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Diary Dates
Millie Manders & The Shut Up – Friday 12 April
The Musician
Millie Manders and The Shutup create cross-genre punk that is hard to ignore. With lyricism that pokes fun, draws you in or leaves you questioning social norms teamed with incredible vocal dexterity, grinding guitars, irresistible horn hooks and a pumping rhythm section, the Millie Manders Music Machine churns out more raw punk fusion than you can shake a stick at, with a huge amount of Pop appeal.
CJ Pandit – Sunday 14 April
The Big Difference
CJ Pandit is an ArtPop performer who crafts songs for movies that were never made and places that you’ve never been. Working and living between London, New York and his hometown here in Leicester, Cj has spent the majority of his life floating through different scenes, cities and circumstances. He is inevitably informed by heartbreak, longing and a search for meaning between the cracks in our day to day lives.
BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the 80s Live Tour – Friday 19 April
O2 Academy Leicester
Legendary DJ Gary Davies brings the UK’s most popular 80s radio show on tour – it’s the show you hear on a Saturday night ….live on stage!
Together with his producer Johnny Kalifornia, they will take you back to the best decade in music – the 80s!
Party along to specially curated Mastermixes and watch as our brilliant Sounds of the 80s dancers recreate classic scenes from 80s films and videos.
Dance to your favourite 80s anthems from artists such as Wham!, Queen, Prince, Madonna, Whitney and more.
ADMT – Tuesday 23 April
O2 Academy Leicester
ADMT is a Leeds based singer songwriter dabbling in Acoustic Pop. Describing himself as a ‘singer, drummer… universe explorer’.
Pete Morton – Thursday 25 April
The Musician
‘Pete is everything we want our singer-songwriters to be. Fiercely creative, proudly independent, skilful, talented, and terminally unpredictable’ (Mojo Magazine).
Sunbirds – Saturday 4 May
The Soundhouse
Co-founder of The Beautiful South, Dave Hemingway returns with his 6-piece Americana influenced Indie Folk band Sunbirds. Expect songs from their critically aclaimed debut album Cool To Be Kind as well as brand new material intertwined with one or two classics from Dave’s undeniable legacy.
Ocean Colour Scene – Friday 17 May
O2 Academy Leicester
Ocean Colour Scene’s rip-roaring live shows have long been one of the most extraordinary sights in modern rock, which boast the most life affirming sing-a-longs you’ll ever hear. They lit up the Britpop party, chalking up three Top five albums – Moseley Shoals, Marchin’ Already and 1999’s One From The Modern with a run of Top 20 single’s including the immortal “The Riverboat Song”.
James Walsh – Friday 17 May
The Soundhouse
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.
••••
FEATURE: Kasabian release summer anthem ahead of hometown show
Following the announcement of their anticipated new album Happenings, Kasabian, have released the third cut from the album in ‘Coming Back To Me Good’. The band will perform the brand new single for the first time on The Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday night (13 April).
One of the album’s euphoric, dance moments, ‘Coming Back To Me Good’ mixes sophisticated pop flourishes with a true ‘hug your mates’ chorus as it fizzes with wide-eyed hopefulness. “It’s got that disco drive, but there’s also a moment of togetherness,” Serge says of the track. “I imagine playing this when the sun’s out and your team is in the semi-final because it’s just so joyful.” Fans can listen to ‘Coming Back To Me Good’ HERE.
Co-produced by Serge and Mark Ralph (Zara Larsson, Clean Bandit, Rudimental), the follow up to 2022’s #1 album The Alchemist’s Euphoria, Happenings is 10 quick, sharp, visceral doses of fresh heavy hitters, drawing inspiration from the anything-goes art performance late-1950s. Veering between the dance floor to the mosh pit, tracks over three minutes were outlawed (well nearly), and with those 10 tracks clocking up to 26 minutes (“A minute shorter than the Ramones debut”), Happenings is not only an album that never overstays its welcome, but leaves listeners craving more.
Of course, Kasabian will be making their hometown return this summer with a huge show in Victoria Park on Saturday 6 July. This comes ahead of their headline slot at Latitude Festival. Tickets for the Victoria Park show remain on sale and can be purchased HERE.
PLAYLIST
In anticipation of Kasabian’s new single and album release, as well as their hometown show this summer, we’ve got their top tracks to bang out this weekend and get you in the mood for summer. Have you bought your Victoria Park tickets yet? Get them before they’re gone.