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Download a flyer
Should need to print a copy of this months listings, you can download a copy of our regular flyer by clicking the PDF icon. |
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These days artists and bands tend to book their tours months in advance. In order to give you the best notice of up and coming shows we list events once they have been confirmed by the band or their management
The downside of this is that dates can change due to unforeseen circumstances, sometimes at very short notice.
We do our best to ensure that this site is kept as up to date as is possible, with updates happening at least once a week.
Therefore to avoid disappointment we recommend that you check these listing prior to setting out for your show especially if you are traveling any distance.
A guide for Artists and Promoters
The quickest way to get yourself included in our listings is to send an email to rideout at stayfree.co.uk once your gig is confirmed.
We also need you to do the following -
Put the name of the artist or band name along with the date of your show in the email subject line.
Attach a reasonable sized photograph. A 72dpi, jpeg, bigger than 200x200 pixels would be fine. Please don't email files over 1mb in size. If in doubt please drop us a line before sending. Let us have your web address so we can link to your site or Myspace page.
Send us some text. Whilst we are happy to tidy up spelling or grammar, we don't have the time to write or edit copy for you. Ideally we need a nice concise 'blurb' of between 75-100 words. Please don't send a three page biography, or else we are likely to bounce it back to you. If you have a selection of press quotes send what you have as we can usually easily compile something from them. There are plenty of examples of the sort of thing we need here on the site to help you out.
Please note - If you have played at The Musician before and we have text on file, we will continue to use use it for any subsequent listings unless you supply new copy.
If you spot any errors please send an email to derek at indiecentral.co.uk.
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Coming to The Musician in April |
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This event in the LEICESTER ROCKS programme will showcase many of the bands that have been in this and the Weekend Warrior scheme giving many the opportunity to perform along with all the other musicians that have been involved.
So expect a wide variety of styles and talent and for those of you who don't already know, LEICESTER ROCKS has been organised by Dan Britton and Simon Gilroy and is designed to target those musicians who have allowed time and their instruments to slip into the background as life, work and families have taken priority.
LEICESTER ROCKS is there to help with getting back into the music scene - it is a regular mentored rehearsal course aimed at creating and supporting new bands and is held at Quad studios.
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Veteran Leicester performer Roger Pugh is leaving Leicester and you are invited to join him as he bids a farewell to our fair city. With over 25 stage experience under his belt, Roger plays both the guitar and mandola in a style of his own. As well as a mixture of his own Celtic/World-influenced material, he is highly adept as an interpreter of Irish, English and American folk songs. Featuring many guest musicians, tonight's performance is free entry so come down and lets make it a night to remember!
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Broken Mic is a genuinely alternative Leicester-based Open Mic performance opportunity for the unconventional, the anachronistic, the archaic and the just plain odd. Guitarists and traditional acts are always welcome but we particularly want to hear unusual songs and interesting instruments, whether they be cellos, bowed saws, tea-chest basses, accordians, laptops running Ableton, circuit-bent children's toys or lone nutters with MP3 backing tracks who want to try out material on an unwitting audience. Come along. Bring a broad mind and a supportive attitude and feed your ears with some fresh sights and sounds.
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www.juanzelada.com
For Spanish singer-songwriter Juan Zelada there has always been a mystique to London and its inhabitants. Having come to the UK with just his guitar on his back and his enigmatic talent Zelada has quickly become one of the most talked about names on the scene and has enjoyed slots touring with the likes of Amy Winehouse as well as writing sessions with members of Duran Duran.
Plying his trade in the capital initially in restaurants and bars it was Zelada’s effortlessly summery vocals, instinctive ear for a melody and infectious enthusiasm which saw him welcomed into exclusive musical circles where the Madrilenian’s talent was immediately recognised and allowed to flourish. Indeed, during his time at LIPA he was awarded with a prize for song writing by legendary songsmith Paul McCartney – a fine endorsement for a stunning performer.
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www.littlejohnnyengland.co.uk
www.tinderboxacoustic.com
Little Johnny England are a unique outfit. Five of the most gifted musicians on the folk/rock circuit, they have pooled their collective talents and experience to come up with a unique and rousing ensemble. They bring an energy and dynamic to their live work not often seen – “they put the rock back into folk rock”!
As individuals they have it covered. Gareth Turner takes melodeons and vocals, PJ Wright, guitars and vocals; Guy Fletcher, fiddle and vocals; Hugh Bunker, bass and vocals; and Mark Stevens, drums and vocals.
In the last 10 years Little Johnny England have aimed to take traditional and contemporary folk music to a wider audience and they’ve attracted significant praise from the mainstream National press along the way.
Support comes from Tinderbox, an acoustic duo featuring Dublin born Monique Houraghan with a distinctive ‘honey-like’ vocal, and Dan Tucker with an intricate finger style guitar technique.
