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NEWS
Leif Erikson – The Cookie
Thursday 2 April
Join London indie 5-piece on their new tour. “Some of the most carefully conceived indie rock being made by any UK band this year”, “No other new British band make heartfelt, soaring statements of intent quite like Leif Erikson” – The Line of Best Fit. TICKETS.
Oceans Apart – O2 Academy Leicester
Saturday 1 August
Rising Leicester alt-rockers, Oceans Apart, return for a headline show at O2 Academy in August. TICKETS.
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THIS WEEK
Open Mic – The Soundhouse
Tuesday 21 January (and every Tuesday)
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 brilliant new acts. The Soundhouse is on Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter. FREE ENTRY.
Long and Winding Road Film Premiere – The Cookie
Tuesday 21 January
The Cookie will be showing the Midlands Film Premiere of ‘Long and Winding Road’. A feature documentary filmed over 2 years taking you on a very special journey into independent live music venues across the UK meeting those who run, work & play in them. The documentary features contributions from Pink Floyd, Portishead, Idles, Nadine Shah, Gaz Coombes, Richard Hawley and other key grassroots music venues across the UK. TICKETS.
Acoustic Tuesdays – The Black Horse (Blaby)
Tuesday 21 January (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.
Bombay Bicycle Club – De Montfort Hall
Thursday 23 January
London indie foursome, Bombay Bicycle Club, are back with a new single and album so they’re off on a new UK tour which is heading to Leicester this week. The band first hit the scene back in 2005 and have notched up top 10 albums, countless awards and major festival appearances over the years. TICKETS.
Drinks & Jams – The Shed
Thursday 23 January
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 early start to the weekend.
The Hoo Ha Record Club – The Exchange Bar
Thursday 23 January
Hoo Ha returns for its first outing of 2020. The format stays as before, 12 DJs are picked from a hat, each playing a set of twenty minutes each with songs fitting this month’s theme. Songs can be played on vinyl or CD (MP3s only if you really must!). This month’s theme is “Working 9-5”. Come down and see what it’s all about then maybe next month you can spin some tunes yourself.
Footwerk – Apres Lounge
Thursday 23 January
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.
SoulJam- Dryden Street Social
Thursday 23 January
Enjoy a night of the most soulful tunes to kick start your weekend early. Always a guaranteed party with funky soul and disco. TICKETS.
Nick Weldon Sextet – The Musician
Thursday 23 January
A rare opportunity to experience a truly spectacular band bringing the best of jazz to Leicester. As a renowned pianist,
jazz educator and more recently also as a double bassist, Nick has assembled a group of diverse and highly individual
musicians for an evening of exquisite musical stimulation! TICKETS.
The Upbeat Beatles – The Y Theatre
Friday 24 January
Get ready for a night dancing to one of the finest Beatles’ tributes around! The show takes you through the Fab Four’s long and winding road from the early Cavern days through Beatlemania, America, Sergeant Pepper to Abbey Road, with narrative and full multi-media presentation. TICKETS.
Burns Night Ceilidh – The Guildhall
Friday 24 January
Celebrate Burns Night with an evening of energetic music and traditional dancing. This is a unique opportunity to dosey doe the night away in the Guildhall’s atmospheric Great Hall, enjoy a real fire and dram whiskey to keep you warm!! Live music from Ceilidh band, 3Around3.£5 advance tickets, £8 on the door. Please call 0116 253 2569 to book.
Ultimate Coldplay – The Musician
Friday 24 January
Enjoy all of your favourite hits with one of the UK’s very best Coldplay tribute acts. TICKETS.
InMe – O2 Academy 2 Leicester
Friday 24 January
With 6 studio albums to their name, they have an army of fans and have toured with the likes of Alien Ant Farm, The Rasmus, Nickelback, Limp Bizkit, Pendulum, Deftones, Serj Tankian, Staind, Feeder and Biffy Clyro as well as having played massive festivals such as Reading, Sonisphere and Download. TICKETS.
Bubblegum Hypnosis – The Cookie
Friday 24 January
Bubblegum Hypnosis launch their debut EP, Cosmic Stream, and perform alongside a wealth of other local talent, including Homeless Shakespeare, Dum Language, Scumbag Lion and more. Tickets £5 on the door.
The Rising Souls – The Soundhouse
Saturday 25 January
The Rising Souls are an all original 4 piece thumping blue-eyed soul band. Hailing from Edinburgh, these lads never fail to impress an audience. With powerful vocals, catchy melodies and dynamic rhythm this band is a must see live. Support comes from The Nile Deltas, Ramblin’ Preachers and Adam Olinski. TICKETS.
Monkey Business – Grand Union
Saturday 25 January
Rock your socks off with Monkey Business down at Grand Union. Free entry and music from 7pm.
Gorse Hill City Farm Fundraising Gig – The Shed
Saturday 25 January
With the popular farm set to lose its council funding, join a host of the city’s top musical performers for an all day event at The Shed, raising much needed funds. Music from midday. Family activities and variety of genres. Donation on the door.
Roxy Magic – The Musician
Saturday 25 January
If you’re a fan of Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music then here you can enjoy all the hits flawlessly performed live in this authentic tribute show. The lead singer looks and sounds the double of Bryan Ferry with the same stage persona and quirky style. TICKETS.
Together – O2 Academy
Saturday 25 January
Join some of Leicester’s finest musical talent as Together takes over the O2 Academy for a showcase of everything that’s wonderful about the Leicester arts scene. Up and coming acts, multiple stages, local creatives and designers selling their wares. All for £12. TICKETS.
