First Round of the 2015 Handmade Music Line-Up Announced
It’s a big news day, here at Handmade. We have so much to tell you about and it’s hard to know where to start. We’re so proud of everything that we’re able to let slip today, but there is honestly a thousand times more still to come. This is a mere taste of what you’ll be getting at the festival in 2015…
THE VENUE
First off we have a new location. We realise this is a big change to the way the festival has run in the past, but we’re confident that Handmade will benefit enormously from the decision and It isn’t one we would take lightly. For 2015 the festival will take place in multiple rooms at Leicester’s O2 Academy and in parts of Leicester University’s Students Union.
Handmade has been an exponent and supporter of Leicester’s independent music venues from it’s very inception, and that is still at the core of our planning for the festival. Both Firebug and The Cookie remain heavily involved, as do Magic Teapot and The Robot Needs Home Collective. This year they’re joined on booking duties by the mighty Andy Wright (who has been synonymous with live music in Leicester for longer than any of us can remember). We are continuing to look at ways that we can work with and support the venues and more unusual spaces around the city both during the festival and throughout the rest of the year. There are big plans.
What does that mean for the festival? Well, it means everything is under one roof - whatever the weather. At our end it means that logistically the festival is easier to put together, leaving us more time to focus on the details and to make sure you guys get the best possible experience. It means that the musicians, comedians, artists, filmmakers and photographers can be catered for to at the very highest standards. It means that the Handmade stages are now entirely all-ages (although under 8s must be arranged in advance with the venue management, under 14s must be accompanied by an adult and alcohol sales are of course only to over 18s).
It also means that the festival can grow, and this is important for more than just bringing you bigger names and more acts - it means the festival will be sustainable, and something which can more easily continue to exist for many years in to the future.
TICKETS
General sale of tickets begin at Midday on WEDNESDAY. Find them through SeeTickets.
THE FIRST ROUND OF ACTS ARE ANNOUNCED
This is the really important bit. We are delighted to announce the first acts for Handmade 2015. Remember; this is just the start and we’ll be bringing you SO much more over the coming months.
SLAVES
Slaves are a two piece from Tunbridge wells who play “British punk with harsh bluesy garage riffs” (Noisey). Already BBC Sound of 2015 nominees, all over Radio 1 and with the NME Awards tour and supports with Interpol on the horizon every single day seems to bring new superlatives with which to describe their career thus far. [ More ]
EAGULLS
Since forming in 2009, Leeds-based Eagulls have become synonymous with a discontented, disillusioned kind of anger, molded into bullets of post punk that’s rife with urgency and aggression. Booking support slots with the likes of Iceage, Merchandise and Fucked Up they’ve carved out a reputation for chaotic and confrontational live shows. Their self titled debut was released in 2014 to critical acclaim and sold out shows across the country. [ More ]
HONEYBLOOD
The Scottish-based two-piece released their eponymous, debut LP on FatCat Records in 2014. ‘Honeyblood’ is an accomplished and delightfully fierce record. Despite their minimal setup, Honeyblood’s songs are fully formed and perfectly assured. The songs resonate with deep melodic hooks and the kind of uncomplicated charm that’ve drawn contemporary comparisons to the likes of the Dum Dum Girls, as well as the strident delivery of Jenny Lewis. The band also tellingly cite the darker currents of The Breeders, PJ Harvey and Throwing Muses as lifelong influences. [ More ]
MAX RAPTOR
The anthemic candour of Midlands four-piece Max Raptor fuses classic British punk attitude with an astute sensibility to a ballsy riff, forthright narrative and infectious hook-fuelled chant. Having cut their carnivorous teeth on the live circuit with the likes of Billy Talent, Blood Red Shoes, Oceansize and Ash they have spent the last year touring, playing live and writing and recording debut material, building up a head of steam, a reputation for raucous and energetic live shows and a fan base in the process. [ More ]
LUKE LEIGHFIELD
Luke Leighfield has been a prolific performer and recording artist since 2005. In the past ten years he’s played 750 shows in Europe, Russia, Canada, the USA, China, Japan and South Sudan. He started his own record label, Got Got Need Records, through which he’s self-released four albums and two EPs. (He’s also released greatest hits albums in Japan and China.) It’s no surprise, then, that he’s been dubbed both “the hardest working man in indie” and “the UK’s biggest underground pop star.” [ More ]
HOOTON TENNIS CLUB
Lo-Fi Garage Foursome Hooton Tennis Club take the best bits of Teenage Fanclub, Sonic Youth, Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. and meld it all in to one glorious whole. [ More ]
THE BSM & ALCOPOP STAGE
2015 sees our good friends and mighty fine record labels ALCOPOP and BIG SCARY MONSTERS return to curate their own stage, with the first acts to be announced being
TALONS
Talons are an instrumental band, who call the backwater town of Hereford their home. Forging explosive energy, delicate subtleties and fractured song structures, Talons possess a fascinating sense of urgency and drive, with a sound that both soothes and savages in equal measure. Talons are not a post-rock band, nor are they a math rock band. Talons, are Talons. The six-piece are best experienced in a live environment, where the visceral, raw energy of their music can be fully appreciated. [ More ]
FREEZE THE ATLANTIC
Formed in 2009 by Andy Gilmour (Hundred Reasons) & Guy Davis (Reuben), Freeze the Atlantic have seen three different vocalists and two different bassists. One would think these changes would destabilise a band’s motivation, but with version 4.0 of the band FTA are exactly where they want to be. Numerous UK & Ireland tours followed, with breakthrough performances at prestigious festivals and plays by Radio 1 & Xfm further developing their sound and growing fanbase. Now, with renewed vigour, 2014 sees the band release their second, self titled album. Heavier, smarter and more accomplished; it encompasses all of this bands writing abilities and represents their yearning for more. [ More ]
WOAHNOWS
Describing themselves as “indie-punk with a short attention span”, Woahnows are three friends just trying to make their point in the best possible sounding way. Their new EP, ‘The Joy Disorder’, is 5 tracks clocking in at just under 15 minutes, and offers a thrilling introduction of what’s to come. Think Against Me! meets Japandroids and Les Savy Fav, with Dananananaykroyd-esque guitarwork and gang vocals which will keep you humming for hours. Having blown away Handmade 2014, they’re back again this year. [ More ]
KATIE MALCO
Katie Malco is a veteran of both previous Handmade Festivals. She comes from Fife in Scotland, now residing in London. Having toured the UK and Europe extensively, both solo and with super group live band of ex-Reuben and Hold Your Horse Is members, Malco recorded her debut album in 2014. She released the ‘Katie Malco & The Slow Parade’ EP on Alcopop Records at the end of 2011, produced by Iain Archer of such fame as Snow Patrol and featuring a studio band of Tubelord and PINS members. Malco’s latest EP is a bold collection of piano songs recorded live in an old studio hall. The EP, ‘Tearing Ventricles’, was released on Alcopop! Records B-Sided by The Slow Parade EP. [ More ]
WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
What else you can you expect? Well, Our other favourite UK festivals Two Thousand Trees and ArcTanGent are back hosting a stage again this year, with details of that line-up well on their way. We’ve got Art looked after by our long-standing curator and DMU Fine Art graduate Heather Forknell, Film looked after by The Short Cinema and WeTheConspirators, Comedy in association with Bottle Rocket and Photography from Leicester LoFi as well as so much more it would be ridiculous to try and list it all at this point.
Needless to say we are phenomenally excited for this years event which will be bigger and better than anything that has come before. We sincerely hope you’ll join us whether you’ve been a part of Handmade before or not.
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