Music in Leeds
The Music in Leeds ecompasses a variety of styles and genres, including rock, pop and electronic. While groups like Soft Cell, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Wedding Present, Utah Saints and the Bridewell Taxis have gained success in the mainstream, Gang of Four, the Sisters of Mercy, Chumbawamba and the Mission have helped to define genres like punk rock, gothic rock and post-punk.
In a 2018 article for
Electronic music and the clubbing scene
Although formed in
International DJs and producers like Paul Woolford, Ralph Lawson and Riley & Durrant have their studios in the city, alongside less well known DJs such as Bragguar and DJ Tango.
The earlier underground house scene developed into the Leeds club scene of the 1990s, when for a while Leeds held the title of Britain's clubbing capital. Both
In the 2000s, the city's University students began making music influenced by Ital Rockers and Iration Steppas, forming groups like Submotion Orchestra and Gentleman's Dub Club. The groups would often perform by putting on parties in their student houses in Woodhouse, Hyde Park and Burley, with sofas and beds place upright against the walls for soundproofing. Performances in fields and squats were also commonplace.[5]
Punk rock
In the late-1970s, Leeds was home to influential punk rock groups such as
As the aforementioned groups pushed punk rock into more experimental directions, the likes of
In the early–2000s, Leeds punk groups became increasingly interested in the sound of U.S. bands like
In the late–2000s, a scene of hardcore punk bands manifested in the city with groups such as Mob Rules, Rot in Hell and Broken Arm. In an article for The Guardian, Mob Rules drummer Conor Rickford described the scene's nihilistic tendencies as being due to how "If you're living in Leeds you're not going to make music that says that the world is a wonderful place and the sun is always shining"[21]
In 2010, Eagulls formed in the city, influenced by the sound of earlier Leeds post-punk band, namely Gang of Four and the Mekons.[22]
Gothic rock
Organiser John Keenan started Futurama Festival in 1979, which quickly became the festival for gothic rock and post-punk acts, featuring acts such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire and Bauhaus.[33] According to Dazed, the use of the word "goth" to describe the genre was coined by the Yorkshire Evening Post, in a 1983 article describing the fifth Futurama festival.[34]
From the city's post-punk scene emerged a number of darker groups, who would come to define the sound of
A number of additional venues began to become associated with the scene, namely the Faversham and Le Phonographique.[36] The Faversham is a pub on the University of Leeds campus, that became known by early fans for being frequented by the members of the goth and post-punk scenes.[38] In the Mission: Names Are for Tombstones, Baby, Jon Langford stated that "there was a joke about the Faversham Arms that you could draw a map around all the bands in their little corners in there".[39] Le Phonographique was a nightclub that became instrumental in the emergence of the earliest phases of the goth subculture, while it splintered from punk. According to Dazed it was the first ever goth club.[34]
In 1985, the Sisters of Mercy members Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams departed from the band.[40] The duo's subsequent band, also featuring Mick Brown drummer Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Artery guitarist Simon Hinkler, made its live debut in 1986 under the name the Sisterhood.[41] However, that same year, the Sisters of Mercy vocalist Andrew Eldritch, released a single titled "Giving Ground", under the same name. Hussey and Adams subsequently renamed their group the Mission.[42]
Gothic club nights in Leeds continued to gain traction throughout the coming decades. For a period in the mid-2000s, the Wendy House club night at University of Leeds became the city's most frequented, however lost its popularity as the decade continued.[43] Since the mid-to-late 2010s, the Carpe Noctum club night and Gothic city festival have become some of the most notable goth events in the city.[44][45]
Alternative rock
The Wedding Present formed in Leeds in 1985,[46] in 1992, they managed to match Elvis Presley's world record of having 12 UK top 40 singles in a single year.[47]
Leeds indie rock band the Bridewell Taxis formed in 1987, with their first performance being to a crowd of 600. Their 1990 single Honesty gained significant traction from publications such as NME, however its music video was eventually banned from MTV due to its depiction of the band members committing theft.[9]
In the mid–2000s, a scene of pop-centric indie rock groups gained prominence in Leeds through bands such as the Kaiser Chiefs and the Pigeon Detectives. From within this scene, came a sub-sect of more experimental groups like ¡Forward, Russia!, Sky Larkin and This Et Al.[9]
The late–2000s saw the emergence of a more aggressive alternative rock scene primarily based in Hyde Park, around venues such as the Brudenell Social Club and the Pack Horse. Two prominent groups in this scene were Dinosaur Pile-Up and Pulled Apart by Horses, who both formed out of the 2007 breakup of Mother Vulpine.[5] Both saw significant commercial success, having performed at the Dr. Martens store in London[50] and at Reading and Leeds Festivals.[51] Dinosaur Pile-Ups 2015 album Eleven Eleven peaked at 169 on the UK Albums Chart.[52]
Pop
The Outer Limits were a psychedelic pop group that formed in Leeds in the late-1960s. By 1969, the band had disbanded, leading to vocalist Jeff Christie forming Christie.[55] Their 1970s single Yellow River peaked at number 1 on the UK singles chart.[56]
Soft Cell formed at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977,[57] they have sold 10 million records worldwide,[58] and their single Tainted Love peaked at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.[59]
Mel B was born in Hyde Park and grew up in Kirkstall.[60] In 1994, she became a founding member of the Spice Girls,[61] who would go on to be the best-selling girl group of all time.[62][63]
Festivals
Between 1979-84 Leeds was host to the Futurama Festival, an all-day event organised by John Keenan (agent and promoter) at the Queens Hall. Over the years numerous acts played e.g.:
The Moor Music Festival takes place yearly in July on Addingham Moorside near Ilkley, and regularly plays host to artists from the city.
