COOL AS LEICESTER

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Diary Dates”.

The Mercians – Saturday 23 November
O2 Academy Leicester

The Mercians are a highly rated Midlands based, Indie band with influences ranging from Catfish & The Bottleman to Sam Fender, who have shaped their sound.

Ben Ottewell – Thursday 28 November
Firebug

Ben Ottewell is best known as a member of Gomez, a British rock act whose debut album, Bring It On, won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998. Gomez never had a designated frontman – Ottewell, Ian Ball, and Tom Gray all sang, and the band’s albums usually included several vocal performances from each – but Ottewell took the helm more than his bandmates, making him one of the group’s most prominent members.

After releasing the band’s sixth album in 2009, he began paving the way for a solo career and solo albums.

Damage – Friday 29 November
O2 Academy Leicester

Here’s one for the 90s r’n’b girls. Damage emerged onto the British music scene in 1997 with their debut album “Forever” and quickly became recognised following hits such as Love 2 Love, Guetto Romance, Love Guaranteed, Forever and a cover of Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight. Catch them as they come back together on stage after 20+ years.

John E Vistic – Friday 29 November
Duffy’s

‘Very original blues-rock, not dissimilar to an electric version of Dylan or Tom Waits’ (The Prom). Like Johnny Cash in a gun fight with the Libertines.

Smoove & Turrell – Saturday 30 November
The International

Geordie duo with the smoothest funk and soul sounds. A fabulous live Northern Soul influenced band, combined with Turrell’s gravel-voiced, classic soul man vocals. Their material draws on subject matters which are aimed to make us stop and think, with songs such as the politically charged ‘Hate Seeking Missile’ balanced fittingly with uplifting stompers such as ‘I Feel Alive’, guarantee to get even the most resistant of dancers toe-tapping.

The K’s – Thursday 5 December
O2 Academy Leicester

A four piece, fuzz-pop band from Newton-Le-Willows. It’s clear The K’s are going to keep growing, a cult sensation ready to blossom in the mainstream. Their irresistible, irrefutable spirit, is welcoming to anyone who wants to escape into a better, more hopeful world.

Sam Ryder – Saturday 7 December
O2 Academy Leicester

As the world was being put in to lockdown in March 2020 – Sam uploaded the first of his now infamous covers. They quickly caught the attention of some famous fans (think Justin Bieber, Sia, Alicia Keys and Elton John) – with compilations of his videos appearing on The Ellen Show, BBC’s Newsbeat and more. As the videos kept coming, so did the fans.

Fast forward 7 months and Sam rounded-off his incredible year with TikTok crowning his account as the most popular UK artist account of 2020 – beating the likes of Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi and Liam Payne.

His popularity and talent was soon rewarded as Sam was given the opportunity to represent the UK at Eurovision in 2022. His song Space Man finished in second place, which was the best result the UK had achieved for over 20 years.

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