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Diary Dates
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.
Chris Difford – Tuesday 13 December
The Musician
Double Ivor Novello awardwinning lyricist and enigma Chris Difford has brought us characters and sketches from every day life, turning the mundane into the beautiful, the urbane into the exquisite, for over 30 years. With his partner, collaborator, friend and Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook, Chris has written some of the most enduring and best-loved songs of our time – ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Cool For Cats’ and ‘Labelled With Love’, to name but a few.
Ka Safar – Wednesday 14 December
The Musician
Ka Safar is a 13-piece world jazz band based in Leicester. Inspired by spiritual jazz, Afrofuturism, ancient music, Latin American styles, funk, Indian and Japanese music, and global culture. The band espouses inclusivity, peace, love and humanity. Ka is the spirit and Safar is the journey.
Skinny Lister – Wednesday 14 December
The Y Theatre
Skinny Lister come from the same stable as Emmy The Great, RDA and Slow Club, sounding like The Pogues’ rum fuelled English cousin. From day one, Skinny Lister set out to cause chaos and make friends, travelling to the four corners of the globe plying their unique rum-soaked blend of English folk and punk rock anarchy. Wherever they play, you’ll hear their lusty shanties, punk folk roar-alongs and crazed whirls about love, fighting and hardcore drinking. You’ll find them out dancing with the crowd, passing around their flagon of rum or crowd-surfing to the bar to neck shots mid-song. Make no bones about it, Skinny Lister are the wildest party band you’ll ever get drunk with. And you will get drunk with them!
Seth Lakeman – Friday 16 December
The Y Theatre
‘
The musical equivalent of the bodice-ripping blockbuster’ – The Guardian. Seth’s live show, as with everything else he does, takes the established folk orthodoxy and turns it on its head. The spirit of the rock band meets the timeless and heartfelt subject matter of the folk tale in a blur of fiddle, acoustic guitar and foot-stomping rhythms, with Seth’s unmistakable vocals riding the wave.
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PREVIEW: Skinny Lister return to Leicester
Skinny Lister are back in Leicester in support of their acclaimed fifth album ‘A Matter of Life & Love’, but first invite you to bask in one of its most heart-warming moments.
A strident example of the Skinnies’ feel-good, shanty-folk at its very finest, single “Embers” also embodies many of the core themes that course through their latest album. As Dan Heptinstall explains:
“”Embers” is a song about friendship. The simple joy we feel in the warmth of good company. It also raises a glass, and enjoys a moment of reflection, to those friends we may have lost along the way. A celebration of the here and now but with a healthy dose of nostalgia.”
Echoing the sentiments of the song, the video is accompanied by an official video filmed by The Film Smith, which also has a local Leicestershire angle too. Capturing a family affair with fires and music, it sees Skinny Lister revelling in good times with friend and folk legend Roger Wilson (who plays fiddle on the recording), plus the Dunton Bassett Folk Club, a group of musicians who happen to feature a certain special guest…
“The video was a joy to shoot. We were blessed with the fine company of Dunton Bassett Folk Club musicians, of which Party George (Max and Lorna’s dad) is one. He’s been attending the weekly Leicestershire folk night for over 30 years, and long may he continue to do so. It was great to hang out with these excellent folk around the fire, have a few drinks and play a bunch of tunes. Heart warming stuff!”
When Skinny Lister return to Leicester on 14 December at The Y Theatre, they’ll be joined by folk-tinged singer-songwriter and ex-Straight Lines frontman Tom Jenkins who is joining the band for all their UK dates.
Tickets for the gig at The Y Theatre are on sale now.
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
This week’s playlist features a mix of Leicester talent and some local festive numbers thrown in too.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.