< Home

Sorry, there is no flyer at the moment for this month. Please try again later.
 


A word about our listings

A guide for Customers

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 travelling any distance.


Not listed?

A guide for Artists and Promoters

The quickest way to get yourself included in our listings is to send an email to musicianlive2 at gmail.com 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.

Coming to The Musician in May 2018

Tickets
Tue 1st May 2018
Doghouse Roses & Joseph Parsons
£6.00adv £8.00door
The collaboration between Scottish duo Doghouse Roses and U.S. (Philadelphia) native Joseph Parsons began in the dark corner of a smoky bar in Berlin in 2015. There is a shared spirit of eclecticism and bold creativity in the music of both bands at the core of their work; the roots tradition of storytelling is strikingly evident, skilfully drawing on contemporary elements of rock, blues, soul and country.

Parsons has released 18 records on Germany's Blue Rose label since signing to them in 1997. An outlier on the label, he brings an edgy modern world-perspective to his personal songs through energy and emotional honesty. Maverick magazine declared ‘Once again, Joseph Parsons is one of the most talented Singer Songwriters of his time’. Joseph founded the groups ‘US Rails’, ‘Hardpan’, ‘Parsons Thibaud’ & ‘4 Way Street’ (Sanctuary/BMG.) Parsons is currently focusing solely on his own career. He is deep in the recording process for his next two CD’s and touring in Europe and the US.

Doghouse Roses are a fiercely independent duo combining harmony vocals, guitars and clawhammer banjo. Their unique perspectives on modern themes in their writing, coupled with their vibrant, emotive live shows have led to widespread acclaim, with Americana UK describing them as “our version of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings”. They established their reputation through the UK and Central Europe, touring on their own and as members of U.S. based alt-country collective The Willard Grant Conspiracy.
Wed 2nd May 2018
CLOSED
Xander Promotions
YouTube
Tickets
Thu 3rd May 2018
Snakewater
Gig will be filmed by Antix Productions
£8.00adv £10.00door
plus White Eskimo
Doors 8:00pm
Snakewater play the kind of rock 'n roll blues that British bands used to excel at: hard, driving, raw and from the heart. Echoes of the 60's giants reverberate, with the added emotive tones of more modern bluesmen - the energy and vitality of youth rekindling the fires of British blues. A unique band who embrace their roots, and deliver the goods.
Xander Promotions
YouTube
Tickets
Fri 4th May 2018
Whitesnake UK
£10.00adv £12.00door
Doors 8:00pm
WhitesnakeUK play tribute to the very best of David Coverdale's multi platinum selling band, Whitesnake. From the early classic Moody /Marsden line up to the present day US incarnation, faithfully reproducing timeless classics such as 'Fool For Your Loving' 'Is This Love' & 'Here I Go Again'.

With a line up comprising professional recording artists, members from some of the world's most respected tribute bands, extensive worldwide touring, syndicated TV appearances and a combined musical experience of over 120 years, Whitesnake UK can proudly boast to having some of the most accomplished personnel in any tribute band. WhitesnakeUK concentrate purely on reproducing the classic sound of Whitesnake without the need for artificial backing tracks, gimmicks or wigs. For a 100% live experience that will leave you shouting for more, WhitesnakeUK are sure to deliver!
Tickets
Sat 5th May 2018
Mamapalooza
£7.00
Doors 4:00pm - 11:30pm
An Alternative Gathering & Yur Mum & Live in Leicester presents

The Blue Carpet Band
Yer Mum
DragSTER
The Mini Nukes
Fallen Lillies
Senton Bombs
Hell Paso
YouTube
Tickets
Sun 6th May 2018
Emma Stevens
£8.00adv £10.00door
plus Lauren April
Doors 7:30pm - 10:30pm
“Bringing a refreshing glimmer of hope and an abundance of heart and positivity,British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emma Stevens first picked up a guitar at the age of two and has since learnt cello, piano, banjo, ukulele, mandolin and bass. Emma achieved four consecutive play-listed singles on BBC Radio 2, extensive international radio play in the UK, Europe and Australia, an iTunes single of the week with her song "Riptide", sold out headline shows and supported The Feeling, Take That, Wet Wet Wet, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Train, Albert Lee and Simply Red to name a few! Emma's catchy pop melodies and folky instrumentation has been used on many TV shows on BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4, and even featured on a TV show in China which was broadcast to 75 million people, receiving a whopping 500 million streams in China after! Since losing her Mum to cancer in 2012, Emma has dedicated her life to her music, writing messages of positivity, hope and love. Her music breathes life and honesty, and is re-establishing a lyrical connection with her audience, something seemingly so absent from an overcrowded marketplace.
"Just Magical" Terry Wogan
"A Very Talented Muti Instrumentalist" The Telegraph”
Mon 7th May 2018
CLOSED
Greenbird Promotions
Tickets
Tue 8th May 2018
Rosie Hood & Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
£10.00adv £10.00door
feat: Goodnight Crow
Doors 8:00pm - 8:00pm
Rosie Hood makes a welcome return to Leicester while Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne is here for the first time. Cohen is one of the finest young musicians on the folk scene and is best known as a member of Young Folk Award nominees Granny's Attic but has also played with many ceilidh bands and has a burgeoning solo career. Rosie is a superb singer and boasts four star reviews from R2, EFDSS and the Guardian (and five from fRoots!). Nominated for the Horizon aware at the 2016 Folk Awards her beautiful and evocative voice is a joy to listen to as is her new album The Beautiful And The Actual. The is a rare opportunity to see two young stars on the stage togather.,

