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Diary Dates
Jonny Osbourne & The Upper Cut Band – Friday 26 July
2Funky Music Cafe
Johnny Osbourne is a popular Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid-1980s.
Tommy Scott – Friday 2 August
The Soundhouse
Thomas ‘Tommy’ Scott is an English musician and the lead singer, principal songwriter and guitarist of the Liverpool indie band Space.
The Vintage Caravan – Thursday 8 August
Firebug
A young blues / prog rock band from Álftanes, Iceland whose musical influences are very diverse but mainly include the classic hard rock of the 60s and 70s. Though the influence may suggest a glorified retro-type band, The Vintage Caravan do it in their own way with a powerful attitude and a modern twist.
Gerry Jablonski Band – Saturday 17 August
The Musician
Scintillating Rock/Blues from Scotland’s premiere live band. Packing killer riffs and striking solos, Jablonski and his explosive band redefine rock blues on their own terms. Gerry is master guitarist with the well honed stagecraft of a seasoned performer. Blending blues roots with the influences of Classic Rock, Gerry and the boys make this a blistering powerhouse of a British Blues band.
Wunderhorse – Friday 23 August
O2 Academy
Wunderhorse is the project of former Dead Pretties frontman, punk-turned-Americana songwriter Jacob Slater.
Skulk of Foxes – Sunday 25 August
The Big Difference
Skulk Of Foxes, the alternative folk-rock tandem hailing from Manchester, is a captivating synergy between the vocals of Beth Rigby and the instrumental work of Rob Aldridge. Infusing their music with a magnetic blend of gothic allure and dark folk, Skulk Of Foxes weaves a spellbinding tapestry that transcends genres. Within their haunting melodies, one discovers a harmonious fusion of emotive folk-inspired lyrics, elevating their sound to an ethereal realm of musical enchantment.
Flyte – Thursday 5 September
The Y Theatre
Flyte is an alternative four piece from London that are rooted in classic pop songwriting with songs that are infectiously melodic and compellingly lyrical.
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INTERVIEW: Pretty Dirty Rats launch new EP
Have you heard of the Unglamorous Project? This incredible covid project saw women of all ages across Leicester join new punk bands and it continues to go strong.
One of those bands is Pretty Dirty Rats. With a new EP due for release and a launch show on the horizon, we caught up with the band to find out more.
Tell us about Pretty Dirty Rats and how you formed?
Jo: We are comprised of 3 slinky-tailed creatures of beauty only sometimes in need of a good boywash, with our own “prog punk”, “so grunge”, angsty, melodic, dark, frenetic sounds?! Kel is our awesome drummer, Clare the coolest bassist, and “captivating, quirky” me on guitar and vocals. We spawned in January 2023 through the Unglamorous project founded by Ruth Miller, which is about getting women into bands and to play their first gig in just 6 weeks!
Just how important was the Unglamorous Project for the womens music scene?
Jo: Just ask anyone and they’ll say how utterly transformative it has been for the Leicester music scene, making a friendly community and spaces that are more inclusive, and safer. It has caught a lot of media interest including TV spots, documentary in the works, and inspired women across the world to form bands. Very proud we are to be part of this movement.
Kel: Again, massive shout out to Ruth Miller, guitarist and vocalist in the Verinos, who set up the project but sadly passed away at the end of last year. She gave so much confidence to us all to just ‘give it a go’ and is properly missed.
Tell us about the upcoming EP?
Jo: It’s a celebration and encapsulation of our first forays as a band: our first 6 songs we wrote in 2023. Recorded earlier this year to capture our raw, authentic live sound
Kel: It’s really exciting and includes our first ever song Hot Mess which ironically is now the hardest for me to play haha! Some songs from it will even feature on local indie film Duskman by GMFinney Productions premiering this August.
Did you ever imagine you’d be in a band, planning an EP launch and playing live?
Jo: It’s all so surreal, but why couldn’t and shouldn’t we be doing this? You just have to be dedicated and find a great bunch of band rats. It’s hard to imagine that we could start from no experience and so quickly learn our craft, how to be a band, and to perform and write songs together. I’d always wanted to play guitar and sing in front of an audience as I love music so much but never thought I would.
Clare: A couple of my friends are in other unglam bands and I was amazed by their achievements so decided to give it a go too. And it’s great – I love being creative with my awesome band mates.
What advice would you give to other women wanting to have a go?
Jo: It’s one of the best things that we have ever done, you have got to try it! Don’t worry about not knowing what you’re doing yet. Make it up as you go along. Don’t give up during the steep learning curve. Playing in a band and creating music, performing live to an audience, is a thrill like no other.
Which 3 artists inspire you as a band?
Jo: Damn only 3! We don’t really think too much about what sound we want to create except something quite dark and rocky. Jimmy Eat World or Green Day are inspiration for the more punky riffs, perhaps the darker and more menacing and fastness has some System of a Down and Deftones influences more so lately.
Clare: I’m old school and take inspiration from The Undertones, The Buzzcocks and darker sounds like Magazine.
What’s been your favourite thing about being in the band?
Jo: We’ve had the opportunity to play at so many local venues, meet such wonderful people, and I love the creativity in creating music, writing songs, and I love to sing. It’s so rewarding. And I have a lot to say and channel into music.
Clare: Being involved in the artistic process and performing with 2 positive and highly creative women has been a highlight for me.
Kel: The moment I realised that if any of us mess up on stage our default is to smile and laugh it off rather than to freak out.
Give us all the info on the release date and launch date:
Our EP is out on 2nd August via digital download/CD at https://prettydirtyrats.bandcamp.com, to stream on Spotify, Amazon, Apple music, etc and on CD from 2nd August at our EP launch party.
Our EP launch will be held at Duffy’s Bar on the same day. Doors 7.30pm, and tickets are just £5. Support from all women bands Miss Kicks, Dada Women and Velvet Crisis. On the door entry plus advance tickets from fatso.ma/ZRgw
You can keep up to date with the latest from Pretty Dirty Rats on Facebook.
