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Live At Leeds 2017 Preview

  • Published in Live

There’s always a sense of excitement that comes with the start of a new year; music fans across the country eagerly await the line-ups for summer festivals.  Rumours abound for weeks on who might be making an appearance at the plethora of events which will be taking place up and down the UK (and abroad, if you’re adventurous) - and as the announcements are made, the excitement is heightened by the fact that you can almost reach and and grab the summer season in front of you.

Live at Leeds, held over the first May bank holiday, is always one such event for us.  Perhaps the giddiness is aided by the fact there are not one, but two days off in May; but it’s one festival that guarantees a great day out with a really good mix of music to keep you going.  

In a similar vein to Tramlines and Dot to Dot, Live at Leeds embraces the venues across its city; from tiny underground bars to larger venues like the University of Leeds - and everything in between.  There’s something for every taste and there’s a well-curated list of artists to entertain you through the day, be it an up and coming unsigned act or your favourite Top 40 band.  You can plan your day out to suit your own schedule - hey, you can even stop for a pub lunch and/or kebab on the way round.  

This year is no exception.  Highlights for us include the return of Get Inuit, who we discovered at LAL 2015.  Their infectious guitar pop comes in quick, rather noisy, bursts - in a good way, of course.  Alongside them, Let’s Eat Grandma; we reviewed their debut album last year and would love to see them recreate their mad, whimsical music in a live environment, particularly because so many instruments are involved in each track.  Bigger acts include Jagwar Ma, Gabrielle Aplin and Temples, whilst Slaves, White Lies, Wild Beasts, Nothing But Thieves, and the rather well booked ahead-of-time Rag’n’Bone Man complete the eclectic line-up.

With the last acts on the line-up being announced this week - Frightened Rabbit and  amongst them - you’re now in prime position to make the shortlist of bands you want to see.  Venues and times are still to come, the hardest part now will be working out how many bands you can squeeze into your day.

If the prospect of the main event leaves you wanting more, the festival is sandwiched with two gigs - the Live at Leeds Welcome with Future Islands on Friday 28th April, and Maximo Park close the weekend on Sunday 30th.  You’d be hard pushed to find something you don’t like.

Live at Leeds takes place on Saturday, April 29th. Tickets cost £32.50 and are available at various outlets - check www.liveatleeds.com for more information.

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Festival Preview: Y-Not 2015 - Top Ten Ones To Watch

  • Published in Live

 

Though it may not have the same bank balance as the country's bigger festivals, for its size Y-Not can still pack a pretty big punch in terms of line-up. Previous acts over the years have been the likes of Jake Bugg, Maximo Park, Feeder and Miles Kane have all graced the various stages on offer, but with this year marking the festival's tenth anniversary, organisers have pulled out all the stops to bring Y-Not regulars something really special. And though we can't highlight every band on offer, below are a few Muso's Guide will be making sure we see.

 

Snoop Dogg: Someone who needs no introduction, Snoop will be headlining the main on stage on Friday, and with a career that spans three decades, you can guarantee he'll drop some absolute classics in to his set list. From gangster rap to his bizarre sojourn in to reggae as Snoop Lion, even the occasional foray in to pop, there's not much Snoop hasn't touched on over that time. Thankfully it's been a good few years since his visa ban, so we can rest safe knowing that those of us at the main stage come the Friday evening, will definitely be in for something special.

 

Honeyblood: Another of Friday's Main Stage band's, Honeyblood are a Scottish duo, whose fuzz-soaked indie-pop is sure to brighten up anyone's afternoon. With their debut self-titled LP released last summer to much critical acclaim, their sun-bleached fuzz-pop is the perfect antithesis to the Peak District's often grey weather. And if, above all expectations, the sun does make an appearance, it'll go down even better.

 

Less Than Jake: Anyone who has seen Less Than Jake before can attest to how good they are live. Upbeat and somewhat anarchic, the Gainsville ska-punks will headline the Quarry stage on Friday. A definite difference to Snoop over on the Big Gin, but for those who prefer their music to include a less bass and a lot more brass, Less Than Jake would be the ideal ending to the first day.

 

Alright The Captain: Fans of crazy time signatures and noisy post-rock could do far worse than spending an hour with Derby's Alright the Captain. From the abrasively discordant to puzzlingly harmonious, for just a trio the band make a noise that's as uncompromising as it technically proficient. Leave any preconceptions as to how songs should be structured behind and go and kick off Saturday by losing yourself at The Giant Squid stage.

 

Allusondrugs: Arguably one of last year's break-out bands, Leeds grungers Allusondrugs have been tearing the UK a new one since the summer of 2012. Tipped by the likes of Kerrang! and NME amongst others, you can almost be certain it won't be long before the band are gracing the main stage at the likes of Reading & Leeds or Download. Catch them on Saturday afternoon on the Giant Squid stage to see for yourself what the buzz is about.

 

Summer Camp: Influenced by both '60s girl groups and '80s synthpop, husband and wife duo Summer Camp will be bringing their own brand of indie pop to The Quarry Stage on Saturday afternoon, offering festival goers a break from the weight of The acts on the Giant Squid stage. With the band's somewhat downtrodden lyricism juxtaposed by their sunny exterior, it's sure to be a set you don't have to feel guilty dancing to.

 

Ocean Colour Scene: '90s legends in their own right, Ocean Colour Scene take to the main stage on Saturday before headliners Basement Jaxx. Much like last year's Shed Seven, OCS offer those old enough to remember them a chance to relive the '90s in a much purer sense than hearing 'Common People' played for the fiftieth time at your local indie club. Also, having given us the soundtrack to TFI Friday as well, it's easy to imagine the band enjoying a pending surge in popularity.

 

Johnny Marr: Perhaps one of the most prolific artists on the line-up this year, former-Smiths man gone solo (by way of Modest Mouse and The Cribs, amongst others) Johnny Marr is Sunday's penultimate main stage act (Primal Scream will close out the festival). Easily one of the country's most loved indie musicians, his set promises to blend tracks from his days in The Smiths with his more recent solo material, making for a memorable final evening.

 

Augustines: Before Johnny Marr however, Augustines are on the main stage, making for a clear choice of where we'll spending our last few hours. Known for their intense live shows and fraught lyricism, the Brooklyn-based trio will set the bar fairly high even for the headliners. Having lost the 'We Are' prefix from their name last year's self-titled Augustines, and segued in to the realms of stadium rock, there's no doubt that, even for a three-piece, they'll make a huge impression.

 

Rolo Tomassi: More noisy math-rock on Sunday courtesy of Sheffield's Rolo Tomassi. Taking their name from the fantastic LA Confidential, the band were making big waves on the underground before breaking through in the mid-00s. Now on their fourth album (as well as more than a handful of splits and EPs, Rolo Tomassi are proof that being a little bit different works. You can catch them on The Giant Squid stage on Sunday afternoon.

 

King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys: A count-down of some of the best acts of the weekend wouldn't be complete without the bonus inclusion of Y-Not staples, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys. Having become a regular feature of the Y-Not line-up it wouldn't feel like the festival without getting to hear some swing. Taking to the main stage on Sunday afternoon, they're sure to inject a little silliness in to the weekend's timetable.

 

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