The Needless – O’Neill’s
Saturday 25 January
Join the four-piece Mod inspired rock band, taking influence from all different sounds including Punk, Northern Soul and Motown. Music from 9pm. Free entry.
Mayapee – The Cookie
Saturday 25 January
Spoken word, poetry and music, join Mayapee for an evening to celebrate the launch of her new EP. The EP tackles issues such as freedom from toxic relationships, sexual harassment and embracing being yourself and not conforming to society pressure.
Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon – The Bottle Garden
Sunday 26 January
Returning for 2020, welcome The Fourmasons back to The Bottle Garden for another live jazz session, accompanied with cool drinks, delicious bites and all round good vibes. Enjoy a chilled afternoon, entry is free and doors open at 2.30pm.
Electric Violinist – The Real Ale Classroom
Sunday 26 January
Enjoy an afternoon of live music, open mic and great beers and gins. Guest performer this week is the return of Stefan, the Electric Violinist. Music from 3pm.
Peaness – Firebug
Monday 27 January
Enjoy the unique and upbeat indie pop that has won the hearts of unsuspecting listeners across the length and breadth of the DIY scene, right through to BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens. Expect effortless breezy melodies, catchy hooks, even catchier choruses and lyrics that come with a cheeky wink and tongue in cheek innocence. TICKETS.
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DIARY DATES
Temples – O2 Academy Leicester
Wednesday 4 March
In support of their new album ‘Hot Motion’, Kettering’s Psychedelia outfit Temples return to the o2 Academy Leicester in March. TICKETS.
Circa Waves – O2 Academy
Tuesday 31 March
Known for their nervy, melodic indie rock, Circa Waves first gained buzz in the 2010’s with hooky singles like ‘Get Away’ and ‘Stuck in My Teeth’. Centered on lead singer/songwriter Kieran Shudall, the Liverpudlians earned favourable comparisons to the Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and the Vaccines. They’re touring in support of their brand new album ‘Sad Happy’. TICKETS.
Battles – The Y Theatre
Tuesday 5 May
From Brooklyn, New York, Battles are an angular and highly experimental band who have garnered a reputation as some of the most skilled and innovative musicians of their time, helping them to garner a worldwide audience. Pushing the sonic limits of how conventional instruments and electronics meld, they’re coming to Leicester off the back of a tour support slot with Foals. TICKETS.
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SPOTLIGHT
Fundraising gig to support Gorse Hill City Farm
Gorse Hill City Farm has sadly been selected as one of the venues set to lose council funding. Now a fundraising gig is being held at The Shed to help raise funds for the family friendly attraction. The gig, organised by Phono Media and Arclight Promotions, will be held this Saturday will raise funds for the farm park and animals, so that Leicester families and children still get to enjoy the facilities. We caught up with organiser, Helena Hughes, to find out more about it.
Gorse Hill City Farm looks set to lose its council funding, can you tell us a little about why the farm is such an important venue in the city?
Its a wonderful farm park and numerous children (and adults) of all ages visit and have visited since it was opened back in 1985. Often children from inner city areas dont get an opportunity to see farm animals up close and personal, so this farm centre gives them that opportunity to feed the animals and learn more about then.
Also, as Kevin Hewick told me, he used to take vulnerable adults to the farm centre when he was a carer, and they found the animals to be very therapeutic and they all thoroughly enjoyed their time at the farm.
If this farm centre was no longer there it would be a huge loss to the community for sure.
You’ve arranged a fundraising gig at The Shed. How much are you hoping to raise from the event?
We are hoping to raise around £1000 to help the farm park. They still need lots more, however, to keep the farm open. So if anyone else is interested in fundraising for them please get in touch directly with their manager.
What can people expect at the fundraising event?
We have a wide range of local acoustic acts during the day, along with a puppet show for families. The evening there will be 2 floors of bands, indie/punk upstairs and metal downstairs.
If you look at the bottom of this Q & A you will see our full lineup, all cracking acts involved.
How did you put together the line-up for the event?
I worked with Cameron from Arclight on this, he put the metal acts together and I did the rest. It wasn’t hard to find great acts though, as the majority approached me about wanting to play.
If people can’t attend the gig are there other ways they can get involved in fundraising for the cause?
Yes they can donate directly to Gorse Hill Farm Centre as well as looking to adopt one of the lovely animals.
What other events do you have coming up this year?
Phono Media are working on other fundraising events for Musicians Against Homelessness, and will be working with local promoters and bands again to make this happen, so keep any eye on our pages for the updates.
Where can people get tickets?
This event for Gorse Hill Farm is donations on the door only for entry, a minimum of £3 per person is ideal.
Full line-up
AFTERNOON ACOUSTIC SETS FROM:
Chris Bramley
Lee Heir (from Prime)
Cassius Povey
Imogen Cresswell
Kaat Alexx Bishop
Brandon Neal
Kevin Hewick
EVENING INDIE BANDS:
Side Project
Elba
KittenFang
Spiny Norman
Puppet show will be on in the afternoon for families to enjoy, times to be confirmed
EVENING METAL BAND LINEUP DOWNSTAIRS IN THE VAULT.
7pm onwards.
Caliburn
Running with Knives
Odin’s Revenge
Decay the Ocean
The Shed, Saturday 25 January, midday – 10.30pm.
To make donations to help save Gorse Hill City Farm you can do so via their website.
MORE MUSIC NEWS NEXT WEEK
