Bands

Line up for 2011: 

We have now confirmed the headline acts for the Friday and Saturday of the Beer Festival with some of Leeds freshest and finest talent taking part; it’s going to be a fantastic event!

Friday Evening:

21:45 – Hannah Trigwell Band - http://www.hannahtrigwell.co.uk / Facebook / Twitter: @hannahtrigwell / YouTube

Hannah is one of Leeds’ best emerging stars and has recently released her debut single ‘Headrush‘ which is available to buy on both iTunes and Amazon. About Hannah Trigwell:

Hello, I am Hannah Trigwell, and I have found that the most effective way for me to express myself is through song. I first started playing guitar around 4 years ago, learning on my Grandad’s old acoustic, and writing melodies and lyrics to fit whatever mood I was in.

For me, writing a song has always been a way to show how I feel, giving my thoughts and opinions on something, like one side of an argument. And who could ever argue with a melody?

My songwriting is usually the product of something I have seen, or experienced myself because I find that the words flow right out of me when the subject is something I feel strongly about or can relate to.

The songs I write strike a chord with me, because I put everything into creating them. Pouring my heart out into a song isn’t an easy thing to do, because someone judging the song is also judging me as a person and how I react to whatever the situation may be. I find that pretty scary. I try to make all the songs I write as emotive as possible, and if, in the three and a half minutes of me doing this, the feeling intended is carried across to stir within someone else, maybe someone I have never met before… then I have created a song worth singing. And that is what I will endeavor to do.

Thankyou to everyone who has ever listened to one of my tracks and taken something away from it.

20:45  - Alaska – http://www.alaskasounds.blogspot.com/ MySpace / YouTube

Alaska are a three piece rock band based in Leeds. Nick John Henry and Brendan Campbell were raised on the Chevin. David Fisher, however, is from Rotherham. Nick writes songs about the darker side of the human condition and likes Reverb. Brendan has been known to play entire sets on the drums one handed. Dave invented a headset at university that makes you fall asleep.

Most of the bands current roster songs were written when thinking about their vast, empty namesake. Alaska’s dream job would be to be the skeleton staff of a small town police department in the Northern Canadian states where nothing much really happens.

19:45 – Planet Janet - http://www.facebook.com/planetjanetband / ReverbNation / Band Camp

4 piece band with 4 vocals, big riffs and bigger choruses, these are solid gold tunes. From Huddersfield, UK, Planet Janet have been through major changes recently and are about to put out their debut EP on their own indie label Love Tornado. They have also signed a management deal with Dead by Dawn.

Forming under a year ago they have already gigged around the UK with bands such as King Blues, Plight, The Skints, Luchagors, GU Medicine, Sorry and the Sinatras, Spunge, InMe, UK Subs and many more.

Saturday Evening: 

21:45 – Raw Peaches! - http://www.facebook.com/RawPeaches / Twitter: @raw_peaches / iTunes

ROCK!!! And a little bit of Roll.

Formed in 2006, Raw Peaches, inspired and influenced by the sound of Funky soul rock bands such as Steely Dan and Sam Cooke, have found themselves in the heart of the Northern Music Circuit. This 4-piece band are dedicated and committed to satisfying the tastes of themselves as well as their audience. This ranges from the catchy hooks to the chronic guitar solos leaving their audience captivated.

Members:

Jake Waddington – Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Simon Wright – Drums
Calum Robinson – Lead Guitar/Backing Vox
Oli ‘Leeroy’ Jenkins – Bass

Marjorie Yost, Head of Concert Planning for the US Art Prize talking about when she first stumbled across the boys:
“I couldn’t move. Simply forgot to breathe for a few minutes. It was like I was hypnotized. You know those great moments in life when you just feel so happy and peaceful and in awe of life and all that’s in it? When all seems right with the world and you can just sit back and enjoy it without a care in the world? That’s the euphoria that came over me that night as I heard Raw Peaches play for the first time.Unrehearsed, real, and RAW. One minute soft and romantic, the next pulsating and sexy, the night became electrified in their presence. They owned the room, and everyone in it, including me, fell in love. I told the guys that night that I was honored to have seen them play, and I meant every word.”

