246. Placebo: First Direct Arena, Leeds [3.12.16]

03/12/201616/08/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

246a_Placebo [031216] Artist: Placebo

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 3.12.16

A perfect blend of angst and aplomb as Placebo played Leeds Arena on a world tour to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary.

246b_Placebo [0312160] 246c_Placebo [0312160] 246d_Placebo [0312160]

245. Black Honey: Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds [12.10.16]

12/10/201624/06/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

245a_Black Honey [121016] Artist: Black Honey

Support: Dream Wife

Venue: Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds

Date: 12.10.16

An excellent live set from Black Honey, supported by the equally awesome Dream Wife. Girls and guitars galore!

245b_Black Honey [121016] 245c_Black Honey [121016]

244. Jumbo Records 45 Years Celebration, Leeds [1.10.16]

01/10/201608/05/2018 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

244_Jumbo Records 45 [011016]

Artists: Serious Sam Barrett / Marsicans

Venue: Jumbo Records, Leeds

Date: 1.10.16

A day of live music and celebration, as Jumbo Records celebrated 45 years of being one of the UK’s best independent record shops. Elephantastic!

244b_Jumbo Records 45 [011016]

243. The Ordinary Boys: Lending Room, Leeds [25.9.16]

25/09/201615/10/2018 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

243a_The Ordinary Boys [250916] Artist: The Ordinary Boys

Support: Benson

Venue: Lending Room (The Library), Leeds

Date: 25.9.16

It would be fair to say that lead singer (Preston) well and truly had his 15 minutes of fame during his Britpop and Big Brother days.

Recently reunited, The Ordinary Boys took to the stage at the Lending Room, before a crowd of merely 100 people, many of who were there for local support band Benson. However, the intimate venue and no frills performance took ‘the boys’ back to basics, with the focus on live music, rather than the trappings of fame and fortune.

Less is more. Ordinary is fine.

243b_The Ordinary Boys [250916]

243d_The Ordinary Boys [250916]

Setlist:

243e_The Ordinary Boys [250916]

242. OnRoundhay: Roundhay Park, Leeds [17.9.16]

17/09/201613/05/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

242a_OnRoundhay [170916] Artists: James / Primal Scream / Wolf Alice

Venue: Roundhay Park, Leeds

Date: 17.9.16

With sponsorship from John Lewis and Puffin Books, and an emphasis on being family friendly, the inaugural OnRounday event had a somewhat middle-class feel, but proved to be a rather pleasant one-day festival.

It was nice to see so many kids enjoying their first experience of live music, from an excellent selection of bands. The family-friendly vibe (or possibly the expensive drinks) seemed to ensure that the event was devoid of the usual herds of drunken knobheads – always a plus-point!

OnRoundhay would be a welcome annual event, so long as they can match the high standards of its first year.

242b_OnRoundhay [170916] 242c_OnRoundhay [170916]

241. Chapel Allerton Arts Festival, Leeds [2.9.16]

02/09/201609/05/2018 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artists: The Bugaloo Foundation / Caro / The Elephant Trees

Venue: Chapel Allerton Arts Festival, Leeds

Date: 2.9.16

Annual music and merriment on Regent Street, Chapel Allerton. A good showcase for local up-and-coming talent.

241_Chapel Allerton Arts Festival [020916]

240. Carefree Sud [CUD]: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [17.8.16]

17/08/201611/04/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artist: Carefree Sud [CUD]

Support: Tom Hingley / Suzy Blu

Venue: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Date: 17.8.16

Carl Puttnam and Mike Dunphy from CUD, performed a stripped-down set of their band’s classic songs, under their alter-ego ‘Carefree Sud’. The venue was set-out in a fitting cabaret style, with tables and chairs and an alternative air of sophistication. However, the inevitable CUD stage invasion still occurred.

Former Inspiral Carpets singer, Tom Hingley, performed a brilliant acoustic set, including ‘unplugged’ versions of his former band’s hits.

