Music - live music and CD reviews

Interview Pulled Apart By Horses

We speak to James Brown – lead guitarist for the Leeds-based grungesters – ahead of the release of the band's second album, Tough Love

"The thing that surprised all of us most was when Radio 1 were playlistying the single," explains James Brown, lead guitarist in Pulled Apart By Horses. "That was really weird. Totally unexpected.

"We didn’t really set out with any aim to do anything like that. We just liked playing live, really. We didn’t think anyone would sign us, or we’d sell 10,000 records. The fact we sold 10,000 records is mind-boggling. We never expected it to sell anything like that!"

It’s fair to say the rise and rise of Pulled Apart By Horses is perhaps one of the most surprising…

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Preview Status Quo

Status Quo fans given an opportunity to bid drummer adieu at Leeds Arena

British musical legend Matt Letley to make one of his final performances with the band at the venue

British boogie rock heroes Status Quo have announced today that they will be playing Leeds Arena later this year, for one of drummer Matt Letley’s final gigs before leaving the band after 12 years.

Part of an 11 date “Bula Quo!” UK Winter tour – named after the band’s debut feature film with soundtrack, to be released over the summer - the groups’ performance on Tuesday 17th December at the SMG operated venue, will take place two days before Letley has confirmed…

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News Leeds Festival Chorus

Leeds Festival Chorus to sing in Venice – thanks to Alessandro

Venetian Alessandro Taverna was a finalist in the 2009 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition – he came third. While he was in the city he developed a great admiration for one of Yorkshire’s most prestigious choirs, the 170-strong Leeds Festival Chorus, and has now invited them to sing in Italy next year.

It began when he was rehearsing, at the Headingley home of Margaret Mara, who sings alto in the Chorus and whose Steinway grand piano has been at the service of a number of other contestants – currently it is being used by Alexander Ullman.

“I got to know Alessandro…

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News Local band en route to Leeds Festival with FTPE

A local train company has teamed up with Leeds Festival 2012 as an official travel sponsor, and are supporting a Yorkshire band who are on track to make their debut at the summer’s hottest music event.

To celebrate the launch of their combined train and bus tickets to the festival, First TransPennine Express (FTPE) invited upcoming Leeds band, Backyards, to provide acoustic entertainment to FTPE passengers on a recent train between Huddersfield and Leeds.

Performing songs off their EP ‘If You’re Scared’, Backyards have been shortlisted to take part in the Futuresound competition, which takes place throughout June and July…

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Feature The Coopers

The Coopers releases new EP 'Paint it Blue and Throw it in the Sea'

Come rain, hail, or shine this summer, it?s sure to be a bright season for one of Yorkshire?s most exciting, up-and-coming band, The Coopers.

Fresh off the back of performances at ‘Europe?s leading festival for new music’, The Great Escape, The Coopers are set to kick summer into gear with the release of their highly anticipated EP, “Paint it Blue and Throw it in the Sea”.

The Coopers keep the recipe simple: a healthy dose of quirky pop, a twist of indie, a slice of folk, and enough sunshine to bring the summer into full swing. The anthemic single, ‘Summer’s…

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Live Review Arthur Rigby and the Baskervylles + Hunting Bears

Kamelia Kountcheva reviews two rising stars in the Leeds music scene.

On the cold Wednesday evening of February 8^th, in the heart of Leeds, a little epicentre of excited heat radiated from the Nation of Shopkeepers bar. Fans gathered, eagerly waiting to see two of their rising local bands perform.

Hunting Bears, a five-piece folk band from Leeds, took to the stage first, warming up a steadily thickening crowd of edgy fringes, floral dresses and schoolboy jumpers. The folk feel was imminent with this band, as the violin rang and the ukulele jangled the first chords of ‘Heavy Tree’. Their beautiful harmonies were only enhanced by the infectious chemistry between the…

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