20:45 – Black Water - www.facebook.com/blackwateruk / Tumblr / MySpace

Black Water are a hard rock band based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, with all members sharing a love of rock and blues music.
‘Black Water are a breath of fresh air in today’s sea of look-alike, sound-alike, jangling Indie bands. With heavy riffs, wailing solos, and amps all turned up to 11, their sound is a mix of AC/DC crunch, G’n'R swagger, all on a bed of Cream and Free style Blues Rock. Add to this their incendiary live shows, and they really are a band to give The Answer a run for their money’ – Rolling Tones Magazine

‘This band is THE band for 2010. fact. From the get go your struck by an awesome, unstoppable energy as they tear into their first number ‘Drown In Shame’, which, along with everyone else in the room, left this journalist quite sure he was witnessing something very special… something very special indeed. With a singer that makes Howlin’ Wolf blush, a guitarist so acrabatic he wouldnt look out of place in a circus, and a bass and drum combination so tight it hurt; they make established headlining acts all over England beg for mercy. Definately a band to be seen, purely to be believed!’ – Sandman Magazine

‘The music of this four piece from Leeds is heavily influenced by the early 70′s rock vibe.
But that is not the whole story. There are shades late 60′s Hendrix through to Guns ‘N’ Roses and Alice In Chains.
In short they produce tunes worthy of a festival mainstage strut.’ – Stamps bar Crosby

19:45 – Soul Circle Gang - http://www.thesoulcirclegang.co.uk / MySpace / Facebook

Started by Alan, John and Joe in early 09 with the idea of playing the music we love. Covering many funk and soul classics from a by-gone era, and also writing some original material. Mixing up hardline funk, soulful vocals, with world influences including reggae, afro-beat, latin and a sprinkling of jazz/swing. After the summer Eoin and Vusi have stepped up to provide a Solid Section of Saxophones. In 2011 James and Hossein joined to complete the ensemble. Together we have build a solid group. Over the past few months we have been gaining momentum, playing numerous venues around Leeds such as The Wardrobe, Carpe Diem, Elbow Rooms and many other local haunts. We have had the opportunity to play some of the local festivals such as the LS6 Beer Festival (2010) and the magnificent Unity Day.

Soul Circle Gang’s first collection of recordings is now available to download for free. Just join the mailing list at the bottom of the bands web page detailed above.

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Acoustic Acts:

Friday Afternoon:

17:00 – Anais Mutumba Band - http://www.facebook.com/melodiesbyanais / SoundCloud / Twitter: @alwaysbwithu

On July 11 2010, Anaïs, a singer songwriter, decided to pursue music more seriously. She had just completed her degree in Pharmaceutical Management and felt she should delve deeper into her creative side and see what came of it. After only 6 short months, she has gigged extensively throughout West Yorkshire as both an opening and a headlining act at music festivals, pubs, clubs, restaurants, weddings and private events. After recording her EP “The Return Journey”, more gigs and opportunities have opened up. She now has a full time band. Her musical tastes are as eclectic as her influences and range from Jessie J to Coldplay to Paramore to even jingles. She is learning to play piano and acoustic guitar so that she can write even more original songs, as well as with her band.

16:00 – Stephanie Stephenson - http://www.facebook.com/stephmusic / YouTube / Twitter: @stephstephenson

Steph started writing songs when she picked up her sisters Fender Tele. It was on her 15th Birthday when she received an acoustic guitar of her very own. 8 years and a few hundred songs later Steph continues to share her songs with audiences in West Yorkshire and beyond. In March 2010 she was invited to BBC Radio Humberside for a live session with Alan Raw BBC Introducing. Steph returned to radio in October to sing on BBC Radio Leeds. 2011 proves to be exciting as she records a new EP and supports Ellen & The Escapades for the Holmfirth Folk Festival in May.

