{"id":18001,"date":"2019-03-28T14:24:26","date_gmt":"2019-03-28T14:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/?p=18001"},"modified":"2019-03-28T14:24:26","modified_gmt":"2019-03-28T14:24:26","slug":"review-lets-face-the-music-at-firebug-and-duffys-bar-saturday-22nd-march-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/review-lets-face-the-music-at-firebug-and-duffys-bar-saturday-22nd-march-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Review – Let’s Face the Music at Firebug and Duffy’s Bar, Saturday 22nd March 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

with Paddy Hodgkinson, Steve Faulkner, Homeless Shakespeare & The Pigeon Theatre, Elysian, Luke Broughton, Finches of Attica, Bellatones, The Jav’lins, The Hardy Band, Siobhan Mazzei, Charlotte Carpenter and The Brandy Thieves<\/strong><\/p>\n

This event was organised by Music in Leicester<\/a>, Firebug<\/a> and\u00a0Duffy’s Bar<\/a>.
\nReviewed by Aleksandra Brzezicka.<\/a>
\nPhotographs by Oliver Bellamy<\/a> and\u00a0Kevin Gaughan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Video of ALL the acts performing at the gig, to a backing track of The Brandy Thieves, Down the River.<\/a><\/p>\n

Sprinting between Firebug and Duffy\u2019s on a Friday night, with no break for a beer or a cigarette to see as many performances as possible, can mean only one thing \u2013 Let\u2019s Face the Music event, 12 acts, three stages, one night and The Brandy Thieves<\/strong>\u2019 grand finale. It was more than worth it.<\/p>\n

The Rock stage debut, Finches of Attica<\/strong> started off with a rockabilly twist in I\u2019ll Be A Man<\/em> to feature a rock-boys-band quality in Stars<\/em>, the combination of being loud and happy. Just like your next door rock band. Not special, though entertaining enough. Surprisingly, boys from Finches of Attica woke up screaming at the end, especially with Circus<\/em> and gave the kick of energy I was waiting for.<\/p>\n

\"\"Finches of Attica Photo: Kevin Gaughan<\/p>\n

Roots stage\u2019s opening act, Bellatones<\/strong> was a quirky folk formation which evolved from an acoustic duo into today’s five-piece bluesy band. Going to their gig was like joining a gypsy wedding at the time when half of the party is already blissfully drunk. Their swinging jazzy rock, featuring violin, occasional tambourine and a fair share of clich\u00e9 romance, got its own retro charm.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bellatones Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

There\u2019s not many who dare to cover Radiohead and Beck during the same set. Steve Faulkner<\/strong> belongs to those brave ones. Accompanied by the DIY half of the drumkit and his guitar, which playing, he absolutely mastered, Steve proved that not much is needed to make an impact and rock an acoustic performance.<\/p>\n

\"\"Steve Faulkner Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

Working class jazz, branded gyp-hop and south meets caravans vibes. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Homeless Shakespeare & The Pigeon Theatre<\/strong>. Having no time to waste, they managed to a perform funky drinking song, preach about politics, rebel against Brexit in the funky\/rap manner and tell some absolutely terrible jokes that fortunately didn\u2019t stop the crowd from enjoying the lovely performance.<\/p>\n

\"\"Homeless Shakespeare & The Pigeon Theatre Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

Charlotte Carpenter\u2019s<\/strong> set was an evocative example of pure magic happening on the stage. Since the first track, Blood Ties, Pt. 2<\/em> (her newest single) until the very last seconds of Babywoman<\/em>, Charlotte cast a spell on us using her emotionally-loaded, power. The raw sound of guitar combined with honey-coated, effortless vocal could melt hearts and steel. Her ability to sing about being simultaneously confused and vulnerable, proud and independent, made her truly fierce feminist voice that everyone should hear.<\/p>\n