Support comes from Goodnight Crow, the new venture from Kate Waterfield, late of acclaimed trio The Kittiwakes and Dan Forbes, who bring an excellent blend of original and traditional folk tales to the stage.
Tickets
Wed 9th May 2018
Kyshona Armstrong
£10.00adv £12.00door
plus Luke Jackson
Doors 8:00pm
Kyshona, a music therapist gone rogue, hails from the small town of Irmo, SC (home of Vanna White and the Okra Strut). She grew up listening to her grandfathers singing in the gospel choir, aunts and uncles singing old Sam Cooke tunes around the electric guitar amps, and her father practicing the guitar solo from "Hello" by Lionel Richie... on repeat.

With her will be special guest Luke Jackson. Luke is a Singer/Songwriter from Canterbury, Kent, who in 2013 was nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for both the Horizon Award for Best Emerging Talent and The Young Folk Category. With a bold, distinctive voice and a sweet, percussive guitar style, Luke is a confident and captivating live performer. He was also winner of Fatea’s “Male Artist of the Year 2014” and now again in 2016.

Luke is an ever present in the live music scene, gigging relentlessly all over, and he remains a prolific songwriter in demand across the United Kingdom and Europe.

Reminds me of Jeff Buckley, which can only be a good thing – Mark Radcliffe BBC Radio 2
Tickets
Thu 10th May 2018
John Butler (Diesel Park West)
£7.00adv £8.00door
Doors 8:00pm
Jon C Butler (aka John Butler) has brought together all of his solo albums under one roof, shining a fresh new light on them.

First coming to attention with the classic album 'Shakespeare Alabama' by Diesel Park West.
With a particular awareness of the beauty and richness of sixties American west coast rock n roll, the band were responsible for a clutch of highly invigorating albums from 1989 to 2011.
Butler is acknowledged as being a writer who has always furrowed his own path delivering songs that seem wilfully not to pander to the norm and yet display an easy charm and clarity.

The depth and quality of his back catalogue confirm him as a song-writer and performer of whom we should take note. The jagged beauty of his songs remind us why such artists are worthy of our interest and just might provide a soundtrack to our lives.
Tickets
Fri 11th May 2018
Keep It Cash
£10.00adv £12.00door
Doors 8:00pm
The most accurate sounding tribute show to Johnny CASH on the planet ... That is what they say about Keep it Cash.
The band is a labour of love and a product of many years of hard work and dedication. Expect a note perfect musical journey
from the humble gospel beginnings of the Tennessee two, right through to the final and emotional American Recordings. 
 
Xander Promotions
YouTube
Tickets
Sat 12th May 2018
Stipe (R.E.M. Tribute)
£10.00adv £12.00door
plus Paul J Roberts
Doors 8:00pm
R.E.M. are one of the world’s most enigmatic bands. With a string of peerless albums; one eye on the underground and one eye on the soaring chorus; we will never see their like again. From “The One I Love” through to “The End of the World” and more besides.
Stipe bring you all the top songs from these icons including “Losing My Religion”, and “Man on the Moon” and with all the atmosphere, attitude, emotion, and energy you’d expect. Stipe will provide the same cagey mix of attitude, poetry and idiosyncratic sound built around jangling guitars and hazy vocals of frontman Michael Stipe.
Whether it’s playing major festivals or appearing on the One Show, performing for Michael Stipe himself, Stipe are the definitive R.E.M. tribute – a complete band, and encyclopaedic knowledge of the back catalogue. They bring R.E.M. to life on stage – the contrasts and the magic; that direct connection to the music.
The boys from Athens’ legacy is in good hands.
Tickets
Sun 13th May 2018
Steve Hicks and Lynn Goulbourn
£5.00adv £7.00door
Doors 7:00pm
Roots & Branches presents

