and we even have the unprecedented moment of having to sign a vinyl album half way through the set! A guy has bought one but can’t stay for the whole event. We apologise to the audience as we pause the set to sign the LP. He’s very grateful.
The set continues and includes 3 of our new original songs (Cat Got My Tongue, The Beehive (The Real Buzz Club) and Done Me Wrong). All go well and are particularly well received. They are bedding in to our sets just nicely. Look out for the release of 2 of these songs as a 7” vinyl single on Detour Records later this year. Can’t wait for that!
We finish the set but before we can sell and sign more stuff we’re called back for an encore. “Lonnie Donegan!” someone shouts and we duly oblige with our version of Don’t You Rock Me Daddy-O.
It’s been a fabulous afternoon. We wind down, pack up, sell more CD’s and vinyl and mingle with the great crowd who have come to watch before heading off, without the hammering rain!
We love afternoons like this!
Lucky