We live in strange times (part 28) and have suffered a glut of gig rearrangements and cancellations (sadly in most cases with international bands) but we soldier on. At time of press all the below events are on but its wise to check social media and website listings for the latest.
Francis of Delirium & guests : Esquires – Thur 10th February
The project Francis of Delirium was created by 19-year-oldJana Bahrich (Vancouver) who invited drummer/producer, Chris Hewett (Seattle)to form an indie rock band who would be based in Luxembourg. With a sound that mixes nineties grunge and shoegaze, Francis of Delirium have to date released 2EPs to widespread and worldwide acclaim. Most recent release 'All Love' was mixed by Jolyon Thomas (Royal Blood, Slaves) and mastered by Joe Lambert(Sharon Van Etten, The National) and Jana's impassioned vocals and guitar chops has seen the band compared to Courtney Barnett and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Already confirmed to play the Shaky Knees festival in Atlanta with Nine Inch Nails and Chvrches, we are convinced 2022 will be a massive year for Francis of Delirium. To quote one of their most memorable songs, 'Quit F*cking Around' and come and see them before they inevitably blow up... '...
The blueprint of something grand' – Pitchfork / 'One of the best new bands of 2021' – Stereogum
Seriously – don’t miss out on this folks!
FEET+ special guests BULL + Lime Garden : Sat 12th February
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Cracking three band line-up and a welcome return for FEET after their festival stealing performance at Ceremony last year. FEET’s latest EP Walking Machine moulds four tracks that show a band still more than willing to throw in a liberal smattering of humour at the right moment, but who aren’t relying just on japes to get them through. They’ve still got a classically FEET name for their new direction, Crease Pop, but even that’s got some logic to it. “It’s taking the pop music formula - hooky choruses, nothing too self-indulgent- but it’s still got a bit of edge,” says George. “Indie music, there’s an element where it can get quite soft and it’s quite easy to go through that phase where you think you sound like The Beach Boys, but we’ve come off the end of that where we want to be a bit grittier.” Having beamed fans into their living room over lockdown with a series of livestreams imbued with more genuine live show energy than most, the tight-knit camaraderie the band have honed over the past year is there for all to see. Far from the group of novices they first emerged as, now FEET are a proper unit, one who still constantly mess about in conversation but who vocally have ambitions to make their mark as musicians now too. “Playing in big arenas is everyone’s dirty dream, and we can literally see Alexandra Palace from our window so it can’t not be, but we’re not willing to sell our souls to get there,” Harry says. “For me there’s something about being comfortable among our peers, making music that can stand next to other people and be proud,” George nods, as Callum summarises the journey of the last 18months: “We wanna be on the inside looking out rather than on the outside bursting in.” Bull radiate warmth wherever they play, like a big sonic hug, think Pavement meets Teenage Fan club. Lime Garden are sure to be on the tipsters lips soon, busy Brighton foursome dealing in candied songs with hidden spikes.
COMING UP, COMING UP
Bands who will go onto bigger things (do not miss your chance to see them before they play much bigger venues) – FEET, Francis of Delirium, Opus Kink
Punk – Joe & the Sh*tboys, Anti-Nowhere League
Dance – Club Momacoca
Big names – Jim Jones, Paul Draper
Rock – Ricky Warwick
Keep music live, Milky.
SUPPORTTHE BEDFORD LIVE SCENE - UPCOMING GIGS FOR YOUR DIARY
ESQUIRES
Thur 10th Feb - Francis of Delirium
Sat 12th Feb - FEET
Sat 19th Feb - CODA (Led Zeppelin tribute)
Sat 26th Feb - Club Momacoca (DJ Spoony + Mark Russell)
Thur 10th Mar - Ricky Warwick & the Fighting Hearts
Fri 11th Mar - Melt Yourself Down
Sat 12th Mar - Jim Jones All Stars
Fri 18th Mar - Paul Draper (ex-Mansun)
+many more, check listings at bedfordesquires.com for details orfacebook.com/bedfordesquires
Tickets available from Esquires, Slide Record Shop and online at seetickets.com
