Music fans, we’re here with your weekly Leicester music guide featuring news and interviews from across the local scene.

This weekly music update is brought to you in partnership with PPL PRS Ltd. Big thanks for their ongoing support of local acts and venues.

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NEWS

Win VIP tickets to WIDE EYED

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Catch 25 of the most exciting bands in the UK right now as Wide Eyed Festival lands in Leicester on Saturday 18 September. Spread out across three stages at O2 Academy Leicester, you’ll be able to see some of the best bands on the UK’s live circuit including Beak> and Snapped Ankles, as well as a solid selection of local talent in The People Assembly and Spudge. We’ve got a pair of tickets with 4 beers thrown in too. Enter HERE.

Live Jazz – Every Friday & Saturday
Brick & Beam

brick & beam leicester

One of Leicester’s best roof terraces in one of the city’s nicest bars and they’re bringing you live jazz every Friday and Saturday night. Book a table or limited walk ins also available with music from 7.30pm. Head down early for happy hour deals. Email for bookings – [email protected].

The Bluetones – Thursday 26 August
O2 Academy 2

The Bluetones

Mark Morriss and the boys continue to go from strength to strength more than twenty years on. On this tour you’ll hear them performing Expecting to Fly in full as well as some of their greatest hits. TICKETS.

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INTERVIEW: MICHAEL FROM 110 ABOVE FESTIVAL

As the UK festival scene finally comes back to life there’s one local festival that will be celebrating with their best line-up yet and a growing reputations as one of the country’s best kept secrets. 110 Above returns this weekend to Gopsall Farm near Twycross and we caught up with the festival management to find out more about it.

110 above festival

How would you describe 110 Above for someone who’s never been?

Unique is a much over used word but with its setting on the gorgeous Gopsall Hall Farm, surrounded by countryside, with quirky stages, we think 110 definitely falls into the unique category!

What are some of the unique challenges you’ve faced this year?

Complete and utter uncertainty has been one of the biggest challenges.  We have also found that many have done as Rishi requested and have changed careers, which means simple tasks such as recruiting contractors has been more challenging than usual.

With self-isolation rules we are expecting a few last minute lineup changes – we were so lucky in 2019 to not have any, but we have already needed to make 3/4.  For once, we won’t know the final lineup until the festival actually happens, which is exciting I guess!

110 above festival

Have you had to make any big changes to the festival?

We’re taking plenty of steps to mitigate risks associated with covid-19 but thankfully these are the types of changes we’d plan to make any way – a new stage (so there’s more space), more toilets, more hand sanitization locations etc.

 Tell us about this year’s lineup…

2021 is looking stunning from start to finish with headliners Sports Team (#2 album), The Amazons, and Sundara Karma backed up by The Snuts (#1 album) and some incredible emerging talent – Bow Anderson, Baby Queen and Lola Young to name but a few.

With the new stage we will be hosting more artists than ever before and we cannot wait!

If you had to pick out 3 must see acts, who would they be?

The whole lineup is curated with great care with no “free passes” so this is a difficult question and my answer would probably flip every day.  BUT if I had to give you 3: The Snuts’ set will be exceedingly lively, Bow Anderson has an adorable sound, and Baby Queen’s mainstage slot will be a lot of fun!

You’ve been described as one of the best kept secrets of UK festivals, what is it about 110 Above that you think makes it so unique?

110 is like a convention for some of the most exciting new talent and with its carefully restricted capacity we can confidently say that it punches well above its weight – some of the artists at 110 could be playing in front of 20,000 the day before, and then our attendees get to see that up close with are capacity way below that kind of level!

110 above festival

What’s been your favourite moment since launching the festival?

Seeing the festival grow from a small campfire gathering to a fully fledged 4 stages+ festival has been great and is a moment I am still living.

Who are some of your favourite local artists?

We’ve had some incredible local artists – my favourite would probably have to be Easy Life who played in 2019 and Mahalia who played in 2018.  We hope they will join us again in the future!

110 above festival

Can people still buy tickets?

Yes, we have a super limited re-sale, which is currently live.

What’s next after the 2021 festival has been put to bed?

On 17 and 18 September we will be holding Inn Sessions on the farm.  This will be a beautifully intimate 1 and ½ day event.  Tickets for this are on-sale now at – https://www.110above.com/event-details/110-above-presents-inn-sessions

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WEEKLY PLAYLIST

Each week we bring you a selection of favourite local acts to give you a flavour of the incredible range of upcoming talent.

Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.

MORE MUSIC NEWS NEXT WEEK

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