Archive page for Leicester at the Music Festivals

Out of town festivals

Our page listing all known festivals of any kind in Leicester and Leicestershire or nearby.

Out of town festivals

Surface Unsigned - the UK's biggest competition for unsigned bands.

- now it's your chance to follow The Chairmen

The 2nd Stage of the Midlands Surface Unsigned Festival 2009 will be taking place from 5th May to 24th June 2009 at The Rainbow under the Railway Arch, Adderley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4EE

In this section we report on the progress of Leicester bands in this, the biggest national compeitition for unsigned bands. Get yourself down to Birmingham and give them your support!

Leicester bands - the results

Leicester bands through to the regional semi-finals

Neon Sarcastic (also got industry vote)
Ictus
Phase 4
Pluto (also got industry vote)
Parish Revolution (also got industry vote)

The Heroes

Still to play Round 2

Smokestacks
Fiasco
Formal Warning
Slaine

Paris Revolution - Saturday 7th February - they qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. They play heat 2 on 5th June.

Hotel Zulu - Friday 13th February - they got through to round 2

Neon Sarcastic - Sunday 15th February - they qualified for the next round which they played and they qualified and got the industry vote and now go through to the semi-finals: The Asylum Bar and Venue, 38-43 Hampton Street, Birmingham, B19 3LS 17 July 09 - 9 Aug 09

Ictus - Sunday 15th February - they qualified for the next round - and also qualified in round 2 and now go through to the semi-finals: The Asylum Bar and Venue, 38-43 Hampton Street, Birmingham, B19 3LS 17 July 09 - 9 Aug 09

The Waits - Friday 20th February - qualified for the next round and got the industry vote. They play heat 2 on 27th May.

Breek - Saturday 21st February - failed to qualify for round 2.

Project Notion - Thursday 26th February - qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. They will play round 2 on 6th May.

Phase 4 - Thursday 12th March - they qualified and got the industry vote. They play heat 2 on 27th May.

The Pennyhangers - Saturday 14th March - failed to play.

Pluto - Friday 20th March - qualified for round 2 on 5th June.

Screaming Eagles - Saturday 21st March - failed to play.

Slaine - Sunday 22nd March - qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. Their heat 2 is on 20th June.

Smokestacks - Saturday 28th March - qualified for round 2. They play heat 2 on 12th June.

The People Versus - Thursday 2nd April - qualified for round 2 on 23rd May.

The Heroes - Thursday 9th April - qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. They play round 2 on 9th June.

Mango Mafia - qualified for round 2 and got industry vote. They play heat 2 on 9th June.

All Systems Fail - Friday 10th April. Failed to qualify for heat 2.

M48 - Sunday 12th April - qualified for round 2 and got an industry vote

Formal Warning - Sunday 12th April - qualified for round 2 and got an industry vote and their heat gig is on 16th June.

Skarlett Trip - play round 2 on 9th May.

Tommy's Heroes - play round 2 on 27th May.

See our reviews page for reports on some of the Birmingham gigs.

Download 12 - 14th June 2009

Leicester will empty again this year as fans head over the border to Donnington Park in Derbyshire for Download 2009.

With a line up that’s already boasting several exclusive appearances, including Faith No More, ZZ Top and Limp Bizkit, DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL AT DONINGTON PARK is getting bigger and better by the day! Travelling from all corners of the globe to perform at this year’s event are OPETH and MESHUGGAH from Sweden, DIR EN GREY from Japan, US rock acts FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, YOU ME AT SIX, STEADLÜR and the UK act LAWNMOWER DETH. 2009’s Download Festival will also see a very special appearance from ex-Guns ‘N’ Roses bassist DUFF MCKAGAN, who brings his latest incarnation LOADED to Download for the very first time.

Rock dudes will be heading for Slipknot, The Prodigy, Motley Crue, KoRn, Dragonforce, Devildriver .. and the rest. Watch out for Faith No More, Def Leppard, Marilyn Manson, Whitesnake, Trivium and loads and loads more world class bands.

Get Your tickets from the Download web site

Local Festivals

Spark Children's Arts Festival

The 2009 festival runs from 25th May - 7th June, presenting a broad mix of theatre, dance, storytelling, puppetry, music and visual arts events from national and international artists and companies. The programme is created for children aged 0 to 13 and is presented in theatres, schools, libraries, village halls and parks all over Leicester and Leicestershire.

Spark Childrens Festival

Summer Sundae

Held at the De Montfort Hall and Gardens near Victoria Park, Summer Sundae is the place to be for big named acts and a lineup of local bands. Last year it was great as we reported at the time.

14th - 16th August 2009 SUMMER SUNDAE WEEKENDER at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester.

This year you can see THE STREETS, The Noisettes, The Zutons, The Charlatans and loads more - check the Summer Sundae web site for the latet linups.

Original Bands Showcase (OBS)

The OBS 2009 now has dates for all heats and the final; these are summarised on our OBS news page

Big Session festival

This event will take place at the De Montfort Hall and Gardens from Friday 19th to sunday 21st June 2009. Artists will include The Levellers, Billy Bragg, Oysterband and many more. The Big Session festival

Glastonbudget

The Glastonbudget Festival takes to the fields of Wymeswold near Loughborough again over the May band holiday 2008. Two stages offer a top class line up of (1) Tribute bands and (2) New Acts and bands playing their own original music. Its getting bigger every year and there are rumours that this year's event will also offer a stage for solo and acoustic artists. Bands already selected to play at the Glastonbudget Festival 2009 include:

The Steptoos
Neon Sarcastic
Smokin the Profit
Evangelion
The Lowreys
Hotel Zulu
Soulsmith
Juke Box Junkies
Ocean Bottom Nightmare
Penny Hangers
Formal Warning
Breek
Razmataz

Fristok Festival

4th July - The Fristok Festival takes place in the area of Frisby, Hoby and Rotherby, with a large, open space surrounded by glorious Leicestershire countryside on what will hopefully be a balmy summer’s evening, add a stage, a PA, a bar, a barbecue and a gang of like-minded people to the mix and you should end up with a splendid night’s entertainment - and opportunities for local bands to raise their profiles before an audience of several hundred music lovers.

Check out the Fristok Festival web site

Diwali

The lights were turned on in Belgrave's Golden Mile last night (12th October) with lots of dancers, music and fireworks - the 2009 festival will be in October/November time.

Diwali information

September

The Leicester International Music festival takes place 18 -21 September 2008. One of the finest chamber music festivals in Europe.

CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

Leicester's Multi-Ethnic community takes to the Streets again for a colourful and vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture, with a parade around the city centre and London Road and a big gathering on Victoria Park with several live music stages.

Victoria Park festival - all day. Music stages, food stalls, beer tents, market stalls, shows.

Watch out for more news about Carnival 2009.

Plus local bands playing - see the gigs list for details

The Supersonic Festival

May to October - One Rythm Dance Festival

16th and 17th August Supersonic Festival Countesthorpe.