Music fans, we’re here with your weekly Leicester music guide featuring news and interviews from across the local scene.
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Diary Dates
Prom Night Rejects – Friday 22 October
The Shed
Enjoy all of your favourite pop punk songs performed by Prom Night Rejects! Followed by Alternative Karaoke in Vault.
CUD – Saturday 23 October
The Soundhouse
Leeds-based four piece who during the 90s released 5 albums, 17 singles and several John Peel sessions. Perhaps best known for their top 40 hit ‘Rich And Strange’.
Shy FX – Saturday 23 October
O2 Academy Leicester
The pseudonym of Andre Williams, Shy FX is a London based Drum And Bass and Jungle DJ, producer and remixer. He has produced for Dizzee Rascal and Yasmin and remixed for DJ Fresh. Shy FX crashed the British charts in 1994 with ‘Original Nuttah’, one of the most infectious Ragga-Jungle anthems of all time, and he quickly became one of Jungle’s most respected producers.
Sea Power – Sunday 24 October
O2 Academy
Sea Power are Yan, Noble Hamilton, Woody and Eamon. The band began life in Cumbria, 2001, and after a few relocations gained an enormous reputation in Brighton and then Europe, as tour supports to such greats as Interpol and The Flaming Lips. By the end of 2004, they were known worldwide, receiving acclaim as ‘the best band in Britain’ (Sunday Times) and attaining the Time Out award for Live Band Of The Year. Sea Power have established themselves as one of Britain’s most noteworthy bands.
Oscar Lang – Monday 25 October
Firebug
London-based artist Oscar Lang has created a soft indie/alternative sound which encapsulates the sound of being a teenager, telling tales of teenage misfortunes and adventures. Oscar crafts each intricate part of his songs from his bedroom, laying down each instrument slowly to create wide landscapes of sound.
Amber Run – Wednesday 25 October
O2 Academy
Amber Run are five young chaps, originally from Buckinghamshire and formed towards the end of 2012. The first thing they put online was a cover of Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek, which gave their burgeoning fan-base a glimpse of what to expect, with their four-part harmonies and expansive sound. The five-piece demonstrate their taste for space and melody. They manage to strike a balance between stadium-sized rock and the intimacy and sentiment of folk music.
Connor Selby – Friday 29 October
The Soundhouse
Selected to appear at Wembley Stadium supporting The Who, Kaiser Chiefs, Imelda May and Eddie Vedder in July 2019, Connor Selby is a rising star. Having already played a number of iconic venues such as the 100 Club and Borderline, and having clocked up numerous festival appearances, the young British bandleader-guitarist-vocalist writes his own songs and builds on influences as diverse as Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, and Nick Drake.
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INTERVIEW – DALE WALTON
Dale Walton is a DJ on the Leicester scene but also a barber, running the Sopranos Barbershop in Leicester. He’s working on a fundraising event at 2Funky Music Cafe to raise money for the Lions Barber Collective, a brilliant organisation promoting mental health support through barbers. You can expect a big Hacienda style event with Bez from The Happy Mondays, Graeme Park and more, taking place on Saturday 26 February 2022. We caught up Dale to find out more about it.
This is How it Feels is a new event coming to Leicester next year, how did it come about?
The event is coming to Leicester on February 26th. I really wanted to put on a Hacienda style even and do a not for profit charity event
You’ve got a great line-up with Bez from The Happy Mondays and Graeme Park, what can people expect from the event?
Lots of freaky dancing from Bez plus some amazing 90s house music from Graeme Park and live music from Shine plus I’ve brought back Leicester legend Marc Fuccio who ran High Spirits in the early 90s, which was one of the main house nights in Leicester at the time. Also tall order will be hosting the back room guest DJs.
You’re supporting an important charity through the event, tell us about that.
The Lions Barber Collective train barbers to help with clients wellbeing and to get customers to the appropriate agencies to help with mental health issues if needed. The main thing the barbers are there for is to listen. A lot of men find it hard to talk and believe it or not men open up a lot in the barber chair.
How important is music in bringing people together to support causes like this?
It’s great as music brings people together and after the lockdowns its great just to get out again and connect.
You’re holding the event at 2Funky Music Cafe, the complex at 2Funky has had a great refurbishment lately, what is it you like about the venue?
The venue looks amazing and is always evolving. It’s the most forward thinking venue in Leicester and the sound system is great and, of course, the staff and Vijay the owner.
Of course, you’re also a DJ yourself, if you were putting together your dream playlist what would be on it?
I would have to have a lot of Manchester anthems – Stone Roses, Happy Mondays etc but I do love my house music as well.
Who are some of your favourite local performers?
I think Gazelle are definitely going somewhere, the band are making great music, they should definitely be signed soon. But also Tall Order a local DJ duo are making great moves in the house music scene..
Where can people find out more about the event and buy tickets?
You can get tickets on Skiddle.
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
This week in our latest playlist we’re showcasing some of the acts you can see live in Leicester over the coming weeks. Get listening and buy some tickets.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.
MORE MUSIC NEWS NEXT WEEK
