Leeds leading the way for music scene

Leeds is leading the way for the music of the future as two gigs featuring some of the industry's most popular and upcoming bands were announced this week.
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Coming to town next Friday night (November 25) are four local bands preparing to literally Rock the Refectory.

The event is being staged by the University of Leeds as it massively shakes up its annual charity fundraising campaign.

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It is the first time the uni has put on a music event of this scale and the show will be the finale for a day of other activities raising money for Cancer Research UK and also the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

There are over a thousand pounds worth of prizes to be won on the day and night which have been donated by the bands and local businesses.

Closing the event will be a one off gig with four bands all tipped for the top.

Glass Mountain, a four-piece outfit named after a David Hockney piece of artwork, will be one of the biggest acts on the bill and are already making waves on the scene despite only forming last year.

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They will be the support act for indie/rock band Embrace who burst onto the scene in the 1990s as they tour next month and just this week Glass Mountain won an award for Best Performance at the Leeds Music Video Awards 2016.

The members are from Bradford but have Leeds connections through the university and fans may have already caught their sets at Headrow House and Wharf Chambers earlier this year.

One Sided Horse will kick off the show as they are first on and boast four Embrace members – Richard McNamara Mickey Dale, Steve Firth and Mike Heaton – in their line-up.

Citrus Heights are a four-piece band from the city and have made an impression already at BBC Introducing and Ginger Tom have already started making a name for themselves.

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With their roots in Doncaster but having got two Leeds members they have taken their home-town by storm so far and are getting spotted by industry experts after supporting The Pigeon Detectives, The Hoosiers and The Beautiful South to name but a few.

Event promoter, Ian Cheek told City Buzz: “They wanted to keep it to local bands that are playing venues of say 250 people and filling them rather than pay a few grand for other names and the bands are all doing it for nothing.

“The university wanted a big event early in the student year to launch the fundraising campaign and it is the first time it has done something like this.

“It also wanted to reach out to other people in the city and there are four upcoming bands here that may never be seen together again like this.”

Tickets can be obtained from www.rocktherefectory.com

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Meanwhile, Live at Leeds has announced its first set of bands confirmed for the 2017 festival on April 29 and the event’s tenth year.

Headlining are punk duo Slaves and a crowd pleaser will no doubt be the Pigeon Detectives who are releasing a new album called Broken Glances through resurgent Leeds record label, Dance to the Radio early next year.

Other acts confirmed are Wild Beasts, Jagwar Ma, White Lies, Teleman, Let’s Eat Grandma, Black Honey, Jaws, The Big Moon, The Amazons, The Magic Gang, Team Picture, Lamia and Clay.