Handmade is a totally independent music and arts festival that takes place on the first May bank holiday in Leicester.
It’s curated by some of the city’s best loved independent venues and promoters, who have one eye on the most interesting upcoming talent and another on the best bands these Isles have to offer.
With a bucket load of free spirit and some pretty nifty programming, they’ve hosted the likes of Slaves, Deaf Havana, Shonen Knife and 65daysofstatic over their four year history.
Now back with their fifth instalment on 29 and 30 April, they’ll be hosting British Sea Power, Twin Atlantic, Muncie Girls and Frightened Rabbit across the main stage.
In addition, PRS for Music and PPL are joining forces to co-host the second stage, which will feature music from Cabbage, JAWS, Goat Girl, Shame, Happyness and Superfood.
Here, organisers Nik Sharpe and John Helps let us in on the acts they’re most excited about catching…
Nik -
Goat Girl: Country Sleaze
Goat Girl’s debut single on Rough Trade is a gritty track with a sludgy baseline and packs a punch.
Happyness: Anytime
One of my favourite bands of the last few years return with their follow up. Listen to this and then the rest of the album!
British Sea Power: Bad Bohemian
One of the finest indie rock bands the UK has produced deliver yet again with the new single from their latest album.
Willie J Healey: Greys
The finest in slacker pop from the UK’s answer to Mac De Marco. Fuzzy and scuzzy.
HMLTD: To the Door
One of most exciting new bands around. A video which can only be described as a dystopian sci-fi western delight.
John -
Gallops: Paleforce
One of the first tracks to be released from their new record this is an intense digital soundscape that just doesn’t let up for four minutes. It’s a banger.
Kermes: Here
Leicester locals Kermes are ridiculous fun, loud, messy and a thousand other adjectives. This was the first thing I remember really hearing from them and I love it.
Frightened Rabbit: Keep Yourself Warm
I love this record. It’s indie, folky, filthy, raw and fun. It’s undeniably of a time and place and so Scottish it hurts.
Pulled Apart By Horses: High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive
The first time I saw the video for this I fell in love. The first time I saw it live I was blown away. There is so much energy here that gets released in little bursts.
Haiku Salut: Bleak and Beautiful (All Things)
Haiku Salut’s records are perfectly constructed little moment of sonic unusualness. I can’t think of many names for bands that so perfectly capture the sound they’re producing. Simultaneously electronic and organic, they don’t really sound like anyone else.
handmadefestival.co.uk
It’s curated by some of the city’s best loved independent venues and promoters, who have one eye on the most interesting upcoming talent and another on the best bands these Isles have to offer.
With a bucket load of free spirit and some pretty nifty programming, they’ve hosted the likes of Slaves, Deaf Havana, Shonen Knife and 65daysofstatic over their four year history.
Now back with their fifth instalment on 29 and 30 April, they’ll be hosting British Sea Power, Twin Atlantic, Muncie Girls and Frightened Rabbit across the main stage.
In addition, PRS for Music and PPL are joining forces to co-host the second stage, which will feature music from Cabbage, JAWS, Goat Girl, Shame, Happyness and Superfood.
Here, organisers Nik Sharpe and John Helps let us in on the acts they’re most excited about catching…
Nik -
Goat Girl: Country Sleaze
Goat Girl’s debut single on Rough Trade is a gritty track with a sludgy baseline and packs a punch.
Happyness: Anytime
One of my favourite bands of the last few years return with their follow up. Listen to this and then the rest of the album!
British Sea Power: Bad Bohemian
One of the finest indie rock bands the UK has produced deliver yet again with the new single from their latest album.
Willie J Healey: Greys
The finest in slacker pop from the UK’s answer to Mac De Marco. Fuzzy and scuzzy.
HMLTD: To the Door
One of most exciting new bands around. A video which can only be described as a dystopian sci-fi western delight.
John -
Gallops: Paleforce
One of the first tracks to be released from their new record this is an intense digital soundscape that just doesn’t let up for four minutes. It’s a banger.
Kermes: Here
Leicester locals Kermes are ridiculous fun, loud, messy and a thousand other adjectives. This was the first thing I remember really hearing from them and I love it.
Frightened Rabbit: Keep Yourself Warm
I love this record. It’s indie, folky, filthy, raw and fun. It’s undeniably of a time and place and so Scottish it hurts.
Pulled Apart By Horses: High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive
The first time I saw the video for this I fell in love. The first time I saw it live I was blown away. There is so much energy here that gets released in little bursts.
Haiku Salut: Bleak and Beautiful (All Things)
Haiku Salut’s records are perfectly constructed little moment of sonic unusualness. I can’t think of many names for bands that so perfectly capture the sound they’re producing. Simultaneously electronic and organic, they don’t really sound like anyone else.
handmadefestival.co.uk
