JAMES YORKSTON is signed to Domino Records and has already reached dizzy heights with his Rough Trade Album of the Year and 5 star album reviews across the board.  On speaking about Yorkston Philip Selway of Radiohead was led to say “For me, listening to James Yorkston’s music is like coming across the interesting-looking person on the fringes of a party.  Before you know it, you’ve spent the evening listening to their compelling tale.  In this record, I get a real sense that he has found his true voice.  There’s a quiet confidence in his craft; his singing, the words and instrumentation, all blend seamlessly to produce a really affecting record.”

THE PICTISH TRAIL: This is the nom de plume of singer-songwriter Johnny Lynch, who – alongside Kenny Anderson (aka King Creosote) – runs Fence Records.  His music is a sonorous mixture of acoustic-driven balladry and lo-fi synthesised pop, that has been described as “a post-summer trove of sun-warped electro, anamorphic folk” (Plan B Magazine).

PT has recorded various albums, mini-albums, EPs and singles of his own material for the Fence label – working with a number of artists such as King Creosote, James Yorkston, KT Tunstall,  The Red Well and The Earlies along the way, amongst others.   His debut full-length album, Secret Soundz Vol.1, was released to glowing reviews: “Glorious” ****MOJO, “Compulsory listening” ****The Observer, and “Limitless imagination” NME.

SEAMUS FOGARTY:  Hails from the west of Ireland and writes songs about mountains that steal t-shirts, women who look like dinosaurs and various other unfortunate incidents.

Born and raised four miles from the small town of Swinford, in County Mayo, he came to the attention of Fence after supporting James Yorkston (Domino/Fence Records) at a show in Kilkenny.  An invitation to the Collective’s annual Home Game festival in Anstruther, Fife, soon followed – with Seamus performing in front of about five people at a secret pub show.  A quiet, somewhat unassuming fellow, his show had a ramshackle air, and he was obviously no stranger to the accompaniment of a bar room brawl (which, incidentally, was going on in the back).  King Creosote was one of those in attendance, and was immediately hooked (nearly left-hooked).

Support will also come from Leicester lovelies The Junipers!

Tickets for this very special show are priced at £14 and are available in advance from HERE.

The gig is at The Cookie Jar on High Street on Sunday 14th April, doors 7pm.

They write, produce, compose and mix everything themselves and spend untold hours in the studio and on coast to coast tours, building up an intensely dedicated following in the UK, US and mainland Europe. Their last tour took in a massive 50 dates stateside!

Now they’re hitting Leicester to tour their new album Riddles and have a show at The Cookie Jar on Wednesday 3rd April. Expect an indie-tastic night as they bring with them support from Leicester favourites Move as well as The Chizzits and Friendly Enemies.

Advance tickets are a bargain at £5 and are available from HERE.

Check out 12 Dirty Bullets with their single She Could Love You Forever…

He’ll be performing his latest show, Seann To Be Wild, which received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival last year. As a former winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year award you know you’re going to be getting a good show. A very charming performer, Seann tells of his observations and stories from day to day life and we can certainly relate to his tales of binge drinking! He’s a massively enthusiastic and energetic performer so sit tight, enjoy the ride and see Leicester Comedy Festival 2013 out in style!

Seann Walsh performs at Just The Tonic on Sunday 24th February. Tickets are available from HERE.

Take your friends, have a drink and enjoy 20 dates in one evening. The idea of the evening is to have fun and meet some new people so there’s no need to be nervous, but just incase you do need to settle those nerves they’re throwing in a glass of wine on arrival with every ticket!

The results from the evening will be put together and emailed to you the following day so there’ll still be time to arrange your next date with any matches over the Easter bank holiday!

With the event at The Exchange Bar you can rest assured that you’ll have a top evening and hopefully meet some like minded new friends or more!

Loose age guide for the event is 25 – 40.

Go on, take a chance!

Tickets are only £8.50 and include 20 dates and a free glass of wine. All results and matches will be emailed the day following the event. Places are limited and are certain to get booked up quickly so don’t waste any time, grab your ticket from HERE.

What’s even better is that his performance in Leicester falls on Valentine’s Day! What better way to treat your loved one that with a night of laughs, or perhaps you just need to forget it’s Valentine’s day altogether and take your mind off it. Either way Alan is our top tip for how to spend this Valentine’s Day.

Tickets are selling very fast but there are a few left if you’re quick!

Alan Davies is at De Montfort Hall on Thursday 14th February and tickets are available from HERE.

Highlights of the festival include Milton Jones, our personal favourite Seann Walsh, comedy and curry down at Dave’s Curry House and a very special romantic, Valentine’s Day treat from Alan Davies.

So get our your diaries and start planning because in 2 weeks it will all be over again and you’ll be longing for next year!

Our top picks of the festival and ticket competitions are coming very very soon!

For full details and listings see www.comedy-festival.co.uk

The event will be held at Leicester University to launch his new book Back Story. He’ll be discussing his life, work and past achievements in a very intimate setting. What’s more the evening will conclude with a book signing where you’ll have the chance to meet the man himself!

The event is being organised by Waterstones of Market Street and tickets are selling very fast indeed! They’re priced at £7.50 and can be bought from calling into the store. However, the lovely folk down at the shop have given us a pair of tickets to give away! For your chance to be at the event and meet David Mitchell just answer the following question:

What is the name of Mark’s flatmate in Peep Show?

Please email your answers to competition@coolasleicester.co.uk by midday on Thursday 18th October. Please put “David Mitchell comp” in the subject line!

GOOD LUCK!

An Evening with David Mitchell will take place on Friday 26th October at Leicester University. Limited tickets remain priced at £7.50 and are available from Waterstone on Market Street.

Leicester City legend Steve Walsh is hosting An Evening with Mike Tyson at Leicester’s Collisseum venue, with tickets selling like crazy, this is the must attend event of the autumn! The black tie event is going to be followed by an equally not-to-be-missed after party at the swanky new Pyramid Lounge in the city centre. Tickets for the after party are on sale now, and whilst discounted advance tickets have now sold out you can still secure your place there for only £20 with VIP options also available.

For just £20 you’ll receive access to the after party where you’ll have a talk from Mike Tyson live on stage as well as the opportunity to have your photo taken with the star. There’ll be 2 floors of great vibes and the finest DJs playing the latest in funky house and R & B. Or if you fancy splashing out a bit more then why not take advantage of the VIP options. For £150 you will receive a 15 minute meet and greet with the star with your own personal photographer to capture the moment. You’ll also be treated to a separate VIP area and bar and queue jump.

This really is a special, one off event for Leicester so don’t miss out on your chance to be part of the action. Tickets and further information are available from promotions@pyramidlounge.co.uk

See you at the bar!

If you want to be there to see Stewart in action, all you need to do is email us at competition@coolasleicester.co.uk before midday on Wednesday 10th October with the subject line “I want comedy tickets!”

GOOD LUCK!

Now onto the important part – the music!

This year the folk at Glastontree have pulled together a fabulous little line-up, which is being headed up by Hell’s Addiction playing some of your favourite rock anthems. For something altogether a bit more folky you’ll be able to enjoy Chester’s (recently Radio One playlisted, no less) Shy and The Fight and Leicester’s very own troubadour Grace Petrie. There’ll be more tunes from local favourites Kenworthy and Martha Bean, with DJs taking the party well into the evening.

So there you have it – £5, all day, top tunes, and it’s all for a good cause! We’ll see you there.

The Orange Tree is on High Street in Leicester.