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Diary Dates
The Soundhouse Summer Sessions – Every Saturday
The Soundhouse
The Soundhouse Summer Sessions are back every Saturday afternoon throughout the summer. Join them for an afternoon of outdoor music from some of the best local live acoustic acts, with free entry, outdoor stage and drinks. Dog and family friendly.
The Big Moon – Friday 26 May
O2 Academy
The Big Moon are a young London pop-punk four piece consisting of Juliette, Soph, Celia, and Fern. Musically they’re somewhere between PJ Harvey’s more widescreen rock moments and Howling Bells’ ragged intensity, but with a crackling girl-gang energy recalling Elastica.
BC Camplight – Tuesday 30 May
Firebug
BC Camplight returns with a solo piano tour. The Philadelphia singer-songwriter, falling somewhere between Ben Folds and Badly Drawn Boy, moved to Manchester UK in 2012, where he’s brought his brand of quirky indie-pop to new audiences.
Martin Kemp Back to the 80s Party – Saturday 3 June
Athena
Martin has sold millions of records worldwide as part of Spandau Ballet. Martin has also released a Christmas album ‘In The Swing Of It’ with his wife Shirlie (of Wham fame). Martin is a huge TV personality, starring in the likes of The Krays & Eastenders. Still ever-present on TV today, Martin is now a DJ spinning 80’s classics at clubs and festivals across the UK.
Stone Foundation – Sunday 4 June
The Musician
Stone Foundation are a seven piece outfit who are based in the Midlands. They play a blend of Rock ‘n’ psychedelic Soul and are fast becoming a compelling live attraction.
Grivo – Monday 5 June
Firebug
Emerging like an ornate relic, Austin-based power trio Grivo combine slow, methodical hooks and warm tube amplifiers to artfully re-establish the link between heavy guitars and downtempo pop. Grivo’s tones and effects are utilized as active compositional elements, crafting and pacing their infectious riffs to allow the saturated guitars and bruising low-end to fully bloom. Within the tidal sound waves and bleak timbre, Grivo forges a distinctive personal connection that challenges the modern definitions of doom metal and shoegaze.
The Rabbitts – Tuesday 6 June
The Musician
The Rabbitts are a British folk duo whose music is gentle, fun and riddled with natural imagery that masks darker subtexts. As a couple the pair draw inspiration from their relationship, as well as old folk music and the new places they travel. The duo have just finished touring around Canada and are living in the UK.
James Walsh – Saturday 10 June
The Musician
AKA the frontman of indie troubadours Starsailor. Older, wiser – and a father – he’s looking forward to “doing something different for a while”, setting off in a different ship but touching people once again, which could include anything from writing more songs with Suzanne Vega or fulfilling a lifetime ambition to write with Shelby Lynne.
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PREVIEW: A celebration of LGBTQIA at Festival2Funky
Festival 2Funky returns this weekend with a host of fantastic events taking place at 2Funky Music Cafe, from rooftop brunches, to spoken word, open mic and more. One of those events is Remember My Song, a celebration of the voices in Leicester’s LGBTQIA community, which takes place on Saturday night. We caught up with organiser, Luke Broughton, to find out more about it.
Tell us about Remember My Song and what people can expect from the event?
‘Remember my song’ is a night celebrating the voices of our LGBTQIA community and music of black origin, taking place as part of 2Funky Festival on Saturday 27 May. We decided to name the night after an album by legendary black British singer songwriter and poet, Labi Siffre. He was famed for his politically charged material including songs against apartheid as well as being open about his homosexuality in a time when civil partnerships weren’t even recognised back in the 1960s.
How did the event come about?
There were discussions pre-Covid about putting this kind of night on so it has been a long time coming. There is clearly a need for greater representation and a space in the local industry for this kind of night, so it feels like an important milestone to be bringing it together. I am extremely honoured, as a mixed race non binary artist, to have been recognised and asked to co-curate and host the night and I’m really looking forward to being involved over the coming months and years in growing Leicester’s LGBTQIA arts scene.
Which artists stand out to you?
I have to say I’m really proud of the diversity and quality of the lineup, all the artists are great. On the night there will be performances by Carter The Bandit, Sophielou, Laeeqa, Lekke and Charlotte Keeffe.
How important is it for the local music community to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA music?
It’s immensely important. It has been a real learning curve putting the lineup together and looking around the country at what other cities have established highlights how far we have to go for LGBTQ artists to have more visibility and a greater representation within our artistic community. I think this festival is a hugely significant and important step.
Tell us a little about the rest of Festival 2Funky?
The festival will run across Friday, Saturday, Sunday (26 – 28 May 2023) with a breadth of artists and a range of genres including Dance Hall, Hip-Hop, R n B, Garage and many more. There will be open mics, DJ sets and artist showcases.
How can people found out more and about future events?
Follow 2Funky Arts on their socials. Head to Insta and Facebook on @2funkyempire.
Tickets and info also available from the 2Funky website.
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
Check out this week’s playlist to discover some of the artists that you can catch live in various venues across Leicester in the coming weeks.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.