Following 2012's Summer Sundae Weekender, Leicester became somewhat of an
absentee from the festival circuit. Organisers decided to cancel this year’s
festival because of poor ticket sales in the previous few years. There was
nothing wrong with Summer Sundae as such; it just lacked an audience, being on
the outskirts of Leicester's city centre, but not far from bus and rail links.
For me Summer Sundae is a fantastic festival of eclectic music, it doesn't suit
the audience that attends. One of 2012's hottest bands Japandroids were amazed
by the lack of attendance, meanwhile the previous year’s critically acclaimed
artist The Antlers found it hard to even praise the few that actually turned
up. I sit here wondering whether Handmade Festival can make the grade or follow
in Summer Sundae's footsteps.
City festivals are becoming extremely popular worldwide. The biggest
festival is now SXSW in Austin, Texas, a gigantic city festival that every
upcoming band and writer wants to attend. Sheffield's successful Tramlines
has found the need to charge this year thanks to growing demand,
meanwhile Brighton's SXSW equivalent, The Great Escape, continues to thrive by
the seaside. I'm joined by fellow avid music fans in wanting to reside in Reykjavik,
Iceland for five days in October for Iceland Airwaves, but that dream seems to
be forever pulling away. So Handmade Festival is a worthy option between May 24 and May 26. It evolved out of White Noise Festival, a small festival in Leicester promoting the local
music scene. It will be Leicester's first major city festival, something that
can grow as the years pass.
The line-up is belittled by Fat Cat Records pair
The Twilight Sad and We Were Promised Jetpacks, both fantastic bands. The
Twilight Sad played last year's Summer Sundae; they're also veterans of
Leicester's promising music scene, playing Firebug in late 2011. They will be
joined by Dutch Uncles who released their third and best album this
year. The outsider acts will be among a sturdy amount of local talent, from the
drawing boards of folk to the established post-rock act of Leicester.
Maybeshewill and Her Name Is Calla team up once again to tackle their audience
with a whole lot of noise, though this time Her Name Is Calla will be playing accoustically.
Rolo Tomassi will be performing to those that want to go see and hear them. No matter where you are in Leicester, you will hear them. Friday's
festivities will include a slice of psychedelia from London via Manchester's
Sulk. You would be gutted to miss local Leicester act Codex Leicester on
Friday, so write that down somewhere. Likewise, Feedback Voice, an up and
coming post-punk / math rock four piece from Hinckley.
Saturday will feature the most eclectic line-up, from folk to metal across
Leicester's music venues. Charlotte Carpenter is a name you won't be
forgetting, following in the footsteps of Warwickshire’s Lucy Rose. The
singer-songwriter has the voice and lyrics to take her music to a wider
audience, Handmade Festival will be a leap forward for the talented artist.
Birmingham's Johnny Foreigner will be playing their indie rock (in Kerrang) on
Saturday. Headlined by Manchester's Nine Black Alps, Saturday
should fulfil all your sources of music on a sunny day in Leicester (we can
only hope.) One to watch is Her Name Is Calla's member Weikie, a
folk man with a piano. Midas Fall will also be representing Manchester's
post-rock scene. Leicester's venues will play host to many acts over the
weekend, but none will capture the imagination of the audience than Leicester's
Bishop Street Methodist Church, ambient/folk artist Peter Wyeth, who loops
recordings to create his textured sound will be playing an intimate set there.
Colobos will be playing on Sunday; they're
a noisy new band ready to take on math rock with noise for fans of Don Caballero.
Dark Dark Horse will also be playing Handmade Festival. I've seen this angelic
outfit before, they play a fantastic blend of electronic and folk in the style
of Diamond Mine (King Creosote & Jon Hopkins). Up and
coming indie pop four piece Silent Devices will unearth the beauty behind
ambience in rock music. As will cult Leeds band Sky Larkin, a band name I can
only associate with XTC's 1986 new wave classic Skylarking. one of the bands
I’m excited to see Tall Ships, released their debut album last year and have
already made friends in 65daysofstatic. The Brighton residing trio play
experimental pop with a dash of dance-punk.
All eyes will be on The Twilight Sad come Sunday, and the Scottish
alternative rock band won't fail to deliver in their second home. Handmade
Festival won't be about the noise or the press coverage; it's for the artists
and for the fans of local music. Having artists from outside of Leicester is a
great help in promoting this festival, but knowing Handmade Festival will be showcasing
the best of what Leicester has to offer is both exciting and welcoming, as a
Leicester resident myself. Kenworthy's jazz filled set
should spark excitement. If that doesn’t do it then Sam Duckworth of Get
Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (the worst band name of all time) should! And if music
isn't always your forte, then BBC Radio 4 comedian who presents The Infinite
Monkey Cage Robin Ince will keep you entertained (on Monday).
A weekend ticket costs £25 and day tickets are £10. Not a bad price to pay
for all these local and national artists. The big question is whether or not
Handmade Festival can appeal to Leicester's growing fan base. With Summer
Sundae missing from the festival circuit this year, Handmade Festival acts as a
cheap alternative for a close knit bunch.
~Eddie
