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Diary Dates
Ibibio Sound Machine – Thursday 24 November
O2 Academy
Fronted by London-born Nigerian singer Eno Williams, Ibibio Sound Machine is a clash of African and electronic elements inspired in equal measure by the golden era of West-African funk and disco and modern post-punk and electro. Weird and wonderful folk stories, recounted to Eno by her family as a child in her mother’s Ibibio tongue, form the creative fabric from which the band’s unique musical tapestry is woven. Evocative Nigerian poetic imagery set against an edgy Afro-Electro soundscape by producers Max Grunhard, Leon Brichard and Benji Bouton give the band a unique space within the current wave of modern Afrocentric sounds sweeping across the globe.
Botown – Saturday 26 November
2Funky Music Cafe
Botown are a super-tight band of multicultural musicians that perform Bollywood grooves reborn with a unique soul funk twist. This highly charged group combine the glamour of Bollywood and the charisma of soul. Expect to hear hit songs by RD Burman, Asha Bhosle, AR Rahman, Lata, Kishore Kumar, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Alisha and more, in a way you’ve never heard them before!
Placebo – Tuesday 29 November
De Montfort Hall
Placebo’s angsty anthems have taken them from cult band to worldwide success, with hits including ‘Nancy Boy’ and ‘Pure Morning’. Over the course of more than 25 years, and over 13 million album sales, Placebo have shown themselves to be masters at cataloguing the human condition.
The Jam’d – Friday 2 December
The Musician
Widely regarded now as the Uk’s most authentic and leading tribute to The Jam, The Jam’d are totally committed to giving an unforgettable, authentic performance with all the energy, passion and style of the Woking 3. As full time touring professional musicians, and massive Jam fans themselves, the band don’t “try to be” or “pretend to be” The Jam, but rather put on a performance from the heart and soul, drawing on all their memories, experiences and love of what was the country’s biggest band in their day.
Boston Manor – Thursday 8 December
O2 Academy Leicester
A punk / emo / pop-punk five piece from Blackpool who formed in 2013. The band quickly began making waves in the underground punk scene and started touring nationally. Their influences include Blink 182, Taking Back Sunday and The Story So Far.
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INTERVIEW: Forgotten Futures
Forgotten Futures is the new one day music event from the Robot Needs Home Collective, bringing together exciting regional and national acts offering a diverse programme of immersive performances in unusual environments. With the event approaching on 3 December, we caught up with the man behind it, John Helps, to find out a little more.
How would you describe Forgotten Futures in 5 words?
Adventures in Sound and Vision – It’s an event that collects together music and performances that are a bit unusual or experimental but importantly also unpretentious – hopefully its fun both musically and visually.
What was the inspiration behind the event?
It had its genesis back in 2019 before the pandemic as a multi-stage event in Attenborough Arts Centre. Sometimes I’ll be in a space for another reason entirely and just start imagining what would be possible within the parameters of what that venue or collection of venues has to offer. I had wanted to do something which was a perfect distillation of what The Robot Needs Home Collective has been bringing to the city for the last fifteen years or so for a long time, and this was a shot at doing that. After two attempts at rescheduling thanks to Covid, I decided to go back to the drawing board and take another run at it at The Y. A whole new line-up that completely fulfils that aim in three completely different, beautiful and unusual spaces – The Theatre itself, a basketball court and the bar.
Who are your 3 must see acts of the day?
It’s impossible to choose really – theres so much diversity across the bill. Orchards are one of the most fun live bands I’ve ever seen. CLT DRP are a band who feel genuinely important right now. Straight Girl is one of the most unhinged and brilliant live experiences around. So those three – but god, I love every act on the bill.
You’re also part of the organisation team for Handmade Festival, is Forgotten Futures a similar vibe?
It’s multiple stages with staggered acts and is entirely about the music which is also true for Handmade, but this is Robot Needs Home’s taste in music alone. If you’re in to what we’re in to then you’ll love it. Handmade is beautiful because of the collaboration and the way our taste meshes with that of Nik from The Cookie Presents and Matt from Firebug’s. Forgotten Futures is more of a single minded projection of our taste alone.
How important is it for people to support events like this for Leicester’s music scene?
Supporting local live music is important, but we have to be offering something audiences want. If we aren’t and no-one comes, thats on us not on the city. We’d love to see venues full every night of the week but we’re competing with a lot of other options both at home and elsewhere in the city and we know money’s tight. All we can do as promoters is try and create something amazing that people love and want to come back to over and over. If we’re here again next year you’ll know we managed to do that.
Who are you local ones to watch?
There are a lot of regionally based acts on the bill and we love all of them, obviously. I’m excited to see how Creation Myths evolve with the addition of Courtney Askey’s incredible vocals. Rich List have been one of my favourite local acts for getting on for a decade. Sorrell are pretty new to me but are really exciting… God, basically the entire bill is incredible, not to blow our own trumpet. There have been zero compromises.
Where can people find out more and buy tickets?
You can head to http://frgttnftrs.com – tickets are only 20 quid for the whole day.
Forgotten Futures takes place at The Y Theatre on Saturday 3 December 2022.
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
This week’s playlist carries on the preview of Forgotten Futures. Check out some of the acts you can see live at The Y Theatre on Saturday 3 December.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.