Welcome to this week’s Cool As Leicester Weekly Music News, which is brought to you every week in partnership with PPL PRS Ltd. Stay in the know and be the first in line. Every week.

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NEWS

Skunk Anansie – O2 Academy
Tuesday 27 October

90s indie favourites, Skunk Anansie, are back. After touring extensively worldwide with a huge variation of bands from U2 to Therapy?, the ‘amalgam of heavy metal and black feminist rage’ disbanded, with Skin leading a solo career until Skunk Anansie reformed in 2009. In 2019 they celebrated 25 years in the business with the career-spanning live album 25Live@25, which is also the name of their new tour. Tickets on sale on Friday.

Braids – The Cookie
Wednesday 22 April

Canada’s finest, Braids, are known for making an experimental indie-rock sound, encompassing elements of post-rock and shoegaze with electro beats and grooves. TICKETS.

Pinegrove – O2 Academy
Thursday 21 May

Pinegrove are a band from Montclair, New Jersey who blend ragged, emo-tinged indie rock with Americana influences. Led by singer/songwriter Evan Stephens Hall, along with core members Nick Levine (guitar) and brother Zack Levine (drums). TICKETS.

Willie J Healey – The Cookie
Thursday 23 April

Following fantastic reviews of his latest EP ‘Hello Good Morning’, Willie J Healey is back on tour. This is a musician who can write about any topic that grabs his attention; from wry observationals and the innocence of young love, through to gothic visitations from the devil and alien abductions. He’s unconstrained by genre, moving at will between scrappy garage-rock, evocative Americana and sumptuous psychedelia. TICKETS.

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THIS WEEK

Open Mic – The Soundhouse
Tuesday 4 February (and every Tuesday)

the soundhouse Leicester

The weekly open mic happens at The Soundhouse every Tuesday night from 7.30pm. The night is hosted by Rhett Barrow and acts are encouraged to arrive early if hoping to get a slot. Each week there’ll be a featured artist play from 9.30 – 10pm, so if you’re wanting to play a longer set then get your name down. Discover some

Roger Chapman – O2 Academy
Tuesday 4 February

The former Family and Streetwalkers frontman is back with his incredibly gravelly voice and a blues rock pedigree to match. TICKETS.

Acoustic Tuesdays – The Black Horse (Blaby)
Tuesday 4 February (and every Tuesday)

Every Tuesday at 8.30pm a friendly group of music lovers meet in the bar, to play, sing or just to listen to an informal acoustic session. FREE ENTRY.

Sorry – The Cookie
Tuesday 4 February

sorry band

Post-punk, grunge, London band, Sorry, are centred around Asha Lorenz & Louis O’Bryen, who started as two 19-year-old childhood best friends. Along with Lincoln Barrett (drums) and Campbell Baum (bass) they have been playing on London’s underground circuit since 2015. TICKETS

ROAM – The Vault at The Shed
Tuesday 4 February

ROAM are in Leicester for Independent Venue Week as part of their tour playing some smaller than usual rooms. The five piece from Brighton deliver performances fizzing with energy and melodic pop punk brilliance. The band take their cues from the likes of New Found Glory, Blink-182, Sum 41 and Simple Plan, and will be celebrating their most recent record Smile Wide. TICKETS.

Stephen Fearing – The Musician
Wednesday 5 February

Stephen Fearing is well known within the international folk and roots music community as one of its most accomplished songsmiths, storytellers and guitarists. A double Juno award winner in his native Canada, he has experienced commercial and critical success, both in his solo career and with roots / rock supergroup Blackie and The Rodeo Kings. TICKETS.

Tom Andrews – West End Brewery
Thursday 6 February

west end brewery leicester

Get ready for the weekend with some quality beer and acoustic tunes from Tom Andrews. Free entry, music from 8.30pm.

Footwerk – Apres Lounge
Thursday 6 February

A night all things Disco/House and Techno every Thursday with some of the best up and coming DJs Leicester has to offer along with amazing drinks deals.

Nervus – The Soundhouse
Thursday 6 February

Expect indie-punk rock based on an amalgamation of Alkaline Trio and Into It. Over It, from this Watford based band. Nervus started as a bedroom project and saw guitarist / vocalist Em create and write music to help cope overcoming addictions in various different forms as well as working through their own gender identity. Support comes from ‘sad pop’ band itoldyouiwouldeatyou. TICKETS.

Drinks & Jams – The Shed
Thursday 6 February

drinks jams

Every Thursday it’s open mic night at The Shed as they host Drinks & Jams. It kicks off at 7.30pm but you can arrive from 7pm to sign up to play. Each week there is a featured act on at 9.15pm. Friendly atmosphere, drinks offers and a great way to start the week.

