{"id":7608,"date":"2015-10-01T19:47:59","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T18:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/?p=7608"},"modified":"2016-12-05T09:00:18","modified_gmt":"2016-12-05T09:00:18","slug":"october-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicinleicester.co.uk\/index.php\/october-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Music in October 2015<\/h1>\n

Our round-up of the live music events attended by our team of reporters and photographers during the month of October.<\/p>\n

Including gigs that we went to and\u00a0 some mentions of other events.<\/p>\n

Dates are entered in descending order;\u00a0 the latest dates come first.<\/p>\n

Saturday 31st October<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leicester Oxjam Takeover.<\/h2>\n

Our page on Oxjam 2015.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Matt
Matt Henshaw.
Photo: RhinoFeroSs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

See photos taken by our team at Oxja<\/a>m.<\/p>\n

Check all the acts that took part in Leicester’s Oxjam<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Oxjam was great! We at MIL covered as many acts as we could but with 128 of them performing on 11 stages, we still gathered only a fraction of what took place. \u00a0The Saturday coincided with the celebration of Halloween, which gave many of the performers a chance to add an extra layer of colour and theatre to their acts. A long and exhausting day for all concerned but one which will stick in our memories. \u00a0I saw many of the bands, singers and rappers that have featured in these monthly diaries this year and it would would seem invidious to pick some out and not others – there were so many many that were excellent. With wristbands priced at \u00a310 per person (giving access to all the venues from midday to midnight) Oxjam provided a showcase for much of our local musical talent and it was good to see so many popular and well-loved musicians giving up their time to support this worthwhile charitable cause.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 27th October<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tonight I went to The Soundhouse to see Instrumentalist Sam.<\/p>\n

Performing the featured artist slot at Rhett Barrow’s open-mic night, the celebrated guit<\/p>\n

\"Guitarist
Guitarist Sam Bradshaw at The Soundhouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

arist Sam Bradshaw<\/strong> delivered a spell-binding set of his compositions, displaying his amazing range of techniques. He played two of his most iconic pieces: \u00a0Serenity<\/em> and Fusions Part I and Part II<\/em>. It was an awe-inspiring performance.<\/p>\n

Another artist I have seen before was Poetman<\/strong>. Will Horspool used loop pedals to add backings to his songs and recitations. An unusual act, he was warmly received by the audience.<\/p>\n

Monday 26th October<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Chasing
Chasing Deer at Jukebox for their Glastonbudget audition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tonight I went to Jukebox<\/strong> for the first time. This venue opened earlier this year and now offers live music on Friday nights and on other dates. Tonight it was used as the venue for an auditions show for the Glastonbudget Festival 2016. It’s at the top of the High Street (quite near to Mosh) facing on to Jubilee Square.<\/p>\n

I had gone there to see Chasing Deer<\/strong>, the West Midlands band that often plays in Leicester; a band we have covered several times before here at Music in Leicester.<\/p>\n

There are not many bands from outside Leicester that attract a local following but this is one that is steadily attracting interest, having played here quite a few times this year. the band had already developed a large and loyal fan base in the home area and a large group of them had travelled to Leicester tonight to support the band’s audition for Glastonbudget. We saw them when they played at Pi Bar on 23rd July [Music in Leicester<\/a>]<\/p>\n

\"Chasing
Chasing Deer, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what makes this band so popular? Two things. Firstly, they are excellent musicians and Rob Hodkinson is a particularly fine lead vocalist. Secondly, the band plays popular songs, both their own and the covers that they play including, for example, Bastille’s Pompeii. Their set list is one that appeals to a wide cross section of music-lowers. What I also like about them is their professional image; they play the part of a properly turned-out group and on stage you can easily see that they all five of them enjoy making music.<\/p>\n

You can see Chasing Deer when they are at The Shed on 12th November<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, my first visit to Jukebox went went; as a venue I liked it a lot. The stage is in a separate room from the main bar and the place as plenty of character and atmosphere. Glastonbudget told me they plan to hold some of their audition shows there, as well as the regular Friday slots at The Shed.<\/p>\n

More information about Jukebox is available from its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"alexander
Alexander O’Neal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Incidentally, they have a show coming up featuring Alexander O’Neal, an artist we featured in MIL<\/a>\u00a0when he was in Leicester in 2013. \u00a0With support from Hannah Boylen.<\/p>\n