“With original and well written lyrics, her songs are captivating, relatable and passionately delivered.” - PieWatch.co.uk

“The impressive line-up started with locally-based Steph Stephenson, who despite being on her first tentative steps as a singer-songwriter, her distinctive vocals and original songs of relationships good and bad, set a standard for the whole evening.” - Paul Abraham, Leeds Music Promotions

“Ms. Stephenson is a superb musician who amazed all the volunteers with her singing and the songs that she had written herself, they were really beautiful and the volunteers loved the opportunities when she would sing to us.” - Certificate of participation, Animal Rescue Centre, Ecuador

15:00 – Laura Oakes - http://www.myspace.com/lauraoakesmusic / Twitter: @lauraoakesmusic

About Laura Oakes: I’m a singer, born & raised in Huyton, Merseyside. I don’t remember the time when I decided ‘I Am A Singer!’, infact, I don’t think that time exsisted – It’s just something I have always done (& loved). I am also a songwriter – that’s something that just sort of happened too . Learning to play guitar at 14, made me realise I could put my own words and music together – so the minute I learnt my first two chords – I’d written my first song. And so began my long-term relationship with G major (and we’re still as happy as ever…)
…Skipping forward a few years, I’m 19, recently emigrated to Leeds, Yorkshire where I study music. I’m constantly writing new music and gigging around the Northwest with the help of my beautiful band who you can here on the music player – What a group of people!  Thank you for taking the time to listen to my music.

Saturday Afternoon:

17:00 – Dan Clews – www.danclews.co.uk / Twitter: @DanClews / YouTube

Twilight folktronica tinged artist Dan Clews draws his sonic structure from a diverse spectrum of styles, places and people. Hailing from one of the last remaining traditional strawberry farms in Kent the ‘Garden of England’ is the foundation for his song writing landscape. After spending a couple of years honing his craft on the UK’s live circuit Dan moved to Sweden and threw himself into the indie/folk scene, working with some of the most interesting talent around. These collaborations resulted in two now sold-out releases with, ‘The Stars Above’. These recordings helped Dan secure a publishing deal with George Martin Music.  Sir George said, ‘I was introduced to Dan Clews by a friend. I have always tried to support young musicians and Dan’s music impressed from the first listen. He is too great a talent to ignore and it’s a great pleasure to be his publisher.’

The album has received huge attention from national and regional radio, most notably in the form of a Radio 2 play listing for the single, ‘Move Too Fast’. The song spent five weeks on the Radio 2 playlist from of 3rd April 2010. Dan has recorded over 20 sessions for various BBC regional radio stations culminating in an appearance on the Bob Harris Radio 2 show broadcast 10th July 2010. In the mean time Dan continues to support the album with live dates and festivals across the country.

‘This may well be one of the best debuts of the past 12 months’ - **** Record Collector.
‘A debut of sweetness and promise’ - The Guardian.
‘Leaves the listener reaching for the repeat button the moment it finishes’ - **** R2.
‘A hugely talented singer-songwriter plying his trade at the very top of his game’ - ****Maverick
‘Potent Folktronica’ - ***Uncut
‘Has Real Charm’ - *** Mojo

16:00 – Louise Distras – http://www.louisedistras.co.uk/ / StrummerVille / Twitter: @LouiseDistras / iTunes

“Who needs Brody Dalle when you have Louise Distras? When we think of some of the most successful and influential singer-songwriters of recent years, we will often remind ourselves of softly-voiced angels sharing blissful, heart-hugging songs. Be warned now; Louise Distras has arrived to ruthlessly shatter such stereotypes. Her songs are competently constructed and delivered with astounding power, proving that she possesses the qualities to rise above the average aspiring artist. It is quite conceivable that Distras could become the next Frank Turner.” - ROOM THIRTEEN
“Louise has been likened to Brody Dalle and Courtney Love, but it wont be long before other solo performers are being compared to her. This is a top class EP and Wakefield has something to be proud of in Louise Distras. 9/10″ - PUNK NEWS

“10/10 ” - INDEPENDENT MUSIC NEWS

15:00 – Nyko Morgan - Facebook / MySpace / CDbaby

About Nyko Morgan: After leaving my small home town in East Germany, I headed right for the bright lights of Paris and from there on to the UK. I have been doing little else but play music and write songs for the last years – and I’m still not bored with it! My songs are sometimes a bit odd and edgy – just like me – and I am a big fan of the unexpected! What can I say? Go, have a listen and take something with you.
Yours truely, Nyko.

“A spellbinding voice and performance combined with excellent songwriting makes Nyko one of the must see artists in the North East!” - Acoustic Nights at the North Terrace, Newcastle
“…offering a various range of gorgeous sounds and songs the listener can negotiate the way they will.”  – Musicfilmbroth.com
“Mesmerizing and stunning songs. A true rising star.” - Newcastlesessions.com

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