Ellen & The Escapades wow Live at Leeds launch
ELLEN & The Escapades put on a great mini-set at the launch night of this year's Live at Leeds event.
Having won many new fans in Ripon and Harrogate with a show for local promoters DMB last year, this semi-acoustic five-piece showed they were ready to match rootsy, better known outfits from America such as The Low Anthem and the Fleet Foxes which have broken the UK recently.
The band, perhaps mildly poppier and more 'country' than those bands, were appearing in the Old Broadcasting House in Leeds to mark the return of Live at Leeds for its fourth year in the city.
Their short set included their first single Without You, whose release on homegrown record label, Branch Out Records won air play last year from Alan Raw on BBC Radio Leeds, Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 2, and Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music. www.myspace.com/ellenandtheescapades
Wild Beasts
The launch event saw organisers Futuresound announce that the festival of talented acts from the Leeds area would be even bigger this year, with eight more stages than last year.
Utilising 17 venues across Leeds City Centre in a single weekend, the first headlining band was unveiled in the shape of the Wild Beasts, the swoonsome indie pop eccentrics who two albums on Domino in successive years have wowed the critics.
Bassist Tom Fleming said: "We're hugely excited about headlining this year's festival! It's a big deal for us. It's going to be the first time we've played Leeds in ages and we really feel like we're amongst friends at Live at Leeds. We can't wait!
Previous years have seen the likes of White Lies, Dinosaur Pile Up, Kate Nash and The Pigeon Detectives amongst many more and the complete line-up for this year's festival will be revealed first via the website at www.liveatleeds.com
More venues
The increased scale of the event means that there will be more tickets available and over 150 bands to see on the day.
Key venues for Live at Leeds include Leeds' legendary live music venue The Cockpit, Leeds Metropolitan University, The Faversham, The Well and Brudenell Social Club. Added venues for 2010 include Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds University (Stylus, Refectory and Mine), Leeds College of Music and The Wardrobe.
Extra events
This year the festival runs from Friday, April 30-Sunday, May 2 and will feature a large programme of live gigs and musically inspired events. As usual there will be a series of high profile ticketed gigs throughout the weekend - commencing on the Friday night. Friday evening will also see the first Live at Leeds 'un-conference'; an informal conference-style event hosted by Leeds Metropolitan University.
On the Saturday over 150 bands will play 17 venues throughout the day - all of which will be accessible through the purchase of a Live at Leeds 2010 wristband.
Live at Leeds hosts The Hangover - an industry panel, seminar and networking event which gives anyone that has questions about breaking into or working in the music industry a chance to have their questions answered.
Last year the event was panelled by professionals from Universal, PRS, Coda, X-Ray and record label Dance to the Radio who provided useful advice for both musicians and enthusiasts alike.
This year the festival is set to attract 7,500 people to Leeds City Centre in what is set to be the region's musical highlight of the year.
Pre-sale tickets are available now at www.lunatickets.co.uk
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Weather for Ripon
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