Saturday 24th October<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Soundhouse with Samoans, Freeze The Atlantic, Mammoth and Log Fox.<\/p>\n

The two headline bands attracted my attention; I saw them at the Handmade Festival in May [Music in Leicester<\/a>].\u00a0Added to that I was keen to see Mammoth again.<\/p>\n

The show started with Logfox<\/strong>, not a band we had seen before here at MIL. The trio from Leicestershire delivered a set featuring pumping beats. Not a lot is said about this band on the web-o-sphere but tonight they did attract the interest of the audience with their rolling bass riffs, punchy rhythms and two contrasting vocals. The band’s suitably varied set of songs gave much to listen to that was good. They do have a couple of tunes on Bandcamp; that suggests they have been around for quite some time. I did find one review; it said ‘Logfox revel in the sonic world of mathematics; they\u2019re a fidgeting gang of 3 with a lust for messing with noise and time signatures…’<\/p>\n

\"Mammoth
Mammoth at The Soundhouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How many musicians does it take to form a band? Well, the minimum number is two. Alex Beattie and Neal Hill are two who form Mammoth<\/strong>. With musicians such as these two is enough. Mammoth’s set presented the amazingly powerful vocals of Alex, combined with those of Neal who is also one of the best drummers in Leicester, I would argue. Put these two together and what you get is something hardly equalled by much larger ensembles. The pair are what remains of that much-loved band The Furies. Back in June 2014, the Furies played at The Musician; it was billed as the band’s farewell gig. As I wrote at the time ‘Guitarist Joe Connor is leaving is leaving the band to pursue a new like down there in the big smoke.<\/p>\n

\"Alex
Alex Beattie of Mammoth at The Soundhouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Furies have been together for a long time’. After recalling several of the performances at which I was present, I went on to say ‘The Furies is a band that combines a superb vocal layer with matchless drumming , stunning guitar work and which takes the art of rock to levels that most bands can only aspire to. In a busy life of going to gigs and writing about bands, you get used to seeing what is ok; you can accommodate the mainstream; but there comes a time when you have to acknowledge that a band stands out and be really passionate about their achievements.’ [Music in Leicester<\/a>]. \u00a0It was very satisfying to see Alex and Neal on stage tonight not least because it brought back those magic sounds.<\/p>\n

Samoans<\/strong> played at the Handmade festival in May. I said at the time ‘In the Queens Hall I saw Samoans. A band with songs that were hard, heavy, powerful and full of taught phrases and sharply executed sounds. Their songs were driven by copious volumes of adrenalin and powered with a high-octane fuel but delivered with technical accuracy. Stunning vocals from their lead singer and music that sparkled with embellishments and flourishes from the guitars. For me, this was one of the highlights of the festival. Last year they played at The Firebug.’ [Music in Leicester<\/a>].<\/p>\n

I think several people in tonight’s audience had been there and, like me, had come back to see them again. Intricate guitar lines,cunningly woven rhythms, volcanic passages backed by some pretty stunning drumming, it was all there and it was all good. It was in the Queens Hall I saw Samoans. A band with songs that were hard, heavy, powerful and full of taught phrases and sharply executed sounds. Their songs were driven by copious volumes of adrenalin and powered with a high-octane fuel but delivered with technical accuracy. Stunning vocals from their lead singer and music that sparkled with embellishments and flourishes from the guitars. For me, this was one of the highlights of the festival. Last year they played at The Firebug.<\/p>\n

\"Freeze
Freeze The Atlantic at the
Hand Made Festival 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The band is currently on a mini-tour with the next band…<\/p>\n

\"Freeze
Freeze The Atlantic at The Soundhouse, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Freeze The Atlantic<\/strong>. A fizzing performance from the lead singer back by plenty of action from the other musicians, they delivered a set that was full of energy and bursting with real passion and resonance. With driven drumming, glorious guitar backing and plenty of punch, these guys were sensational. The band is from Farnborough and signed to Alcopop Records.<\/p>\n

\"Freeze
Freeze The Atlantic at The Soundhouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Things you should know about Samoans:<\/p>\n