Emily Pilbeam is a Leeds based DJ and, as host of BBC Music Introducing, is head scout and first team coach combined for new music in the city. You can listen to Emily’s show on Radio Leeds every Thursday from 8-10pm or whenever you like on the BBC Sounds app, and because football and music just make sense together, read her selections here in TSB.
Van Houten — Coming Of Age
Reason one I’m putting this track in: it is easily one of my songs of the year I reckon. I’ve been a huge fan of Van Houten for a while now, I’ve seen them live countless times, I’ve been patiently waiting for them to release this track and they FINALLY have. ‘Coming Of Age’, to me, is a perfect blend of feel-good dream-pop and psych that just makes you feel all warm and gooey inside. Reason number two is because ALAW. (vanhoutenuk.bandcamp.com)
Nubiyan Twist — So Mi Stay
Nubiyan Twist are a 9-piece Afro-Jazz band who met in Leeds and are based in Sheffield. They’ve already been on Jools Holland, and jazz experts Jamie Cullum and Giles Peterson love them. I don’t think you need to be mad into jazz to enjoy this track. It oozes fun and sophistication — which is… jazz, right? It’s. So. Good. (nubiyantwist.co.uk)
HONESTY – U&I
BRAND NEW LEEDS BAND! I first heard rumblings of this being a thing just before lockdown… it’s a project between producer Matt Peel, George Mitchell, Imi Holmes and Josh Lewis, artists/people I’ve known within the Leeds music scene for quite some time. I knew instantly this would be exciting, and I wasn’t wrong. Their EP ‘Where R U’ is out now and really takes you on a journey through different sounds and genres, with twists and turns that all lead to the same conclusion: this band are ace. (h-o-n-e-s-t-y.bandcamp.com)
Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra — First Direct Arena, Sunday 17th December
This is in because a month ago I woke up to a text from my best mate Dom that read: ‘I was at a charity ball last night and there was an auction. Long story short I’m now the proud owner of 16 tickets in a VIP box to Jools Holland at the arena and I am full of regret. Would you like to buy a Jools Holland ticket?’
Deer Shed Festive Chill ft Panic Shack — Brudenell Social Club, Wednesday 20th December
Deer Shed is a North Yorkshire festival that puts on an eclectic array of music and comedy. It’s such a lovely little family festival and I’m always so impressed by how they’re consistently pushing the boundary of what they can get away with at a family friendly festival. Seeing a stoner metal band from Newcastle, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, getting some eight year old kids on stage to play their keys is a memory forever imprinted in my brain. Anyway, Deer Shed are putting on a festive event at Brude with punk band Panic Shack headlining. More fun and guests TBA! (deershedfestival.com)
Independent Venue Week, Monday 29th Jan 2024 – Sunday 4th Feb, Various Venues
IVW is the UK’s annual 7-day celebration of independent music and arts venues and the people who own, run and work in them, one of the most important events in the music calendar. I will never stop shouting about how important independent venues are, and the risks they take every single week by putting on bands no-one knows to help them achieve success. Make sure you go out and support your grassroots music venues across Leeds (and the rest of the UK), and remember, independent venues aren’t just for independent venue week. (independentvenueweek.com)
Gotta be going to my first ever Leeds United league game at Elland Road – yeah I know fake fan bla bla bla. Have you tried getting a ticket to a game recently? Nice lil win against Swansea, nice one, CHEERS. Shout out Whitby Bri + the FBC for the ticket!
The Goa Express — Good Luck Charm
‘Everybody needs a good luck charm, just a little something that keeps them safe’ — that seems to be our Summerville at the minute, doesn’t it? (thegoaexpress.com)
⬢
(This post is free to read from The Square Ball magazine season 34 issue 4. Click here to read more)
© 2009-2023 The Square Ball Media Limited | All Rights Reserved | Contact us