A refreshing fusion of soulful vocals and breathtaking fingerstyle guitar

The music that Steve and Lynn make as the duo ‘Hicks and Goulbourn’ is characterised by pure acoustic tones, reflective lyrics, well crafted arrangements and intricate, complex guitar work. Whilst the genres in their typical sets are wide ranging there is no compromise in quality and their live performances are interspersed with engaging anecdotes and humour.
Mon 14th May 2018
CLOSED
Tickets
Tue 15th May 2018
Spear of Destiny
£16.00adv
plus Crazy Pink Revolvers
Set to mark forty years since their formation this year, Spear of Destiny have been making a stir with their
punk-influenced power-rock since 1983. Emerging from the wreckage of iconic post-punk band Theatre Of
Hate, the original duo — Kirk Brandon and Stan Stammers — named themselves after the weapon used by Roman centurion Longinus as he pierced the body of Jesus as he hung on the cross.

Now in 2023, the current Spear of Destiny lineup is the longest serving to date, featuring Adrian Portas (New
Model Army/Sex Gang Children), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy/The Cult/The Mission) and Phil Martini
(Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind), as well as Clive Osborne on saxophone and Steve Allen-Jones on keys.

Heralding an array of positive reviews for both their live shows and studio material, MOJO enthused “Kirk
Brandon is one of the UK’s best kept secrets”, while Jeremy Vine says Spear’s ringleader is “one of our
greatest musical geniuses”. With BBC Radio’s Jools Holland dubbing their 2014 album ‘31’ as “possibly
[Spear’s] best album in 20 years,” their recent efforts see the band at their professional peak, with Louder
Than War awarding the record 9/10 and commending: “Brandon puts his all into every song with epic
bombast, coming across as a tragic rock n roll anti-hero.”

Still continuing to look toward the future, Brandon has penned fourteen new tracks for the latest Spear of
Destiny album Ghost Population. Both fan forums and music journalists alike have heralded the release of
Ghost Population May 2023 will see the full commercial release of the album into the shops on Brandon's own Eastersnow recording Company via Code 7 Distribution.
Tickets
Wed 16th May 2018
Elephant Sessions
£10.00adv £12.00door
2017 has been a remarkable year for Elephant Sessions. The band who hail from the Highlands of Scotland and who met at the Newcastle University Folk degree have exploded onto the indie folk scene with unparalleled effect.

The release of their album ‘All We Have is Now’ in June of this year, was followed by live appearances at some of Europe’s most notable festivals. Audiences crowd surfed their way through the summer and marquee floors broke under the weight of bouncing fans.

The Mercury nominated Alt J, along with BBC Radio 6 found themselves converted to the band’s unique brand of indie folk. Reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine sat alongside folk magazine coverage. Radio features accompanied documentaries and highlights shows on television stations.
Closing the year with sell out shows across the UK, the band find themselves nominated for both Folk Album of the Year and Live Act of the Year at the BBC Scots Trad awards.

2018 promises to be no different and opening the year with a show at the world renowned Celtic Connections festival, the band head over to Australia in March for what will be a debut tour of some of the nations most respected festivals.
Greenbird Promotions
Tickets
Thu 17th May 2018
Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders
£12.00adv
feat: Jack Harris
Doors 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are a folk duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet feel refreshingly unique.

Their unique unplugged presentation creates a widescreen, cinematic soundscape with open spaces and atmosphere, giving their beautifully pure vocals room to share the songs’ emotion and narrative.

"Spellbinding. Hannah and Ben were born to play and sing togethe"’ fRoots.