\"\"Charlotte Carpenter Photo: Kevin Gaughan<\/p>\n

Ever saw The Ballad of Buster Scruggs<\/em>? The Hardy Band<\/strong> could easily pass as a soundtrack to the whole film. They\u2019ve got it all \u2013 folky cowboy tunes, the melancholy of tired travellers in the United States and a female-male duo on vocals. They\u2019re manly enough to be called a southern blues band. Cheerful enough to play on the dances and to the crackling fire in the night. And a bit too cheesy but I don\u2019t mind.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Hardy Band Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

Despite people going in and out of Duffy\u2019s every five seconds, Luke Broughton<\/strong> managed to ignore the noise in the name of an absolutely unearthly performance. If the heavens sang, it would be in Luke and LION\/S<\/strong>\u2019s (who joined him on stage) voice.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a strange choirboy sent from the skies to re-define the meaning of beauty and sob over loneliness. I did almost cry.<\/p>\n

\"\"Luke Broughton Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

The Brandy Thieves<\/strong> were the ones that stole the night. They didn\u2019t make a quiet entrance, but threw the party wilder than the New Orleans\u2019 carnival celebrations. Their gypsy punk rock infused with ska energy, impossible to label, is a mix you can only appreciate while played live. Especially when there\u2019s a chance to hear some of their best-known tracks aka Howling at the Moon<\/em> or Bless Me Father<\/em> along with their new EP, Devil\u2019s Wine<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Brandy Thieves Photo: Kevin Gaughan<\/p>\n

The Brandy Thieves are the unapologetic folk storytellers who know how to blow up a building and walk away. Let\u2019s hope that this time they won\u2019t wander too far from Leicester.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Brandy Thieves Photo: Kevin Gaughan<\/p>\n

Video of ALL the acts performing at the gig, to a backing track of The Brandy Thieves, Down the River.<\/a><\/p>\n

Acts who also performed<\/h2>\n

\"\"Paddy Hodgkinson Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

\"\"The Jav’lins Photo: Kevin Gaughan<\/p>\n

\"\"Elysian Photo: Oliver Bellamy<\/p>\n

\"\"Siobhan Mazzei Photo: Kevin Gaughan<\/p>\n

If you would like to share this review, please help us by using the share buttons below instead of a screen print – thanks!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

with Paddy Hodgkinson, Steve Faulkner, Homeless Shakespeare & The Pigeon Theatre, Elysian, Luke Broughton, Finches of Attica, Bellatones, The Jav’lins, The Hardy Band, Siobhan Mazzei, […]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":18002,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[214,216],"tags":[236,250,165,128,245,247,244],"class_list":["post-18001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-214","category-gig_reviews","tag-acoustic","tag-country","tag-duffys-bar","tag-firebug-venue","tag-folk","tag-gypsy","tag-rock"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_3322.jpg?fit=1000%2C658&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p73uhX-4Gl","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25633,"url":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/preview-firebug-bank-holiday-sunday-all-dayer-sunday-29th-august-30th-august-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":18001,"position":0},"title":"Preview – Firebug Bank Holiday Sunday all dayer Sunday 29th August – 30th August 2021","author":"Kevin Gaughan","date":"26\/08\/2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As live music makes its long-awaited return, Firebug and her sister bar Duffy\u2019s have teamed up to provide a stomping day of music this Bank Holiday Sunday and it is all for FREE! Headlining the evening on Firebug are Leicester\u2019s own preachers of rock, the mighty Goldwater...","rel":"","context":"In "2021"","block_context":{"text":"2021","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/Music\/2021\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bank-holiday-weekender.jpg?fit=1200%2C669&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bank-holiday-weekender.jpg?fit=1200%2C669&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bank-holiday-weekender.jpg?fit=1200%2C669&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bank-holiday-weekender.jpg?fit=1200%2C669&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bank-holiday-weekender.jpg?fit=1200%2C669&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17570,"url":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/preview-lets-face-the-music-at-duffys-bar-firebug-friday-22nd-march-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":18001,"position":1},"title":"Preview – Let’s Face the Music at Duffy’s Bar & Firebug, Friday 22nd March 2019","author":"Kevin Gaughan","date":"01\/03\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Organised by\u00a0Music in Leicester,\u00a0Firebug and\u00a0Duffy's Bar Friday 22nd March sees possibly one of the best nights of live music this year in the fair city of Leicester. Music in Leicester online magazine combines forces with Firebug and Duffy\u2019s Bar to bring you \u2018Let\u2019s Face the Music\u2019. Spread over three stages,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2019"","block_context":{"text":"2019","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/Music\/2019\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/LFTMposter-1000px-wide.jpg?fit=849%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/LFTMposter-1000px-wide.jpg?fit=849%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/LFTMposter-1000px-wide.jpg?fit=849%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/LFTMposter-1000px-wide.jpg?fit=849%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11992,"url":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/venues\/","url_meta":{"origin":18001,"position":2},"title":"Leicester music venues","author":"Trevor Locke","date":"02\/04\/2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Leicester live music venues 2017","rel":"","context":"In "2017"","block_context":{"text":"2017","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/Music\/2017\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Oxjam-Venues-Soundhouse.jpg?fit=600%2C574&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Oxjam-Venues-Soundhouse.jpg?fit=600%2C574&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Oxjam-Venues-Soundhouse.jpg?fit=600%2C574&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30612,"url":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/preview-pyjama-jam-all-dayer-at-firebug-and-duffys-bar-sunday-21st-july-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":18001,"position":3},"title":"Preview – Pyjama Jam all-dayer at Firebug and Duffy’s Bar, Sunday 21st July 2024","author":"Kevin Gaughan","date":"15\/07\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Cushion Castle Promotions and Pillow Fort are excited to announce Pyjama Jam: a multi-stage all day festival and celebration of alternative music, focusing on emo, indie punk and math rock. The festival is taking place across three stages at Firebug and Duffy's Bar in Leicester on July 21st 2024 and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2024"","block_context":{"text":"2024","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/Music\/2024\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pyjama-Jam1.jpg?fit=1200%2C607&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pyjama-Jam1.jpg?fit=1200%2C607&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pyjama-Jam1.jpg?fit=1200%2C607&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pyjama-Jam1.jpg?fit=1200%2C607&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pyjama-Jam1.jpg?fit=1200%2C607&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30830,"url":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/festival-review-outside-inside-the-bridge-homelessness-to-hope-at-firebug-duffys-bar-16th-17th-november-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":18001,"position":4},"title":"Festival review – Outside\/Inside: The Bridge, Homelessness to Hope at Firebug & Duffy’s Bar, 16th & 17th November 2024","author":"Kevin Gaughan","date":"31\/01\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Now for one of my favourite sets of the weekend, Honest Dave, a beautiful performance from Dave and the rest of the band, with their saxophone, guitar and \u2018wooden knock\u2019 played a varied discography; featured songs that tackled a Rwandan witch","rel":"","context":"In "2024"","block_context":{"text":"2024","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/Music\/2024\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_4214.jpg?fit=1001%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_4214.jpg?fit=1001%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_4214.jpg?fit=1001%2C668&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_4214.jpg?fit=1001%2C668&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31137,"url":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/festival-review-bank-holiday-sunday-alldayer-at-firebug-duffys-bar-sunday-24th-august-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":18001,"position":5},"title":"Festival review – Bank Holiday Sunday Alldayer at Firebug & Duffy’s Bar, Sunday 24th August 2025","author":"Kevin Gaughan","date":"03\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Yes, the overall sound was a humming fervour, but there were carefully manoeuvred rhythmic changes amongst the distorted riffs, and a groovy chug to bob your head along to.","rel":"","context":"In "2025"","block_context":{"text":"2025","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/Music\/2025\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Review-thumbnail.jpg?fit=693%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Review-thumbnail.jpg?fit=693%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Review-thumbnail.jpg?fit=693%2C389&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18001"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18009,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18001\/revisions\/18009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}