With only three or so weeks to go to Leeds Festival, you must be getting pretty excited – I know I am, and I don’t even know if I’m going yet!
So, to educate, edify and pass the time betwixt now and then, here’s a couple of words about some of the bodies taking the air and even the stage during that crazy August bank holiday weekend.
Kinch
One of the lucky few to make it to the Introducing stage via the Futuresound competition, Kinch are four plucky young lads from Leeds with a nice line in uplifting indie pop. How young? Well, they’re in their year off from university, so I am hideously envious of their youth, energy, good looks, ambition etc. Plus they’re the official band of the Leeds Rhinos. Bizarre? Thoroughly. Entertaining? Definitely.
Horse Guards Parade
Beloved of Raw Talent, Horse Guards Parade are Archie and James (formerly of Salako) from Hull. Their sound is a bit C & W, a bit Joe Meek, a bit psychedelic… and a bit gallopy. They’ve already been earmarked with interest by Nick Lane Fox (the owner!) as he used to be in the Household Cavalry and name checked by Melvin Ben as they both attended the same school, although, according to Melvin, back then they didn’t have such luxuries as ‘teachers’.
Milky White White Teeth
Originally from Leicester but late of Leeds, MWWT are another lucky Futuresounder and are hungry for the chance to play on a stage large enough for their 8-piece combo. Used to borrowing, begging and stealing backlines (Barry says they need 17 in total), they’ll also have the chance to let their three keyboards sing free. More is more.
Thorner Ticket Committee
The unsung heroes of the Thorner community, the TTC get a wedge of tickets to sell at a reduced rate to the good people of Thorner. The money then gets fed back into local community groups and concerns, including music teachers, sports groups and youth clubs. So far, since 2003, they’ve made £147,016 for local groups – and that’s before you even start to talk about the money local companies make during that weekend. So when you’re on your back, paralytic and listening to Radiohead, just think of the good you’re doing… indirectly.
And last, but far from least…
Nick and Rachel Lane Fox
Yes, the owners of the big house and generous hosts for the last seven years. Rachel had not been to a rock concert before the first Bramham Park festival in 2003, but, even though she confesses to not being into the whole rock scene, has been a stage side fixture ever since. The first show was agreed to after a highly professional and tempting proposal by Mean Fiddler that would allow them to do some serious renovation to the family home. The promoter may have changed, but the standard of professionalism has remained high and the site has been consistently returned to the status quo every year – even though last year it took until October to finally get the site straight!
Nick is the big music fan and this year will be looking forward to Vampire Weekend and El Mariachi Bronx – the mariachi alter ego of Lock Up Stage noisemakers The Bronx. Rachel will be co-ordinating (with assistance) 22 youngsters between the ages of 8 and 17. Their strategy for surviving the weekend: “be laid back”. Wise words indeed.
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