Can't miss, won't miss at Live at Leeds 2012
The six new acts at Live at Leeds you can't afford to miss
Photographer:Al De Perez
Chris Swindells - 03 May 2012
Jake Bugg
Scarily
young singer-songwriter Jake Bugg
got invited to play Glastonbury last year at the age of 17, wowing the crowds on the BBC Introducing stage with simple, catchy
melodies delivered with the voice of a wise bluesman and the swagger of Ian Brown, with folk, reggae and 60’s pop looming
large in a clearly long list of influences.
With single ‘Trouble Town’ and its’ follow-up
‘Lightning Bolt’ gatecrashing the airwaves this year, you’d be well advised not to miss the chance
to see the Nottingham troubadour at such close quarters – you might not get one again.
See Jake Bugg at 8.30 - 9pm at the Leeds Cockpit 3.
Lucy Rose
Best known so far for her work
with Bombay Bicycle Club, lending her sweet voice to tracks on both ‘Flaws’ and ‘A Different
Kind Of Fix’, as well as providing sterling back-up at their live shows, it’s now time for Lucy Rose’s
own songs to take centre stage.
While Laura Marling comparisons are somewhat inevitable, Rose’s own folk-tinged
tunes carry an edgy, beguiling charm all of their own, with a bruised ‘Don’t You Worry’, swirling
break up ballad ‘Middle Of The Bed’ and the compulsive build-and-build of ‘Red Face’ three
examples of the superior songwriting at work here. Amazingly, she’s still unsigned, but surely not for long.
See Lucy Rose at 8 - 8.30pm at Holy Trinity Church.
Like musical allies Yuck, these unlikely London lads have been pitting guitar led alt-rock against a dreamy emotive lyrical
landscape to a surge of critical acclaim. Yet to break into the mainstream consciousness it's surely only a matter of time
before their US inspired beaut-noise finds a home in the heart of the masses.
The band released their debut EP
'Low' in true DIY fashion, a self released record produced and delivered with a handmade fanzine, how apropos. U.S
label Fat Possum signed the band not long after.
See Fanzine at 6-6.30pm at Leeds Cockpit.
Under their last moniker 'FILMS' this four piece were once mistakenly listed for Live at Leeds, "They got us completely mixed up with the band The Films, they put them, a picture of them and their bio
instead of us.”
Now with the tag Alt-J
they once again have everyone confused. A one piece band? A triangle or a microsoft users' worst nightmare? They've set everything
alight in one baffling move on the board. It's technically mind-opening stuff, that fizzles with a gentle prog-pop pleasure.
The band were a VF One
to Watch at the start of the year and their star continues to rise, burning a bright trail across the cosmos.
It's time you found out what the four piece, who met at Leeds University, can do when they return to the city in 2012, and
this time under the correct name!
See Alt-J at 9 - 9.30pm at the Holy Trinity Church.
For the best Live at Leeds hangouts and plans check out our Live at Leeds 2011 preview.
Jessie Ware
You probably already know Jessie
Ware’s voice. The South Londoner has added her silky vocals to SBTRKT’s ‘Right Thing
to Do’ and DJ Joker’s ‘The Vision’ as well as providing back up vocals
for schoolmate Jack Penate and becoming a Rinse FM and Boiler Room stalwart. 2012 is set to be Ware’s breakout year,
as her two singles promise: first the languorous, Sade-esque single ‘Running’, and more recently, the
dancier but downbeat melancholia of ‘110%’. She recorded her debut album (in two weeks) with Dave
Okumu and Julio Bashmore – it’s slated for a summer release and, according to Ware,
fuses bits of hip hop with 80s soul. We can’t wait.
See Jessie Ware from 4.15-4.45pm at the o2 Academy.
Ghostpoet
London (via Coventry) producer
and MC, Obaro Ejimiwe, aka Ghostpoet,
first came to the attention of Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson in 2010, who was impressed enough to release Ghostpoet’s
debut EP, ‘The Sound of Strangers’ via his own Brownswood imprint. A debut single ‘Cash and
Carry Me Home’ was followed swiftly by an album, ‘Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam’
in 2011. The record’s heavy, atmospheric blend of hook-laden tracks and mumbling anxiety impressed the critics, earning
him a coveted spot on the Barclaycard Mercury Prize’s best album list. His MC’ing is also pretty mesmeric, making
him a must-see live at the festivals this summer.
See Ghostpoet from 11-12pm at the Brudenell Social Club.
Live At Leeds 2012 takes place across various venues from 4-7 May. The majority of acts play Saturday May 5 in the city of Leeds.
A Live at Leeds wristband for the Saturday is on sale now, priced at £20.
Click here to buy Live at Leeds tickets.
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