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Diary Dates
Holding Absence – Friday 20 January
O2 Academy Leicester
An atmospheric melodic / post hardcore band from Cardiff. They take their influences from the Smashing Pumpkins through to My Bloody Valentine. “Arena-sized tunes” – The National Student.com
Northern Soul & Motown Night – Friday 27 January
The Donkey
Get your dancing shoes on and enjoy the best of Northern Soul and Motown with this Friday night out to celebrate the end of January. Tickets are just £4.
A Band Called Malice – Friday 27 January
Ronnie Roos
The Definitive Tribute to The Jam. A Band Called Malice continue to wow audiences by being the number one choice tribute-act to The Jam. This talented trio are the real deal and guarantee to take you back to ‘When You’re Young.”. As Jam fans themselves, A Band Called Malice shows are full of high-octane energy, angst, aggression and the passion displayed by their idols.
Pip Blom – Saturday 28 January
Firebug
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Never listen to people who want to change your music. With that advice from a fellow musician Amsterdam based Pip Blom started making songs. First with a three string Loog guitar with the 14 track demo album Short Stories as result. Some years later, the sound has changed completely. Gone is the ‘girl with little guitar’. Enter electric guitars, bass and drums. But it is still Pip.’
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PREVIEW: Frank Turner’s Never Ending Tour of Everywhere
Frank Turner is on the road with his No.1, ninth album ‘FTHC’, his first since 2019’s ‘No Man’s Land’. The folk-punk troubadour continues his impressive run of shows with his wonderful band, The Sleeping Souls on ‘The Never Ending Tour Of Everywhere’, performing to millions of people all over the world. AND including a date here in Leicester at the O2 Academy on Monday 23 January.
‘FTHC’ was Turner’s first album since 2019 and was released with his own accompanying podcast. The album and podcast marked a new chapter in a career that had already spawned fourTop 5albums; nearing an impressive 3000 shows to over 2 million people worldwide and stretching from grassroots venues to Wembley Arena, and the O2.
‘FTHC’ was recorded at ARC – Abbey Recording Studios – just outside of Oxford and produced/mixed by Rich Costey (Foo Fighters, Muse, Biffy Clyro). The album darts between punk, folk, hard rock and singer-songwriter confessionals, starting with the first single ‘The Gathering’ featuring Jason Isbell and Muse’s Dom Howard. ‘Fatherless’ is particularly revealing as Turner reflects on childhood trauma. ‘A Wave Across A Bay’ is a tribute to his friend, the late Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, before the album ends with a rumination on leaving the capital after 7300 days for a new life on the Essex coast with the bittersweet ‘Farewell To My City’.
The album a mini autobiography rooted in time and place, but one that ultimately accepts that it’s time to move on.
Frank Turner’s unwavering support of the live music scene during the pandemic saw him play countless livestream benefit shows to raise money and awareness of the importance of small venues all across the country. One livestreamed gig was even dedicated to raising money for The Shed, right here in Leicester. After raising nearly £300,000 during lockdown, he was awarded the Music Venue Trust’s award for Outstanding Achievement for Grassroots Music Venues.
With a setlist spanning Turner’s careers, you can expect an evening packed with hits from Photosynthesis to I Am Disappeared and Be More Kind. Performing with his band The Sleeping Souls a little birdie has told us to expect a mid-show solo performance of some of his old tracks.
Frank Turner will be at Leicester’s O2 Academy on Monday 23 January. Limited tickets are on sale now
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
This week’s playlist we’ve got Frank Turner’s latest album to give a flavour of what’s to come from his upcoming tour date.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.