For more info visit www.fortytenthpromotions.co.uk
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www.staciecollins.com
Muskogee-born and Bakersfield-raised is a pedigree that most country singers would kill for; not only does Stacie Collins live up to her heritage, she exceeds it with a unique sound that blends roadhouse rock-n-roll, Chicago blues and hard country-twang.
“An infectious blend of roadhouse country rock fronted by a blues-harp-blowing woman who sings with a desperate passion and a slight Tammy Wynette catch in her voice." - No Depression
"Stacie Collins has earned a reputation for superb twang rock with more than a hint of blues accented by her exceptional harmonica playing." - All The Rage
"That girl can sure kick some ass! The minute she took the stage she owned it!" - Sony Music
“No-frills slab of rough and tumble bluesy Southern rock 'n' roll" - Creative Loafing
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www.seyes.co.uk
SeYes have done what many considered impossible by re-creating the live sound of Classic Yes. They bring you the trademark three part harmony vocals led by the natural alto voice of front man Phil Bernia covering Jon Anderson note for note. Instrumentally SeYes aim high reproducing the complex styles and sounds of Squire, Howe, Wakeman and White respectively. Over two hours of the best Classic Prog Rock.
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www.howlinmat.co.uk
Kent Duchaine's musical nomadic life started over thirty years ago in Minnesota where he played with Kim Wilson before Wilson moved to Texas to form the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Kent honed his guitar skills playing with Lazy Bill Lucas, Boogie Woogie Red, Luther Tucker, Big Walter Horton, Hubert Sumlin, Eddie Burns and Margie Evans. In the early 1990's he spent three years traveling and playing with the legendary bluesman Johnny Shines. Duchaine's guitar playing is rooted in the styles of Robert Johnson, Lightning Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Bukka White and Elmore James. He has a ferociously wild slide technique that exudes a frenzied power and he can switch gears in the wink of an eye to play some beautiful acoustic melodies.
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www.chuckprophet.com
Chuck Prophet's genius lies in assimilating a wide variety of genres into his essentially Stonesy architecture ahead of the standard curve. From the seminal '80s alt-country shimmer of Green on Red to his incredibly diverse solo sonic quilt - early Americana rocker/mid-period electronic folkie/latter-day style hybridist - Prophet has engagingly exemplified his surname. Originality is not easy in the derivative rock world but Chuck Prophet has blazed genre trails for over two decades with no signs of running out of inspiration or desire.
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www.willienile.com
Willie Nile is a songwriters’ songwriter. No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, “Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” And he’s never been more eloquent than he is here. Lou Reed hails Streets of New York as “a great album,” while Graham Parker calls it “a real gem—stirring melodies, passionate vocals, intriguing lyrics…every track a winner.” Says Ian Hunter, “Willie’s from the big-hearted downtown alleyways of NYC (New York commitment). Well done!” Little Steven adds, “Willie Nile is so good I can’t believe he’s not from New Jersey!”
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With over 250 gigs to their name and having played in every major city in the UK, SKAM are a crack live unit with a stage show that is second to none. With a reputation for delivering no nonsense, gutsy, classic sounding British rock music, played with passion and conviction, the band have steadily built a strong local following. One notable local reviewer recently dubbed them “Leicester legends.”
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This Call-Back session features a selection of the bands who excelled overall in this year's heats and are back for a second show. Two of these bands will play the OBS 2012 Semi-Final. |
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Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and self-described "bar-room guitarist" Dave Alvin is widely considered one of the pivotal founders of the entire Americana music genre. Since forming the highly influential roots rock/R&B band The Blasters with his brother Phil in 1979, to his days with, X and The Knitters, and throughout his long and critically acclaimed solo career, Dave Alvin has mixed his varied musical and literary influences into his own unique, updated version of traditional American music. Beneath the iconoclastic reputation of Alvin and the all-star talent of his powerhouse band The Guilty Ones, there lurks the heart of Americana and roots music.
“There are two types of folk music: quite folk music and loud folk music. I play both”. - Dave Alvin
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Eldest son of songwriting legend Jimmy Webb (Witchita Lineman, Galveston, By The Time I get To
Phoenix), Christiaan first came to public attention as part of the Webb Brothers, a band he formed
with his younger brother, Justin. In 1998, the demo album Beyond the Biosphere was released to
critical acclaim in the U.K. and was quickly picked up by London-based label Easy! Tiger Records.
The Webb Brothers then signed with Warner Music and the album Maroon was released to critical
and commercial success in 2000. Touring extensively, the brothers built a strong fan base in the UK
that continues to this day.
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Will Pound is probably the most fiery and accomplished harmonica players around. He has played with Sandra Kerr, is an integral part of the Martin Simpson Big Band and made an acclaimed appearance at the Big Session in 2010 with Dan Walsh. Dan is as good on the banjo as Will is on the harmonica and has played numerous gigs and festivals including Sidmouth and Towersey. Together their high energy performances and astonishing musicianship make them a duo not to be missed.
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Two time 'Texas Male Voice of the Year', David Fenley, and Northumberland singer-songwriter Simon Todd get together for a UK national tour, performing in the 'songwriters circle' format.
