The name is certainly catchy, sounding like a power struggle between comfort food and democracy!
Pizza for The People are music promoters Julia King and Ryan Morgan, who run their ‘Indie Banquet’ nights in various Leeds venues, showcasing top bands and street food traders all under one roof. I caught up with them to find out a bit more about how it all started, and what their nights are all about.
Pizza for The People: The Story…………………
It was over eight years ago that Julia and Ryan first met, not surprisingly at a gig in Leeds. Julia, originally from Leeds, and Ryan from nearby Huddersfield, immediately realised their shared passion for music and gigs. The following five years saw the couple’s social life dominated by gigs and festivals, with Glastonbury being a firm favourite.
In 2016, they attended an event in Sheffield where Leeds band Eagulls were playing (not to be mistaken for Californian rockers The Eagles!). The event was like a mini-festival, with numerous bands playing plus street food on offer. They both came away from the event thinking to themselves ‘We could do something like this.’ With their vast experience of attending gigs and Ryan’s experience of band management, the first Indie Banquet was held later that year.
What to expect?
Indie Banquets are held three or four times a year at rotating independent venues, and are proving popular. Ryan and Julia source the bands, both through connections with the Leeds and the wider music scene and listening to shows such as BBC Radio 6 music. Previous events have been held at The Brudenell, Hyde Park Book Club and Wharf Chambers. Expect from the evening a well-selected number of local and UK-based up and coming bands, along with tasty food from some of Leeds favourite street food venders.
Pizza for the People’s 14th Indie Banquet night is taking place on Saturday 17th August 2019 at the Hyde Park Book Club. Talk Show are headlining, and they will be joined by fellow post-punk rockers Brighton-based Egyptian Blue, Leeds’ L.D. Moses and The Shakamoto Investigation, as well as Hull’s Autosuggestion.
On the food front, popular Kirkstall Road-based Sicilian street food Poco will be serving up their treats, whilst the permanent on-site vegan café will also be open.
Tickets are just £7 each and are available via the Pizza for the People Facebook page link below, as well as from Crash and Jumbo record stores.
If you can’t make their August event, don’t worry – keep your eyes peeled for their third birthday event in October, which is going to be massive!
More Information:
For information on future Indie Banquet events visit their website or Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/weallwantpizza/
Feature photograph provided by Hanglands PR.
