With an array of exciting artists on offer – such as ‘Rolo Tomassi’, ‘Nine Black Alps’, ‘Dutch Uncles’, ‘The Twilight Sad’ and ‘We Were Promised Jetpacks’ – the new Hand Made Festival taking over Leicester this May promises to be an unforgettable weekend.
There is a whole bunch of entertaining, surprising & amazing acts to enjoy. Here, we hand-pick some of the music that we are most looking forward to seeing:
1: Surrender The Coast
Friday 19:15 – 19:45
The People’s Photographic Gallery
2 Wellington St
‘Surrender The Coast’ are a Leicester based ‘Hardcore / Southern Rock’ five-piece band formed in 2010.
‘Pulling Teeth “is a raging monster of a song from their ‘Breaking Morals & Losing Morale’ disc. With docile guitar riffs and cutting-edge musicianship, this song soon bites deep into your neck. The vocals are tight and steady – and fly at a rapid pace.
The rolling rhythms amaze and astonish. The ‘Southerness’ in this song is a snakelike wrapping of guitar that twirls itself around the blast-furnaced chuggings of the hardened bass lines. It’s brutal stuff – fearless and crucial.
– © Neil Mach May 2013 –
Link: https://www.facebook.com/surrenderthecoast
2: Maybeshewill
Friday 20:45 – 21:30
The People’s Photographic Gallery
2 Wellington St
Maybeshewill is a British instrumental band based in Leicestershire, UK.
The band is comprised of James Collins (Drums), John Helps (Guitar), Matthew Daly (Keyboards) Robin Southby (Guitar), Jamie Ward (Bass)
The band follow a steadfastly DIY ethos by trying to be as self sufficient as possible and consequently they record, mix and master their own records, run a record label, booking agency, recording studio and promote shows in their home town.
They have released three albums and numerous EPs, singles and remix compilations. In the UK and Europe their albums are available through Function Records and in Japan through Xtal.
‘Co-Conspirators’ has rich folds of piano and icicles of dangerously overhanging guitar. These sounds sheet down like a penetrating sleet of hail-stones.
Exuberant wealth is selflessly provided and indomitable euphoria is in rich supply. This is a heady mix of soft sapphire sweetness and steely determination. An amazing piece of work!
– © Neil Mach May 2013 –
Link: https://www.facebook.com/mybshwll
3: Little Night Terrors
Saturday 19:15 – 19:45
The People’s Photographic Gallery
2 Wellington St
The Little Night Terrors are pure pop dynamite.
‘The Terrors’, brothers Andrew & James Stone and cousin Dan Holyoak, are about to throw a hand grenade into 2013’s music scene.
Little Night Terrors – inspired by Hunter S Thompson, tape decks, EH Holy Grail & Invisible Touch – have been holed up in a farmhouse in Kent with producer Simon Barnicott, (Arctic Monkeys, Temper Trap, Bombay Bicycle Club) losing their minds, but making music.
Last year they self-released two singles, the livewire ‘Pocket Rocket (Where the Light is)’ which went top #50 on the itunes alternative chart.
In September 2012, they put out the groove shaker ‘Young Lion’, which was blasted out during the Formula One coverage worldwide & on Made In Chelsea.
Every show that the boys played last year in their hometown of Leicester sold out, including a raucous gig at the O2 Academy, which is featured in the ‘Young Lion’ music video.
‘Pure’ rattles along like the matron’s bike. The slack chain-sounds clack and rick, and the pavement churns up shingle pieces that bounce off your toes.
The voice is pure and charming – it’s as happy-clappy as a large plumed hat in the chapel on a Sunday. It’s as fresh as a dew-dimpled lawn on a fresh morning, and it will keep you awake and buzzing right through until sunset. The unbridled joy.
Oh – and look at the “Hula Hoop Girl” video. It is highly recommended!
– © Neil Mach May 2013 –
Link: https://www.facebook.com/littlenightterrors
4: 
Charlotte Carpenter
Saturday 20:00 – 20:30
The Cookie Jar
68 High St City Centre
Rising Folk-Pop starlet Charlotte Carpenter has been tipped as the next big thing amongst female singer-songwriters. A very young and innovative musician, she has contemporary melodies laden with traditional influences. Charlotte’s debut EP ‘Let it Go’ reached Number 42 on the iTunes chart in September. Her follow up EP ‘In the Night’ is released in March with a music video directed by David Spearing who has previously worked with McFly, Wretch32 and Rhianna.
‘Blame it on Anything’ from the “In The Night” EP has a dainty tinkerbell accompaniment together with lucidly mellow slide guitar. Charlotte’s voice is principled and steadfast. And yet is also has some greasy turned up edges – the voice is like a waxy old book. Charming, oily and deeply loved.
The melody is beautiful ‘country style’ creaky – like a favourite old well-worn rocking chair. So you soon snuggle down into those layers of deeply padded sound. And drift off slowly, softly singing to yourself.
– © Neil Mach May 2013 –
Link: https://www.facebook.com/charlottecarpentermusic
5: Her Name is Calla
Saturday 21:00 – 22:00
Bishop’s Street Methodist Church
Town Hall Square, LE1
After playing live throughout the United Kingdom to much critical acclaim with the likes of iLiKETRAiNS and The Twilight Sad, Her Name is Calla released their debut album, The Heritage, in 2008, followed by a well-received headlining tour. The album lasts over 50 minutes, despite only containing six tracks.
In February 2009, they announced their arrival on the German label, Denovali Records. Denovali re-released The Heritage on vinyl in late 2009.
The band released The Quiet Lamb, containing 12 tracks and lasting over 75 minutes, on 8 November 2010. NME gave it a score of 8/10, describing it as “massive, pastorally apocalyptic music”. The Sun called it a “ten-track jewel of a record” that engages the listener “in a rare and beautiful way”.
Lead vocalist Tom Morris also tours and releases music as a solo artist under the name T E Morris, as does multi-instrumentalist Adam Weikert as Weikie.
The single “Ragman Roll” starts with an inclement piano, then an alarmingly bleached vocal from Tom bursts through the side shutters like an unwanted yowl in the night.
The emotion of this entreaty reaches heights of almost painful altitude – before it is embraced by tufts of frond-like sound that wave like flapping ghost-wings in the moonlight.
The tiny foiled tings of cymbal brush effortlessly across the surface. And the song soon soon ferments itself into an hysterical stew – until it finally boils over the edge a in a froth of fervent power.
– © Neil Mach May 2013 –
Link: https://www.facebook.com/hernameiscalla
6: Preacher & The Bear
Sunday 19:30 – 20:00
The Guildhall
Guildhall Lane, LE1
Preacher & The Bear play real sleazy box-car travelling blues.
Songs like ‘Can’t Afford No Train’ have oodles of wonky honky-tonk piano and vocals that are as gritty as sofkee morning shakes generously dotted with shrimp shell.
The guitars are greasy and thick as mud on your hull, and the bass is as dirty brown as burnt umber.
Songs are full of fat eyed gravy and smelly onion grease.
And don’t expect to get away feeling fresh from this band – this music is so trashy that it will stain your saucy fingers.
– © Neil Mach May 2013 –
Link: https://www.facebook.com/preacherandthebear
Handmade Festival
The Festival is 24th to 26th May at various venues across Leicester City. Click HERE for tickets or check out : https://www.facebook.com/handmadefestivalleicester
RAW RAMP 