….., Gemma Hayes, Jaws The Shark, Orlando Weeks, RVG, Spielmann, Texas and Spooner Oldham: our latest pick. So much music is coming to Leeds!
Elvis Costello at City Varieties Music Hall on 2 and 3 September
Walking in the footsteps of Harry Houdini and beyond the long shadow of Charlie Chaplin, Frank Carson and the great Leonard Sachs, Elvis Costello brings his new presentation “15 SONGS FROM 50 YEARS” to the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds, staging four unique performances over two days, each of approximately a 75-minute duration.
On 2 September, the 7.00 p.m. soiree will feature an entirely different repertoire from that of the 9.30 p.m. performance, with songs selected from each of the five decades of Costello’s astonishing songwriting endeavors. The third and fourth performances on the 3 September will propose a deuce of delights; two entirely different 15-song set-lists selected from half a century of popular songwriting craft. The four shows are guaranteed to feature 60 different songs. Very limited ticket availability – Tickets here.
RVG at The Brudenell on 3 September
Award winning post punk Australians, RVG prepare for their upcoming European tour with a mighty double A-side coupling ‘Don’t Take It Badly’ – a head-on collision of the Bunnymen and The Only Ones at their most jangly, with a side order of very early REM – with their euphoric, chiming Spector-esque cover of The Ramones’ ‘Pet Sematary’.
“Don’t Take It Badly is a song about how change isn’t always a romantic thing and can sometimes feel pretty ugly. Vocalist Romy Vager: “It’s a winter song that I wrote in the summer and we all love the Ramones and started playing this in rehearsal and it instantly clicked. The lyrics are such an underrated part of Ramones’ songs. There’s a lot of imagery in this song that I love dearly.”
“The sound of a band at the height of their rock powers” Rolling Stone
“One of Australia’s finest” ★★★★ The Guardian
“Compelling” The FADER
“Forever raw and forever vital… A pulsating return” Clash
“Impossibly catchy” ★★★★ MOJO
Tickets here.
Bootleg Beatles at The Old Woollen on 5 September
The Bootleg Beatles will undertake a very special 12-date UK tour in Autumn 2024 tour of the UK which includes a night at the legendary London Palladium, where the Fab Four themselves performed in 1963 – tickets are available now from venues or https://bootlegbeatles.com/gigs/.
It’s all here…the iconic mop tops and the Chelsea boots, the Vox amps and the Chesterfield suits. Each tiny vocal inflection and each witty Beatle quip, all meticulously studied on this Magical Mystery trip.
This multi-media show is an absolute must-see for Beatle fans of all ages. It’s not the Beatles but you simply won’t believe it.
“Less a Tribute more a reincarnation” – The Daily Telegraph
“Mind-bogglingly authentic” – The Mail on Sunday
“Entirely Convincing” – The Times
Texas and Spooner Oldham at First Direct Arena on 6 September
Texas & Spooner Oldham Partner Up For The Muscle Shoals Sessions: After an emphatic 2023 that saw a career-spanning The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023 release, as well as one of the standout Pyramid Stage sets at Glastonbury, Texas and legendary American songwriter and pianist Spooner Oldham released their first joint album The Muscle Shoals Sessions.
34 years since they recorded ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’, then watched, gobsmacked, as it reached Number Eight in the charts, Texas, one of the UK’s most loved bands, have gone on to produce ten studio albums, selling over 40 million records worldwide. Known for their enthralling, high-energy shows, the run will see the band play a set of classic hits . Support across the dates comes from KT Tunstall.
Recorded at the renowned ‘Fame Recording Studio’ in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, during the summer of 2022, the album features twelve of Texas’ greatest hits, and two covers (‘Would I Lie To You’ by Charles and Eddie and ‘Save The Last Dance’ by The Drifters) – reimagined and laid bare. Stripped back to their bare bones, guided by the soulful voice of Sharleen Spiteri, accompanied by the delicate piano lines of Spooner Oldham, the songs simply shine in this format and prove their worth as sheer stand alone, timeless classics.
Sharleen Spiteri says of the experience; “To have the option to go to Muscle Shoals to record was like being a little kid in a sweet shop. Working with Spooner was inspiring, fun and he’s just a wonderful human being. The fact that Northern Soul music has been such a massive influence for Texas made the fit with Spooner just right. Him writing ‘Keep On Talking’ was essential to us recording it for this album.”
On adapting the tracks for the album, Sharleen continues; “To reimagine the classics and break them down so you hear the clarity in the lyrics – it may give you a different take and a different feeling on these songs. It’s just vocal and a piano with some beautiful backing – all recorded live. I think you’re going to get something quite different from what you will have heard on the original versions.”
Inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Spooner Oldham has shaped American soul music with his formidable talent. A songwriter, producer and session keyboardist, Oldham has left his mark on classics such as “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “Mustang Sally” and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).” Oldham went on to play on a string of Aretha albums and co-write some classics, “I’m Your Puppet” “Cry Like A Baby” and “Sweet Inspirations” with Dan Penn.
After the end of the pioneering era of Southern soul, Oldham put his considerable talents to work for other artists, including Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and the Everly Brothers, playing piano and organ. He remains a respected figure among music aficionados, not only for his tasteful keyboard playing, but also for his compositions.
Jaws The Shark at Oporto on 15 September
Jaws The Shark (real name Olly Bailey), today reveals his final single before the released his debut album on 19 July. Worthy of featuring in the soundtrack of a classic cinematic Western film, previously released single Last Train To Santa Fe starts off soft and sombre, and then reaches a powerful crescendo. Listen here, and watch the lyric video here.
Olly has explained the writing process: “I wrote Last Train to Santa Fe after listening to a lot of Nick Cave. For some time I’d been trying to write a song that starts slow, yet is melodic and tells a story throughout. It’s a method of songwriting that I’ve not experimented much with yet in my career.”
Olly on the debut album: “Wasteland is an album that I’d been wanting to write for some time now, and one that I’m really proud of personally. Some of the tracks that I write wouldn’t necessarily be put into the Jaws The Shark category when you look back at what I’ve released previously, but I wanted this album to show off some of my versatility that I like to explore when writing songs.”
Tickets are on sale here.
LaFontaines at The Wardrobe on 17 September
Fifteen years since their inception in Motherwell Scotland, Kerr Okan (vocals), Jamie Keenan (drums, vocals) and Darren McCaughey (guitars, production) have long held a unique space within the UK music scene with The LaFontaines sound as instantly recognisable as singer Kerr’s vocals.
Of their new upcoming album Business As Usual set for release this summer, frontman Kerr Okan says “To be a band at this point, 15 years deep, on the verge of releasing our 4th studio album says it all, really. To still be going hard at it shows the love we have for the music. To have a fanbase that continues to grow proves we’re not f%@kin’ mental, and to have a live show that is genuinely one of the best in Britain, is the reason we keep selling out shows with no industry backing. This record is far from a farewell; it’s a resolute declaration that it’s ‘Business As Usual”
The LaFontaines third studio album Junior was released via SO Recordings in June 2019 to critical acclaim. The album charted at number 33 in the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their first top 40 record. The band’s personality, charm and charisma shines through their output, which coupled with their already unrivalled unique offering has earned them a dedicated, loyal fanbase – who identify with the band through more than just the music.
Across their career, The LaFontaines have performed across the globe with festival highlights including TRNSMT in Scotland, VERY TV Festival in Bangkok, the Radio 1 Dance Tent at Reading & Leeds Festival in England and the NH7 Weekender in India. They have toured everywhere from New York to Paris with the likes of Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, Anderson .Paak, Don Broco, Deaf Havana and Example to name a few.
Their live shows are their superpower – a guaranteed good time that sees the band connect with their audience on a level that most live acts never achieve. There is no one like The LaFontaines.
Spielmann at Hyde Park Book Club on 20 September
‘’He’s making atmospheric pop music, and it’s brilliant’’ – Yard Act’s Hot Tip on 6 Music
“Leeds multi-hyphenate Ben Lewis blends pop know-how with alternative-leaning textures” – DIY
‘Spielmann lights up Saturday afternoon, making songs crafted with love’ – The Line Of Best Fit
‘Not-to-be-missed, superb one-man, Hall and Oates-style 80s neon balladry’ – Yorkshire Post
Coming off the back of a barnstorming first half of 2024, playing festivals up and down the country, supporting the Kaiser Chiefs and releasing his debut EP ‘Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann’ to critical acclaim and support from DIY, 6Music, The Line Of Best Fit, Leeds multi-hyphenate Spielmann released a series of live session videos in anticipation of his debut, full band, headline tour taking place this September.
Filmed at Leeds’ Evoke Studios and drawing comparisons to Bleachers, The National and The Vaccines, the three live tracks, all taken from debut EP ‘Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann’ show Spielmann and The Bannd as a formidable live force, breathing life into Spielmann’s already stadium-sized hooks, giving the viewer just a little insight into what they can expect from the band in a live setting. You can watch the live session here.
Ben Lewis, the man behind Spielmann: “It’s amazing to hear these songs in this context. So far it’s been me in my attic recording and then playing live shows on my own, running around like a madman to try to keep people entertained. With the band there’s now 5 of us trying to keep people entertained, and the songs sound like the biggest, baddest versions of themselves. We can’t wait to get out and play it and thought releasing the sessions into the wild was the perfect way to get people as excited as we are.“
Another Sky at The Brudenell on 21 September
With the release of their sophomore album Beach Day this past March and a run of UK shows across the country this Autumn, 2024 has proved to be a powerful year for Another Sky. The Times claimed Beach Day to be “an artistic triumph rising from the ashes of personal disaster”, with DIY Magazine giving the album a 4.5 star review professing it as “a fearless beauty”.