Opening act Jack Harris is "a natural and captivating songwriting talent" - Telegraph. His last album, "The Wide Afternoon", was one of the best of 2017 and it's a delight to welcome him back to Leicester.
Xander Promotions
YouTube
Tickets
Fri 18th May 2018
Fred Zeppelin
£10.00adv £12.00door
Doors 8:00pm
The four members of Fred Zeppelin are real fans of the originals, and formed ‘The Fredz’ out of their admiration and love of Led Zeppelin’s music. As their name suggests, the band do not take themselves too seriously - they know the praise belongs to Robert, Jimmy, John Paul Jones, and Bonzo, but they aim to do justice to the music and they certainly achieve that.
Xander Promotions
YouTube
Tickets
Sat 19th May 2018
The Feelgood Band
£10.00adv £12.00door
Doors 8:00pm
High energy Rhythm & Blues played the Canvey Island way, recreating the energy and the unmistakeable sounds of 1970's Dr Feelgood. Take a step back in time and hear the distinctive vocal styling/harmonica playing of Mr Brilleaux and the unique sound and style of the "Wilko" guitar. The focus is on entertaining, with all the wonderful songs and signature moves! The band clearly enjoy themselves; their enthusiasm and passion for Dr Feelgood oozes out of every choppy chord and riff and this infects the audience more and more with every song. What more can be said. "They do it right".......if anybody should know, The Big Figure or Wilko's brother should know....right?
"Well done boys" John Martin The Big Figure
"Top job guys, takes me back!" Malcolm Wilkinson - Wilko's brother.
Xander Promotions
Tickets
Sun 20th May 2018
Troy Redfern
£10.00adv £12.00door
The versatile slide guitarist leads his power trio with style, gusto and virtuoso playing that fuses spontaneity with real craft. Redfern combines the rawness of Hound Dog Taylor, the freeform approach of Sonny Sharrock, the firebrand playing of Johnny Winter and the technique of Dave Hole with the ghost of Elmore James.

"Great raw rockin' blues with super slide. A powerhouse of a band" - Blues in Britain

"Master slide guitarist..." - The Blues Magazine Radio Show
Mon 21st May 2018
CLOSED
Greenbird Promotions
Tickets
Tue 22nd May 2018
Clive Gregson & Liz Simcock
£10.00adv
feat: Dan Hartland
Doors 8:00pm - 11:00pm
From the mid-Eighties to the early Nineties Clive Gregson & Christine Colister were probably the finest acoustic duo in the country, allying Clives' world class songwriting and great guitar playing to Christine's fantastic voice.



In 2015 Clive revisited those classic songs touring with Liz.. The tour was a resounding success and they subsequently recorded an album of brand new songs, Underwater Dancing. They're now on the road again to play more Gregson & Collister classics as well as Underwater Dancing tracks.

Support comes from rising Midlands singer-songwriter Dan Hartland, whose latest album Great Novels, was rightly described by Americana-UK as "delicately lovely". Get there early to catch his set!
Wed 23rd May 2018
CLOSED
Leicester Jazz House presents
Tickets
Thu 24th May 2018
Jim Mullen Quartet
£12.00 / £5 NUS
Doors 7:30pm
Jim Mullen is one of the UK’s finest award-winning international jazz guitarists. Famous for using his ‘bionic’ thumb instead of a plectrum, he played in jazz/rock and soul/funk bands in the 70s and 80s and is later well known for his long association with the late Dick Morrissey (Sax/flute). Expect an evening of rocking jazz/blues from Jim and a star supporting line up of Stan Sulzmann (Sax) Mike Gorman (Organ) Tristan Maillot (Drums).“ Jim Mullen’s unique mellow guitar sound spins an effortless stream of melody” Dave Gelly, The Observer.

Lineup:
Tristran Maillot - drums
Mike Gorman - organ
Stan Sulzmann - sax
Jim Mullen - guitars
Forty Tenth promotions
YouTube
Tickets
Fri 25th May 2018
Blackbeard's Tea Party
£12.00adv £14.00door
plus The Bonfire Radicals
Doors 8:00pm - 12:00am
The past few years have seen Blackbeard’s Tea Party play at festivals as diverse as Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Fariport’s Cropredy Convention, The Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo and many more. Their most recent album ‘Reprobates’ has been met with high praise in the folk press, earning a 5 star review in R2 Magazine whilst fRoots named it “convincing and essential”. With this growing reputation, it’s hardly a surprise that they are one of the most in-demand bands on the folk circuit.

Now we’re happy to welcome Blackbeard’s Tea Party back to the Musician with their brand of gutsy folk rock. Traditional songs and tunes are given a heavy rock edge with playful arrangements and driving dance rhythms. This is all mixed up in an engaging, high-octane stage show that frequently leaves audiences cheering for more.

Birmingham based Bonfire Radicals have emerged from the folk/world scene with a fresh approach to traditional tunes and a host of creative original material. They weave together raucous woodwind, delicate vocals, progressive violin, hard hitting bass, psychadelic electric guitar and percussive beats. Drawing on their eclectic backgrounds, the band chart many divergent influences upon their sound – medieval polyphony, jazz tinged swing, Canterbury sound, klezmer and all points in between. Known for their highly-spirited stage presence, the Bonfire Radicals' own enthusiasm for their music is undeniable.
Doktor Dyper
Tickets
Sat 26th May 2018
La Villa Strangiato
£10.00adv £12.00door
Doors 8:00pm - 11:30pm
La Villa Strangiato is an Italian project, started in 2010 by Gabriele Ferrari and Carlo Fattorini, two roman musicians who had already worked together in the project "Yessongs Italy", with which they gained international praise. The purpose of La Villa Strangiato is to revive Rush's production of the '70s and first '80s, the period of their maximum popularity.