Terry & Gerry – Duffy’s
Friday 7 February

Birmingham based cult skiffle cow-punk band, Terry and Gerry, reformed for a tour in Oct/ Nov 2014. John Peel promoted them when he picked out their demo tape because his wife’s best friends were also known as Terry and Gerry, and during the mid-80s they released 6 singles and an LP ‘From Lubbock to Clintwood East’, each going to Number One in the indie charts. The band toured extensively, gathering fans from Joe Strummer to Shane MacGowan. TICKETS.

Jazz on a Friday Evening – The Bottle Garden
Friday 7 February

the fourmasons

The Bottle Garden eases you into the weekend with The Fourmasons providing music from 6.30pm. Free entry.

Live Music Between The Comedy – The Shed
Friday 7 February

the shed Leicester

Just The Tonic have taken over the Vault stage at The Shed with a brilliant programme of comedy, but in between that there’s some free live music taking place in the main bar. Grab a seat and enjoy some acoustic fun, then pop down to watch the comedy if you fancy it too! Win win. Entry to the main bar is free. Most comedy shows are Pay What You Want or £5.

Western Park Festival Auditions – The Soundhouse
Friday 7 February

bring the paint

Head down to The Soundhouse for a night of the best local acts auditioning for their spot at Western Park festival. Doors 7.30pm. £4 on the door.

The Razors – The Musician
Friday 7 February

Spend Friday night with The Razors and recapture all the excitement of the golden age of Rock’n’Roll. They have all the vital ingredients: infectious rhythm, doo-wop harmonies, and frantic guitars. TICKETS.

JacuzziSoup – Natterjacks
Friday 7 February

natterjacks

Live music for your Friday night at Natterjacks as JacuzziSoup perform live, followed by resident DJ. 2 for 1 cocktails from 8pm – 11pm and free entry all night.

Re-Opening night – The Donkey
Saturday 8 February

the donkey

Like Johnny Cash in a gunfight with The Libertines, join John E Vistic and special guests and The Donkey celebrated its re-opening. Doors open at 8pm and it’s free entry.

Western Park Festival Auditions – The Soundhouse
Saturday 8 February

bring the paint

Head down to The Soundhouse for another night of the best local acts auditioning for their spot at Western Park festival. Doors 7.30pm. £4 on the door.

The Mysterious Blues – The Black Horse (Braunstone Gate)
Saturday 8 February

From Jimmy Hendrix to Bob Dylan, The Mysterious Blues are an exciting young band playing classic tunes. Free entry, music from 9pm.

Jam for Jingellic – The Shed
Saturday 8 February

the shed Leicester

The event is raising money for the Jingellic Community Recovery Committee to help all those who have been victims of the bush fires, and those who are saving lives by risking theirs fighting the fires. Music from 5.30 with acoustic acts and ending the night with Covernote playing until 10.30pm. Free entry but donations encouraged.

Weirdfish – Grand Union
Saturday 8 February

grand union leicester

Dance away your Saturday night with Weirdfish playing rock covers from the 70s through to modern day. Music from 9pm, free entry.

Ceri Dupree – Haymarket Theatre
Saturday 8 February

Ceri Dupree is beside himself with utter joy at the thought of returning to one of his favourite EVER theatres with his all new show, especially written for the Leicester Comedy Festival. Stand up/sit down comedy. Songs, sketches, parodies, impersonations and of course FAAAAAAAAAABULOUS costumes. TICKETS.

One Step Behind – The Musician
Saturday 8 February 

A tribute to Madness with all the energy and presence of the original act – quite an incredible show. A must-see band! TICKETS.

Sunday Jazz – The Real Ale Classroom
Sunday 9 February

real ale classroom

From 3pm head over to The Real Ale Classroom in Stoneygate for a chilled live jazz session with awesome beers, gins and more. Free entry.

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DIARY DATES

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – The Cookie
Saturday 7 March

Known for their wild, energetic concerts, the American alternative rock band hail from Austin, Texas. The chief members of the band are Jason Reece and Conrad Keely, who both alternate between drumming, guitar and lead vocals, both on recordings and live shows. TICKETS.

Mystery Jets – O2 Academy 2
Thursday 20 April

mystery jets

Mystery Jets managed to notch up a few UK top 40 hits in the 00s including ‘Two Doors Down’ and ‘The Boy Who Ran Away’, plus a string of successful albums including 2008’s ‘Twenty One’ which went Silver. Now, 2020 sees the release of their sixth album; ‘A Billion Heartbeats’. “Perfectly formed pop” – Bugbear. TICKETS.

Fleetwood Bac Performing ‘Rumours’ – O2 Academy
Saturday 12 September 2020

Fleetwood Bac perform the album Rumours in it’s entirety. TICKETS

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MORE MUSIC NEWS NEXT WEEK

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