With special guests at most events, this tour promises to be one not to be missed. A Nashville Bluebird Cafe style 'in the round guitar pull' kind of show - with stories and songs being traded between beers!
Nottingham's favourite Owen James Harvey will be joining the show to promote his brand new EP which was written and recorded earlier this year in Nashville with some of the best 'Music City' songwriters and players.
Come and join the guys for an evening of songs, banter and maybe a beer or two!
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Rising singer-songwriter Amanda Shires returns to the Musician for what will be one of the Americana shows of the year. Backed by the vocals and acoustic guitar of Rod Picott and Todd Pertil on lap steel guitar, Amanda has one of the best and most unique female voices being recorded today.
"an earthbound Emmylou Harris..." -David Menconi/Spin
"Wonderful plainspoken poeticism in her songs." - NPR All Songs Considered
"Outright devastating... Shires alternated between violin and ukulele on songs triangulating the vivid, lyrical poetry of fellow Texan Townes Van Zandt and the wrenching emotional intensity of, say, Lucinda Williams." - AOL Spinner
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www.loros.com
Featuring rock party anthems from No Way Back, dirty blues provided by Mid Live Crisis and a very special headlining guest to be announced! All profits will go to Leicestershire based charity LOROS, who specialise in hospice care for persons over 16 years of age.
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www.mickpini.com
Live, Mick Pini is simply brilliant – but why take my word for it; Eric Clapton called him the “legitimate successor to Peter Green”, while Mick Vernon described him as “ having the energy and attack that made Freddie King one of the greats. There are too few great guitarists working the European scene. Sure there are many good ones, but only a few have the potential to make a mark in a way Peter Green did many years ago.” Perhaps the most telling tribute is the fact that when Mick is in town, Mick Double, Eric Clapton’s manager can regularly be found at the back of the room, quietly enjoying Mick’s set.
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kylalagrange.com
Kyla, a Cambridge philosophy graduate, grew up in Watford and started to write songs at a young age. It was while she was at university that a friend introduced her to Elliott Smith and Cat Power and, hearing them for the first time, she started to take her talents seriously.
Her music is an intoxicating blend of spine-tingling, witchy folk with epic, widescreen pop and her extraordinarily expressive voice drives those modes - communicating desolation one moment and soaring euphoria the next.
“one of those precocious talents that everyone secretly fears. A gorgeous voice and a soaring chorus, the kind that makes your heart swell a little bit. Stirring stuff.” - The Guardian
www.magic-teapot.co.uk
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hotdroprecords.com/harrybirdandtherubberwellies
www.bellamckendree.com
soundcloud.com/courtneyaskey
Kristy Gallacher is a guitarist, poet and songwriter from Coventry, England. Being somewhat disillusioned and fiercely independent, in 2008 at the age of 21, Kristy decided to join the D.I.Y ethos. She formed her own independent record label Broken Player Records, signed herself and has been self sufficient ever since. Each subsequent release has been on the label. A prolific songwriter, she is continually songwriting her way through life and regularly tours on the acoustic circuit to audiences across the UK. With a strong live presence of carefully crafted songs and exciting fresh guitar work Kristy continues to grow and expand her loyal fan base. |
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Equipped with just guitar, vocals and drums, multi award-winning guitarist Gwyn Ashton's power duo (with drummer Kev Hickman) march into battle taking on every blues-rock trick in the book, successfully blasting them to a new level. The duo format leaves plenty of room for Gwyn's muscular licks that induce the 'wow' factor time and time again. No-nonsense, brutal and invigorating.
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Hard-hitting songs for hard-hit times from some of the finest singers and songwriters in the country.
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www.hellsaddiction.com
www.skamuk.com
www.thebreakdowns.co.uk
Leicester's own Hell’s Addiction formed just over a year ago through a love and passion for classic no bullshit rock. With its members having come together from local bands De Sade, Dirty Cocktail and Forgotten Sun, and a stageshow honed by supporting bands such as Heaven’s Basement, Voodoo Six, Fury UK, The Heavy Metal Kids and Zodiac Mindwarp, these guys really know how to rock! Hell’s Addiction play with a raw intense energy that very few bands possess and live onstage is where the band really hit you hard.
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OBS 2012 starts in March. This years winner plays SSW, Strawberry Fields and The Riverside Festival, and wins a 2 day recording package, live and studio pro photoshoot plus more.
Midlands bands waiting to apply should join the Facebook group via the above link and then e-mail for consideration.
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www.myspace.com/thenimmobrothers
“Pile driving R&B... A pleasure to listen to... Stevie and Alan Nimmo’s live performances leave you in no doubt as to their talents. It’s hard to describe this band without reaching for the superlatives. They are simply the gold standard of British blues - heck, forget that, these boys are world class.” -
“The strength of the Nimmo Brothers is not only their accomplished performances, but also the quality of their own material… you don't have to be a blues fan to enjoy the Nimmo Brothers, but if you are it's heaven.” -
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