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Diary Dates
Soundhouse Summer Sessions – Every Saturday through the summer
The Soundhouse
The Summer Sessions are BACK. Enjoy live music outdoors on the city centre’s best outdoor stage. From 1-6pm every Saturday through the summer. Enjoy a mixed bill of local acts with some drinks in the sunshine. Free entry and all ages welcome..
Project Blackbird – Wednesday 24 August
The Musician
Project Blackbird marked a more focused musical direction for long-time bandmates Ming Nagel (lyrics, vocals) and multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jon Read, former trumpet player for The Specials.
Crazyhead – Saturday 27 August
The Donkey
Crazyhead are an garage punk band from Leicester. Their songs range in theme from trenchant social commentary to the surreal, but always with an underlying vein of black humour. Though lumped in with the largely media-created grebo scene, they were more influenced by the garage rock of the late 1960s, as well as bands like The Ramones, The Stooges and Captain Beefheart.
The Heartland Roots Band – Saturday 27 August
The Musician
Brit-Country stars The Heartland Roots Band serve their audience a big shot of Americana and blues cocktail. Nine consecutive chart singles, and 2 million streams worldwide in the last couple of years demonstrate the group’s enduring appeal.
Adam Ant – Friday 2 September
De Montfort Hall
This show was rescheduled from 27th June 2022 (previously 2nd March 2022). Pop icon Adam Ant returns with a set list that promises to get everyone on their feet, performing his classic chart-topping singles and personal favourites.
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INTERVIEW: Fun Lovin’ Criminals
Following the departure of Huey from Fun Lovin’ Criminals, remaining members Frank Benbini and Fast have recruited guitarist Naim Cortazzi to replace Huey for our UK, Europe and US tours. Naim is a seasoned musician having worked with Happy Mondays for six years, with soul superstar Beverley Knight, reggae band Radio Riddler and many other bands and musicians. Ahead of their headline date at O2 Academy Leicester, we caught up with Frank to chat about this new phase for the band.
How would you describe this new phase for Fun Lovin’ Criminals?
Positive- exciting and enjoyable! We are looking forward to playing for our true fans and to new fans along the way.
What can people expect from the upcoming tour?
A good energy & a chance to hear a bunch of songs we haven’t played for a long time and 3 well dressed classy dudes.
You’ve worked with Naim in the past, has he slotted in well to the FLC line-up?
Yeah we go back decades. Myself and Fast have shared stages and studios a lot over the years so the transition has been pretty painless as he has a good energy.
What’s your favourite thing about performing live?
Sharing music with a live audience is the best – it’s an energy that’s hard to describe, my favourite thing I suppose is that. It heals me when I do it.
What’s your favourite venue you’ve ever played?
This is a tough one. I love this theatre in Dublin called the Olympic theatre, or maybe on the beach in Maui, Hawaii – there’s so many.
What’s special about performing in Leicester?
It’s my town. I got history. I got friends and family. Plus I can eat at one of my favourite food spots after the show and sleep in my own bed. Winner winner.
Where can people keep up to date with your news and buy tickets for the tour?
Web: https://www.funlovincriminals.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funlovincriminals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funlovincrims/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/funlovincrims
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS68hdVEYjefFxI12UyYX8Q
Fun Lovin’ Criminals play O2 Academy Leicester on Wednesday 7 September.
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
This week we’re giving you a taster of some of Leicesershire’s upcoming artists. Check them out below.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.