Around the UK in 80 Venues: Reading Rising Sun Arts Centre

Location: 30 Silver Street Reading, Berkshire RG1 2ST

Website: http://www.risingsun-artscentre.co.uk

Capacity: 100

Come to see: Bands that are likely to be signed and springboarded into stardom and national press attention over the next 12 months. The Rising Sun Arts Centre is based approximately 10 minutes walk from Reading's train station and is home to the city's second most famous musical institution after the festival, Club Velocity. Promoter Sid Siddle's incredibly sharp ears have a knack for hearing out nascent talent long before the A&R men spring into action and this always ensures a top night made up of a complimentary bill of up and coming talent.



The atmosphere: Fabulously unpretentious and incredibly welcoming, the regulars here are solid music fans who are happy to chat about their passion and party for as long as they can. Local DJs keep the punters moving between bands with a blend of indie and rock beats with the usual smattering of all the alternative suspects you could wish to hear.

You saw them here first: This venue boasts an incredible track record of catching bands just as they're about to gain attention and move to the next level. Over the last few years, Club Velocity has hosted gigs by the likes of Glasvegas, Bloc Party, The Cribs, Pete & the Pirates and Holly Golightly. As you'd expect, these events are still spoken of in hushed and reverent tones; quite right, too.

Claim to fame: When last gracing the Reading Festival, Bloc Party's Kele Okereke was moved to pay tribute to the Rising Arts Centre and the crucial role Club Velocity played by supporting them in their early days.

You should also know: Originally built as Temperance House in the 19th Century, The Rising Sun Arts Centre sprung into life in November 1990 when a group of artists first squatted in this imposing Victorian building with the intention of creating an alternative, non-mainstream art space in Reading. Since that time, the venue has been through a number of changes and faced many challenges in its struggle to stay open and though hard work, determination and a passion for the arts has succeeded in becoming one of the best small venues on the circuit.

Booking now: Sixty Watt Bayonets, Six Nation State, Midi Midis, Tom Williams & the Boat and Off the Radar are among the bands vying for your attention.