A night of dark, theatrical alternative rock is heading to Reading this July as Future Transmissions brings London art-rock outfit Black Bordello to The Face Bar.
Headlining a stacked triple-bill on Thursday, 2 July, the band will be supported by local favourites Polly B Rose and Juliet & The Raging Romeos.
Black Bordello are fronted by Sienna Bordello, whose emotive soprano and macabre lyricism have been compared to the likes of Bjork, Kate Bush, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Spearheaded by Sienna’s operatic vocals and vivid, fragmented songwriting, their metamorphic brand of alternative rock is enchanted with elements of vaudeville, post-punk, jazz, psychedelia, gothic rock and chamber pop.
Since their emergence after the pandemic, they have released two studio albums, which were reviewed in CLASH, Wonderland, Loud & Quiet, Fred Perry & So Young, played on BBC Radio 6 Music, and one of the songs was remixed by the bassist of the legendary goth group Bauhaus.
After its release and successful headline launch at MOTH Club in September, their album amassed over 80k organic streams and more than 18,000 views on the music video for The Garden of Earthly Delights.
They showcased at Rotterdam’s Left of the Dial last autumn, and so far in 2025 they have supported Pete Doherty, performed multiple times at NYC’s New Colossus Festival, and released another visionary music video for single Acid Mary.
Following a litany of acclaimed live shows supporting the likes of The Libertines, Goat Girl, Fat Dog and Pretty Sick, and a busy summer of festivals including Bestival, the band have just recorded their third studio album with Balazs Altsach, leading the group’s zealous genre-hopping into territories of trip-hop and industrial.
The band are gearing up for their EU tour in early 2026, with a headline at London’s 100 Club to celebrate the launch of their new single.
Supporting the band will be Reading-based four-piece Polly B Rose, who feature ex-members of Transvision Vamp and the Heart Throbs, alongside Juliet & The Raging Romeos.
When is Black Bordello coming to Reading, and how can I get tickets?
The event will take place on Thursday, 2 July at The Face Bar, located at Ambrose Place, Reading, RG1 7JL. Doors open at 8pm.
Tickets are available at www.wegottickets.com/f/19352 and cost £11 including the booking fee.
For further information, you can visit the venue website at www.thefacebar.com or call 0118 956 8188.
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