The band built a personal crypt-based studio from scratch to create this album, with help from guitarist Jack Gilbert’s builder Dad, where Gilbert produced much of the album himself – costing less and giving the band infinitely more freedom to take back control of their own narrative.
Another Sky are steadfast and galvanised to make you understand everything that got them here. How they survived. All you have to do is listen.
The Last Dinner Party at 02 Academy on 24 September
At the turn of 2024, The Last Dinner Party had won themselves their first BRIT with the Rising Star award, and voted BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2024. They are now spending much of it joining dots from city to city on a road map across the globe, since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Prelude To Ecstasy.
It has certainly been a whirlwind twelve months for the London based band, and after a summer full of exciting festival appearances, the band will be playing a stint across the country this autumn. Prelude To Ecstasy is both the closing of that introductory chapter and the opening of the next.
The Last Dinner Party? Believe the hype.
Kaeto at 02 Academy on 24 September (supporting The Last Dinner Party)
The emerging London-based artist is fast carving a space for herself with her unique genre-spanning sound that blends elements of trip-hop, dance and electronic music with punk, alt-pop and more. KAETO first attracted attention with her startling debut ‘Good Morning’. After signing with Polydor last summer, she released ‘No Body’, which i-D declared “the most commanding artist statement we’ve heard all year”. Following it up with several other hypnotic singles, she continues to carve her own niche.
KAETO has been captivating audiences with her mesmerising live performances, opening as special guest for Haim, Eliza and Bleachers, and will now be supporting The Last Dinner Party on their UK tour.
Orlando Weeks at The Brudenell on 27 September
Having launched his acclaimed new album LOJA with three inspiring sold-out performance/art exhibition events at the Copeland Gallery, Orlando Weeks has now announced details of a full UK tour which starts in September. The tour will see Orlando supported by a live band that features several of the key musicians on the album.
LOJA is a record informed by Orlando and his family’s move from London to Lisbon. It was a change that stirred the waters of inspiration, instigating reflection on things which have passed, optimism for the future, and the contentment that comes with finding your place.
The album’s lead single ‘Dig’ featured Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg and landed on the 6 Music playlist. Meanwhile, strong reviews were complemented with news coverage spanning Clash, DIY, Dork, Far Out, NME, So Young, The Line of Best Fit, whynow and more.
Gemma Hayes at The Old Woollen on 29 September
“Another Love” is the new single from Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter GEMMA HAYES, available now through Townsend Music via Absolute Label Services. The track is lifted from Hayes long-awaited sixth album ‘Blind Faith’, set for release on 27 September on LP, CD, cassette and digital formats.
The Irish musician’s first new album since 2014’s ‘Bones + Longing’ is accompanied by a UK headline tour, including shows in Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol and London.
LISTEN TO GEMMA HAYES – “ANOTHER LOVE” HERE
A poignant duet with fellow Irish singer-songwriter Paul Noonan (Bell XI) about two people leaning on one another for support at a time of mutual grief, “Another Love” is evidence that Hayes’s prowess as a storyteller is undimmed after a decade away. “Another Love is a lament,” she explains. “It deals with two characters being haunted by the ghost of someone they loved while finding comfort in each other’s arms. Both reveal that they do not love the other and that weirdly brings them closer together.”
Having taken the time and space she needed to figure out what she wants to tell the world. Hayes has plenty to say, with ‘Blind Faith’ diving into themes of longing, empowerment, freedom and repression. While Hayes’s songwriting is as personal as ever, its abstract nature allows the listener to sink into each song, immersed by tender guitar picking, eerie synths and swooning cello. The album was produced by Hayes with Karl Odlum, David Odlum & Brian Casey, and features Lisa Hannigan on backing vocals on “Eye For An Eye” and “Feed The Flames”.
The youngest of eight children raised in the small village of Ballyporeen in County Tipperary, Gemma Hayes’ introduced herself to the world with her 2002 debut ‘Night On My Side’. With its deft production, ambitious arrangements and Hayes’ dreamy, rock-leaning vocal delivery, the album was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for the Mercury Prize.
Since then, she has released four critically acclaimed studio albums and a limited-edition live album, while her music is constantly in demand for film and TV placements. Her version of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”, recorded for the US TV series Pretty Little Liars, now has over 24 million streams on Spotify alone, while she recently contributed to the soundtrack of the film adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s Greyhound of a Girl.
Main image: Another Sky. Provided by Chuff Media.
