If you’re part of the Reading music scene, be it as a performer or punter, you’ll know who Sid Siddle is.

A quiet man with a lot to say and an unwavering passion for new music, his Club Velocity gig night turns a monumental eight-years-old on Friday, March 25.

“I was promoting already in London at the Water Rats in Kings Cross for five years before I decided to promote in Reading,” he says.

“It was as simple as getting bored of getting the last train home from Paddington on a Saturday night”.

Since then he’s put on hundreds of bands, including a then barely-known Bloc Party and Glasvegas, and attracts industry bigwigs to see bands he puts on at the Rising Sun arts centre and Play. Chris Hufford (Radiohead manager) came to see The Race and Stephen King (The Libertines manager) came to see Hunting The Shy.

Club Velocity, a mix of local and non-local acts, is both an A&R night and a place to nurture a band’s live performance. “I help bands learn their craft in the live arena,” says Sid. “I put The Good Natured on many times when they started, that was like four years ago and they have just signed to EMI.

“The amount of bands that have played Club Velocity and gone on to different levels of success is actually pretty staggering”.

One of his personal favourites is an artist who he’s always described as ‘God’ on poster billings. Ben Marwood recently signed to Extra Mile Recordings and is touring with Frank Turner.

“Recently in January he sold out the venue with ease and people travelled as far away as Dudley,” says Sid. “I felt so happy for Ben and at last it is looking really good for him”.

So if you’re on Sid’s radar, you should be pretty chuffed.

Young ‘noise pop’ band Peers, who played the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival last year, is at the top of his list.

Sid also predicts Dylan-Louise, a 19-year-old half-American girl from Burghfield could be a “major player”.“I gave her debut show and within 10 seconds of sound check I was sold,” he says.

“I have paid for her to record and I will continue to. She has the voice of an angel and the lungs of a giant”.

You can see Dylan-Louise play at Club Velocity’s eighth birthday bash on Friday, March 25, along with Ed Lofstedt, Jay Newton and Jordan, at the Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street, Reading.

Doors 8pm and tickets are £5 in advance or £4 from www.wegottickets.com.

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