Only The Poets Fulfil Childhood Dream with Reading FC Album Collaboration
Pop-rock band Only The Poets have revealed that teaming up with Reading Football Club was a dream come true during the campaign for their debut album. The quartet, who grew up supporting the Royals, described the experience as an "amazing, beautiful bonus" at a pivotal moment in their career.
A Boyhood Fantasy Realised
Frontman Tommy Longhurst exclusively shared that "the little kid in me was beaming" when the collaboration came to fruition. In the days leading up to the release of their album And I'd Do It Again on Friday, the band visited Reading FC's ground.
The band participated in several club activities:
- Meeting fans at a signing session ahead of Reading's home match against Barnsley
- Taking over Club 106 when the Royals hosted Exeter City
- Watching the first-team squad train and meeting the players
- Receiving a signed shirt and football from the team
Tommy explained: "I've loved that club since I was a kid. Football's a massive part of, not just my life, but the lads' as well. To go to my boyhood club and to have the club want to collaborate on the album, it's just been amazing."
Making Music Accessible to All
Alongside their football collaboration, the band have made accessibility in music a central mission. For their current tour, including tonight's sold-out headline show at O2 Academy Brixton, tickets cost just £1 each.
"It's something we've always believed in from the start," Tommy stated. "Trying to create a conversation that's just much bigger than us, which is accessibility in music. We've always done low-income tickets, and we'll forever do that."
The Brixton show sold all 5,000 tickets rapidly, surprising even the band themselves. "It went so quick," Tommy admitted. "To do our dream venue and to sell out so quickly, it was a fun day."
Championing Emerging Talent
True to their commitment to accessibility, the band opened their Brixton support slot to unsigned musicians via social media applications. After receiving numerous submissions, they created a shortlist of 50 acts.
The selection process involved:
- Bands and musicians applying through social media platforms
- A shortlist being created several weeks before the show
- The top suggestions performing at Purple Turtle in Reading
- Fans in attendance voting for the overall winner
Tommy found this process inspiring, particularly enjoying "listening to the next generation of singer-songwriters and bands."
Album Release and Future Plans
The band celebrated their debut album release at midnight on Friday while travelling to Manchester on their tour bus. "We all got a beer and listened through it together," Tommy recalled. "It was really wholesome, did a little cheers - a really lovely moment together."
Despite being signed to a major label, each band member contributed significantly to the album, which includes vulnerable tracks like Emotionally Hungover and Madeline. "We've never been afraid to do a slow song," Tommy explained. "This just felt like a really honest and vulnerable point of view."
Looking ahead, the band show no signs of slowing down. After their current UK shows, they plan to tour Europe and are already thinking about their second album. "We're excited to get into the studio and start working on new stuff," Tommy revealed, adding that they hope to return to the US and Canada this year.
The band also reflected on their friendship with Louis Tomlinson, who helped them early in their career by having them open on his world tour in 2020. "We owe so much to Louis," Tommy acknowledged. "He's our mate, he did so much for us, and we still try to see him when we can."
And I'd Do It Again is available to stream and purchase now as Only The Poets continue their mission to make live music accessible while celebrating their roots with their beloved football club.