In 1996 Leeds played host to the BBC Radio 1 Sound City festival.
Leeds initially played host to the northern leg of the
In 2000, Leeds played host to the first-ever Radio 1 Love Parade at Roundhay Park.
Since 1999 the Leeds Festival, a northern leg of the well established Reading Festival, has taken place on August bank holiday weekend. The event was initially held at Temple Newsam (the venue for the Leeds V Festival) before protests from residents[citation needed] forced a move to Bramham Park.
Leeds is also home to the
In 2006 and 2007 the two-day Wireless Festival took place at Harewood House. Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs headlined the festival in 2007.[66]
Live at Leeds is an annual multi-venue festival that takes place each May. The first Live At Leeds event took place in May 2007 to coincide with the city's 800th birthday celebrations.[67]
Each May Leeds has the
Outbreak Festival, originally held in Sheffield, is a festival specialising in hardcore punk. For much of its existence, it has been held at Canal Mills in Armely.[32]
The Pie Race festival started by Leeds Punk band ACiD DROP in 2010 takes place every November with underground Punk, Ska and Hardcore
In 2017, the first Hive Festival by Live in the Hive was held at Hyde Park Book Club.[68] In 2018, a follow-up festival in conjunction with Gateway Church was held, featuring a diverse range of acts who have all featured on Leeds' based Live in the Hive sessions.[69]
Venues
Leeds plays host to many venues, currently including: University of Leeds Refectory, where The Who performed and recorded their Valentine's Day, 1970 live album Live at Leeds; Leeds Beckett University; Brudenell Social Club; The Faversham; The Hi-Fi club; The Well; The Wardrobe; Irish Centre; New Roscoe (now closed); The Cardigan Arms; The Fenton; and The Packhorse, among others.
The O2 Academy Leeds opened in October 2008 on the site of the former Town & County Club music venue. The 2,300 capacity venue is run by the Academy Music Group and follows in-line with their other music venues around the UK.
The Duchess of York was situated at 71 Vicar Lane in the city centre of Leeds, arguably the busiest music venue during its tenure, was not mentioned with honour. It was gutted by Hugo Boss, silencing a major music venue and turning this historic musical landmark in the great North of England into a boutique. There were two to three live bands performing there, seven nights a week for almost the entirety of its existence. Bands such as U2, Nirvana, Oasis, Cud, Blur, Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, Green Day, Chumbawamba, Steve Marriott, the Grandmothers of Invention, Barrie Gledden, Bleach, Pavement, Isaac Guillory, Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, Pulp, Coldplay, Little Chief, Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones, Ship of Fools, Stereophonics, The Wedding Present and many more.
Occasional gigs are held in
The
In September 2014,
Wharf Chambers (formerly the Common Place) is a venue and
[Boom] (formerly the Temple of Boom) is a venue established in 2011 in Byron Street Mills, specialising in punk rock and heavy metal. It has three stages, a vegan cafe, ten rehearsal rooms, Declared Sound recording studio, a band hostel, a brewery, a wrestling ring and hosts the webstore for Southern Records.[26][79] It has hosted musicians such as Madball, Slowthai, Voivod, and Wormrot. In 2019, it was brought in parliament, being described as "an irreplaceable jewel in the crown of Leeds music and cultural scene", which gained it 26 signatures to avoid its possible eviction from the premises.[79] The venue began as a rehearsal in 2009, however soon after when the Flex inquired into whether they could perform there, leading to multiple stages and performance areas being built on the premises. The venue was also the filming location of an episode of DCI Banks.[26] In November 2020, the Music Venue Trust including it on its list of 30 venues facing permanent closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[80]
The Bellgrave Music Hall is a music venue and eatery on Cross Bellgrave Street. Its first floor venue room has a capacity of 300 and has hosted performances from acts such as Royal Blood, the Fall and Jorja Smith.[81]
Chunk is a venue and worker cooperative specialising in punk rock and DIY culture. It also includes the feminist dance music venue Slut Drop.[78] Beginning as a rehearsal studio in 2013, on the former premises of 309 Studios, Chunk grew to include the record label Voice of Chunk and spaces for graphic design, photography and event promotion.[82]
Oporto is a bar and music venue specialising in indie rock, located on Call Lane[83] that has hosted acts such as Viola Beach, Dutch Uncles. Its Gaslight Club night hosted free performances from up and coming musicians.[81]
See also
- List of bands originating in Leeds
- New Yorkshire
- Bands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East England
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