The band formed in 2010 and, thanks to the contribution of several friends and musicians, finally presented their first show (entirely dedicated to the album "Exit Stage Left") in Rome in March 2011. From then on, they started playing in several clubs across Europe with good results; but it's with the contribution of musician Claudio Sinisi (guitar) that they finally achieved the perfect combination of sound and technique.
Tonight La Villa Strangiato will perform Hemispheres in its entirety plus other well known Rush classics.
Xander Promotions
Tickets
Sun 27th May 2018
Wreckless Eric
£10.00adv £12.00door
Doors 8:00pm
You can't talk about Wreckless Eric without mentioning his enduring hit Whole Wide World-covered in stadiums and sheds from Aberdeen to Alabama -but there's more to him than just that. With over 40 years of recording and touring behind him he shuns the dictates of nostalgia and doesn’t do comebacks for the simple reason that he never went away. His 2015 album ‘amERICa’was an urgent reminder of what he’s about, and new album Construction Time & Demolitionis a musically complex trawl through the psyche of a man with plenty to say and nothing to lose. It's always been that way: loud, dissonant, lyrical and gently melodic -cogent music for desperate times.
Mon 28th May 2018
The City Acoustic Club
Open Mic Night
Free
Doors 8:00pm
For up to date info and news please join The City Acoustic Club Facebook group!
Greenbird Promotions
Tickets
Tue 29th May 2018
Dan Walsh Trio
£11.00
feat: Dan Walsh and Elie Rees
Doors 8:00pm
Nominated for best musician at the BBC Folk Awards, banjo maestro Dan Walsh combines "virtuoso playing and winning songwriting" (Morning Star). This exciting new trio sees him team up with award winning fiddler Ciaran Algar and long time collaborator Nic Zuppardi on mandolin. At the heart of the trio's sound is British, Irish and American folk music delivered with a healthy dose of funky grooves. Add to all that poignant songs, astonishing musical departures and lively humour and the result is sure to be a truly memorable live show featuring three of the most in demand musicians on the folk scene today.

"Absolutely terrific" - Mark Radcliffe.
Tickets
Wed 30th May 2018
Wussy
£8.00adv £10.00door
plus weallfallsilent and FiveHead
Doors 7:45pm - 10:30pm
We're delighted to welcome Wussy back to Leicester!

“If Michael Stipe Co-wrote songs with Morrissey…then hired Niel Young, Crazy horse and the Cowboy Junkies to play them, and asked Kevin Shields to mix them, then the results would be… a bit like Forever Sounds” The Sunday Times

“Wussy’s ragged Ohio racket hits biblical proportions on ‘Forever Sounds.‘” **** SPIN (Album of the Week – 8/10)

“If you’re not familiar with the fuzzy dream pop psych of Cincinnati’s Wussy, you’re in for a treat.” – Noisey

Wussy formed in 2001 when retired Stonemason, Chuck Cleaver (formerly of Ass Ponys) and Lisa Walker began playing together as result of a dare. The duo’s first performance was largely unplanned but went without incident, so Mark Messerly was recruited on bass and later Joe Klug on drums. The band’s newest member, pedal-steel player John Erhardt, has enabled Wussy to truly come into its own. Cleaver and Walker share singing and songwriting duties, trading lead vocals, harmonising, and singing in vocal swoops and patterns on top of each other, sharing tales of the supernatural combined with day-in-the-life portraits, both disquieting and tranquil.

Wussy have evolved over the last decade to become forerunners of New Midwestern Psychedelia. The band are known both for their songwriting and varied sonic palette, often drawing comparisons to admitted heroes, Television, Velvet Underground, Crazy Horse and Yo La Tengo. Wussy have recorded sessions for BBC 6Music’s Marc Riley/Gideon Coe and KEXP. They have showcased at SXSW and CMJ, and have supported several tours for fellow Ohioans Afghan Whigs and Heartless Bastards, as well as sharing the stage with bands such as Yo La Tengo, The Breeders, Best Coast, Mudhoney, Shonen Knife, Okkervil River, The Mekons, COME, Wreckless Eric and Jeffrey Lewis.

http://www.wussy.org/

Plus support.
Thu 31st May 2018
CLOSED

Content © The Musician

Site design Mohawk Visuals

Restructured by djook

Powered by GigSurfer