Published: Thursday, 20th March, 2008 10:00am

100% Reading launch weekend

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MORE than 1,000 songs by over 100 bands have kept Lozza busy for the past five months, while he was trying to compile the running order for a double album, 100% Reading.

Having grown up in Caversham, Lozza has always had a soft spot for the town's music scene, and after successfully producing a similar album for Basingstoke last year, he felt it was time someone delved beneath the surface of Reading's vibrant scene.

100% Reading is a compilation album featuring some the town's newest bands and possibly its best kept secrets.

Already popular bands like Junkyard Scientists, My Luminaries and Hello Wembley feature alongside lesser-known acts like Some Like It Hot, Grimaldi and Feud.

Lozza said: "I didn't want it to be all one particular genre - there are 37 tracks across the two CDs and about 20 different types of music. I spent a lot of time making sure it has the right pace, balance and genre.

"It is a wonderful mash-up.

"Making the album and holding three launch gigs was about opening the whole town up and delving a bit deeper than anyone usually looks.

"The idea was also that no one will know all the bands and for some people they will all be new."

Although now living in Basingstoke and having little knowledge of the current scene, Lozza found it easy to discover an abundance of new and underground bands - some acts are signed while others are still unsigned and had emailed their demos to him.

He explained: "Reading has got a wonderful thing going on.

"The album is about presenting people with lots of new music - sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start looking if you are after new bands, particularly if you are not involved in the scene already.

"It would have been very easy to make an indie album but I wanted to try and appeal to all.

"The album is very raw and is how the bands want to be heard."

He added: "I found the whole process of finding new music and putting it together for an album really rewarding.

"I feel like I am sitting on a really good secret.

"By making the CD £5, I wanted to try and get people who will pay £300 to see a chart-topping band but ignore fliers for gigs in the town because they haven't heard of the bands."

The album will be on sale at all three gigs and then in some shops and bars around the town. The gigs will also be filmed by a Reading film club for a possible DVD.

Tonight (Thursday [20]): The Noyze, The Trouble With Me, Mark Lyons acoustic (Chuck), Some Like It Hot, One Dollar Peep Show, Aisle 22, and Vivacity, with music and visuals by Papa Alpha. Plug N Play, Milford Road, Reading. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £5.

Friday [21]: Jonny Virgo, No Connection, Somebodys Mind, Jones Radio, and Boy didgood with music and visuals by Papa Alpha. RISC upstairs at The Global Cafe, London Street, Reading. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £5.

Saturday [22]: Junkyard Scientists, Hello Wembley and The Bandinis with music and visuals by Papa Alpha. South Street Arts Centre, Reading. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £5