{"id":31082,"date":"2025-09-04T13:51:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T12:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/?p=31082"},"modified":"2025-09-04T16:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:58:09","slug":"festival-review-be-there-or-be-square-2025-saturday-12th-july-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/festival-review-be-there-or-be-square-2025-saturday-12th-july-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Festival review – Be There or Be Square 2025, Saturday 12th July 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With Molly Henry, Heather McDowall, Rebecca French, Meg and Dean, Brad and Ioana, Big Sugar’s Jam Band, Boilers, Leave Your Body Behind, Shallowdrown, Fire Escape, Dum Language and The People Assembly<\/h2>\n

Reviewed by Thomas Needham<\/a><\/p>\n

Photographed by Thomas Needham<\/a><\/p>\n

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Be There or Be Square Festival felt like the culmination of the slow and arduous process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the pandemic. The Big Difference has cultivated a distinct community that\u2019s vibrant, artistic, youth-oriented and just about open-minded enough to persevere through my very flat karaoke cover of Sinatra\u2019s Summer Wind<\/em>. More than anything the festival was a real celebration of the venue’s unique and characterful place in Leicester\u2019s burgeoning cultural scene.<\/p>\n

Focusing on the organisation of the festival and the sheer force of will behind those involved to bring this thoroughly DIY venture to fruition, it\u2019s clear to see their hard work and dedication paid off. With over $1700 raised and split between Leicestershire LGBT Centre<\/a>, Soft Touch Arts<\/a> and Jasmine House<\/a>, to call it a success would be an understatement. This is Be There or Be Square 2025.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The festival truly had it all, from poets to artists to musicians. Anyone would think this magazine was called Arts in Leicester or something silly like that. The wall would be decorated forensically with the work of fourteen individual artists, all specialising in different areas from photography to tattoo design and everything in between. Since music is more my forte (ba-dum tsk)<\/em>, I\u2019ll link all those involved and let you decide for yourself.<\/p>\n

PHOTOGRAPHY<\/strong>: Tate Laurance<\/a>, Tyler Bartlam<\/a> and Robin Hardman<\/a><\/p>\n

MIXED MEDIA<\/strong>: Lily Hughes<\/a> and Max Miracle<\/a><\/p>\n

TATTOO DESIGN<\/strong>: Charlie!!<\/a><\/p>\n

ANIMATION AND ILLUSTRATION<\/strong>: Millie Hunt<\/a>, Meg on Toast<\/a>, Brahm Butler<\/a> and Tilly Wheatley<\/a><\/p>\n

PERFORMANCE ART<\/strong>: Vic<\/a><\/p>\n

FINE ART<\/strong>: Phoebe Walton<\/a><\/p>\n

3D DESIGN<\/strong>: Olivia Myers<\/a><\/p>\n

MISCELLANEOUS PIGEONRY<\/strong>: Evie Cook<\/a><\/p>\n

POETRY<\/strong>: Imani Ahiro<\/a> and Roz McGreagor-Devlin<\/a><\/p>\n

Between sets, it was a pleasure to admire their work; the talents of these artists is self-evident, supporting them is just as important as the music, I just don\u2019t have the knowledge to do them justice myself. Support local artists!<\/p>\n

\"\"Molly Henry<\/a> would kick off proceedings, hosting the first of many solo sets in the early afternoon. The highlight of Heather McDowall<\/a>\u2019s set was almost certainly the stripped-back rendition of her latest single HONEY HONEY !!<\/i>. Despite the DJ on the opposite side of the street constantly turning up his volume, throwing the rhythm a tad out of whack, McDowall soldiered through. In my view, it\u2019s a credit to the sheer power of her voice that the DJ even felt it necessary to turn up his decks. When they hit, they hit hard<\/i>.<\/p>\n

The single itself is a polished piece of pop, deeply in tune with the current era of whimsical, tongue-in-cheek ballads. I too am rather partial to a little Chappell Roan. I should totally start reading in public (and buy stilts). I\u2019m very excited to see what kind of unique spin she puts on the genre going forward; it\u2019s always great to see an artist reclaim their confidence and I hope she runs with it. Heather McDowall is certainly a name to watch out for, much like the next performer, Rebecca French; you can find my previous review of her here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Admittedly, I can\u2019t comment on the acoustic cover sets by Meg<\/a>, Dean<\/a>, Brad and Ioana because I was upstairs interviewing. My bad that Dum Language completely slipped me by that day. However<\/i>, in my defence, Terry Burton was in Bulgaria, so you know.<\/p>\n

Taking sanctuary upstairs with the trio of organisers behind Be There or Be Square, the festival buzzed on from below with a mix of chatter, singing and card-machine beeps.\u00a0 Despite some performers attempting to get a well-deserved kip, the day was in full swing.<\/p>\n