238. Centre Stage 2016 – The Final: O2 Academy, Leeds [27.7.16]

27/07/201610/04/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

238a_Centre Stage [270716] Artists: The Mallrats / Tree / The Elephant Trees / Faux Pas / Lewis Crossley / The Indigo Project / Big Bad Rabbit / Shaarks / Liberate / Territory / Blyss

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 27.7.16

Centre Stage is an annual ‘battle of the bands’, curated by Martin House Children’s Hospice. The competition showcases fresh young talent, many of whom go on to greater success in the music industry. The winning band receive the prestigious prize of playing live at that year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals.

The 2016 final kicked-off with a set by the previous year’s winners; The Mallrats.

The winning band of Centre Stage 2016 was Faux Pas.

238b_Centre Stage [270716]

238c_Centre Stage [270716]

236. Ocean Colour Scene: Millennium Square, Leeds [24.7.16]

24/07/201607/10/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

235a_Ocean Colour Scene [240716] Artist: Ocean Colour Scene

Support: Shed Seven / The Bluetones / Reverend and The Makers

Venue: Millennium Square, Leeds

Date: 24.7.16

“When you find that things are getting wild, don’t you want days like these?”

Back to Millennium Square, for the second big gig of the weekend, as Ocean Colour Scene celebrated the 20th anniversary of their ‘Moseley Shoals’ album.

235b_Ocean Colour Scene [240716] 235d_Ocean Colour Scene [240716]

Setlist:

235e_Ocean Colour Scene [240716]

OCS [Moseley Shoals]

235f_Ocean Colour Scene [240716]

235. The Cribs: Millennium Square, Leeds [22.7.16]

22/07/201627/01/2018 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artist: The Cribs

Support: The Thurston Moore Group

Venue: Millennium Square, Leeds

Date: 22.7.16

Not quite their home town of Wakefield, but The Cribs played their biggest headline gig to date at Millennium Square, Leeds.

Local boys done good!

This gig was later released on DVD as part of the limited edition CD version of the ‘24-7 Rock Star Shit’ album.

234. Easy Star All-Stars: Brudenell Social Club [17.7.16]

17/07/201609/04/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artist: Easy Star All-Stars

Venue: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Date: 17.7.16

Easy Star All-Stars celebrated the 10th anniversary of their ‘Radiodread’ album – a sublime take on Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’. An ingenious adaptation of a virtually untouchable album.

After almost 30 years and over 230 gigs, I finally got the illusive no.1 ticket!

233. An Evening with Marc Almond. Accompanied by Leeds College of Music Contemporary Orchestra and Pop Choir: Leeds Town Hall [8.7.16]

08/07/201609/04/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

232a_marc-almond-080716 Artists: An Evening with Marc Almond. Accompanied by Leeds College of Music Contemporary Orchestra and Pop Choir

Venue: Leeds Town Hall

Date: 8.7.16

Generations of home-grown talent took to the stage of Leeds Town Hall – as local legend, Marc Almond performed a stunning set of re-arranged classics, accompanied by some of the city’s finest musicians.

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232. Ultimate Bowie: Brudenell Social Club [3.6.16]

03/06/201609/04/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artist: Ultimate Bowie

Venue: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Date: 3.6.16

Having never seen the legend himself (massive regret), this gig was a poignant tribute to David Bowie, who died 6 months previously.

Ed Blaney and the band played two tribute sets, the first being a recreation of the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album, followed by a selection greatest hits from the rest of Bowie’s repertoire; from Berlin to ‘Blackstar’.

A talented group of musicians, who performed an accurate and fitting tribute show – although in my opinion, the fancy dress (Bowie costumes from various eras) wasn’t really required.

230. The Jam Pact: The New Roscoe, Leeds [1.5.16]

01/05/201609/04/2017 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artist: The Jam Pact

Venue: The New Roscoe, Leeds

Date: 1.5.16

I’m not a huge fan of cover bands, but these guys were good! They performed for three hours, extensively covering classic singles and album tracks from The Jam’s repertoire. A skillful set, which echoed the sound and spirit of the late 70s and early 80s mod revival.

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