When: 28th-30th April 2017
Where: O2 Academy, Leicester (and Attenborough Arts Centre on Friday)
Like everyone else, I look forward to whatever gigs and festivals are on the horizon with the same fervour. This year’s Handmade, however, is such a mouth watering prospect that I am like an over-excitable puppy waiting for its owner to return from work; seriously willing the away the days until the ceremonial ribbon is cut. “But why?“, you ask.
Why? WHY?!!! You really have to ask?!!!
Just take a look at that line-up for a start – an irresistible mix of outstanding contributors to the past decade or so of music, such as the ever reliable showmanship of British Sea Power on Sunday, while bright young indie darlings, Cabbage, having won over legions of new fans with their admirable Sun abusing Tweets, are here to rip the place up the day before. Perhaps even more exciting, certainly so from where I’m standing, is the inclusion on Sunday’s bill of two of the most ferociously splendid bands presently attempting to shake the UK from its frustratingly lethargic slumbers: IDLES, whose spiky socio-political rants have earned them comparisons with Sleaford Mods (my view is that while they may share the same principles, they rarely sound alike) and LIFE, the stupendously brilliant Hull outfit, whose angsty cultural blasts are delivered in a deliciously deadpan manner by frontman Mez Sanders-Green. Both unmissable. As, of course, are female rock duo Honeyblood, who, in the words of our Live Editor, Dean Mason, will be raising their “pop-fused middle finger up to the world“, also on Sunday.
That’s just scratching the surface though, for Handmade is nothing if not varied, and this year is no exception. Taking place over three days, once again at the O2 Academy and (on the first day) the nearby Attenborough Arts Centre, this will be a weekend extravaganza of sun-soaked pop (Peaness, Happyness), hard hitting diatribes against a society intent on destroying itself (God Damn), alternative rock (Pulled Apart By Horses), intelligent folk (Grace Petrie) and groundbreaking comedy amongst the many other jewels in its crown.
Somehow I’ve managed to get through all that lot without even mentioning the headline acts of Twin Atlantic, who will be bringing their brand of euphoric rock to the main stage on Saturday, while fellow Scots Frightened Rabbit close out the festival with their irresistibly infectious pop genius the following day.
You can see why I’m excited now, right? RIGHT?
For full details of this year’s event, click here
