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Diary Dates
The Soundhouse Summer Sessions – Every Saturday
The Soundhouse
The Soundhouse Summer Sessions are back every Saturday afternoon throughout the summer. Join them for an afternoon of outdoor music from some of the best local live acoustic acts, with free entry, outdoor stage, dog friendly and family friendly.
Sunday afternoon gigs at The Donkey
Another one for a sunny weekend, don’t miss the free Sunday afternoon gigs at The Donkey on Welford Road. Starting from 3pm, when it’s sunny the music will move to their outdoor stage so you can soak up the tunes and the sun with a few beers and a bite from their food menu.
The Wedding Present – Friday 23 June
O2 Academy Leicester
In the late 1980s The Wedding Present were one of the most famous British indie bands. Their career path often involved unusual decisions, such as recording a set of Ukranian folk songs for their first major-label offering and releasing a single on the first Monday of every month for a year. Band members came and went, but the idea of The Wedding Present as a group has remained. Nowadays fans of ‘the Weddoes’ can still hear their favourite songs (as well as new material) being played live by original songwriter David Gedge and his band.
The Howl & The Hum – Saturday 24 June
The Soundhouse
York-based four piece The Howl & The Hum combine rumbling, melodic dark pop with haunting, evocative lyrics, and a hypnotic yet energetic live show, With a magpie mentality they cut their teeth playing in and learning from local bands and busking, with a strong songwriting core and an inventive, progressive view on what place guitar music has in today’s culture. Their inspirations ranging from Leonard Cohen and Phoebe Bridgers to Lizzo and Kendrick Lamar, and have been likened to Massive Attack, Radiohead and Alt-J.
James – Tuesday 4 July
De Montfort Hall
To celebrate the release of their new album, Be Opened By The Wonderful, James will be taking to De Montfort Hall’s stage with a 22 piece orchestra and an eight piece choir for a night of re-imagined hits. One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, James have released 16 studio albums, selling over 25 million copies with their recent run of Top Five albums proving to be a golden era for the band.
Bombay Bicycle Club – Tuesday 17 October
O2 Academy 2
You won’t want to miss this very special album launch event with Bombay Bicycle Club. They’re playing an intimate show in celebration of their sixth studio album, ‘My Big Day’, which features collaborations with Damon Albarn, Nilüfer Yanya, Holly Humberstone and more. It’s the follow up to 2020’s ‘Everything Else Has Gone Wrong’.
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FOCUS ON: 110 Above presents OTHR Festival
One of the festival calendar’s best kept secrets happens right here in Leicestershire with 110 Above taking place at Gopsall Farm, Twycross. After a huge 2022 which saw Sea Girls headline the independent festival, the organisers knew that due to farm based activities they needed to make changes for 2023. Taking into consideration hay making, harvest and the organisers’ young families, they were initially set for a fallow year in 2023, but demand and the success of 2022 changed their plans.
110 Above, but not as you know it will be back as 2023 welcomes 110 Above Presents: OTHR Festival. This will see attention centred on the magical Old Town Hall and Gopsall Inn stages, and pausing use of the Commune and Elizabeth stage. This will see the return of secret spaces like the Post Office and Karaoke as well as other hidden gems that have never been seen before!
Now onto the line-up. With excitement high as ever and Tier 1 and Tier 2 already selling out well in advance of a line-up announcement, as always the 110 Above team have pulled a great-up set of acts out of the bag.
The line-up announcement unveiled that melodic indie rockers, Circa Waves, will headline Sunday night with Glaswegian quartet, Twin Atlantic, playing a special guest slot.
Friday night will see London-based singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist, Jack Garratt, headlining as he combines electric guitar, drum machines, keyboards, and his R&B-friendly falsetto. Elsewhere across the weekend you can find Tom A Smith, Caity Baser, Daisy Brain and more.
The site will see a number of changes take place including new spaces, never used before at the festival. Keep an eye out for Garage in the Garage, bringing you the best grime, hip hop and garage across the weekend.
Dubbed as “Unpretentious and undeniably fun”, OTHR Festival looks set to have all the magic of 110 Above packaged up ever so slightly differently. Be quick if you want to make sure you’re there.
110 Above presents OTHR Festival takes place at Gopsall Farm from 10 – 14 August. Tickets are on sale now from the 110 Above website.
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST
Check out this week’s playlist to discover the best of the line-up you can see at this year’s 110 Above presents OTHR Festival.
Have a listen and get in touch to tell us which tracks you’re loving.