DIY Music in Leeds: JUX Festival 2017 & more

Another week, another series of festival line-up announcements that fly in the face of suggestions that modern music is not made solely by men with guitars. While scarcely a new development, it’s frustratingly disparate to what we can see flourishing within local music scenes, and completely unrepresentative of the current musical landscape as a whole.

While it’s expected of large mainstream music festivals to cater to fans of the more traditional rock canon, all-male line-ups should be challenged – otherwise what message does it send out to young women? A quote from The White House Project’s Marie Wilson comes to mind: "You can’t be what you can’t see." In a world that feels like it’s going backwards thanks to recent political developments, it’s up to local music scenes to counteract this.

All things considered, Leeds' JUX Festival is nothing if not timely: not only does it actively make a point of being inclusive, but it also steers vehemently away from bands that adhere to the same 'white male indie band' precept. Their second annual event brings together acts from around the UK in a celebration of creativity, community and counterculture; it’s all in the name:

Juxtaposition [juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uh n] – noun
1. An act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
2. The state of being close together or side by side.

Matt Woodward, organiser of JUX, says that he finds it difficult to relate to the world of big rock and indie festivals: “They’re still grounded in that very patriarchal corporate world, and it’s difficult to see a time when that might change. It’s not a world I have a lot in common with, generally.”

Indeed, it’s not a world that much of Leeds’ DIY community have much in common with, which may be the best thing about it. “Everything should be inclusive, whether you’re making music or discussing education,” he says. “It’s a huge part of what matters to us and what JUX should always be about.”

Sacred Paws play JUX Festival 2017 on 12 Feb, photo: Derek Robertson

JUX is about much more than championing inclusivity, however. The aim of the all-dayer is primarily to bring people from different musical communities together: “I love meeting new people, talking and discovering new music. It’s about community and the main aim is to promote that. It’s something people are losing more and more I think – a sense of togetherness or common ground.”

As with many of the best things in life, the festival came about almost by chance: “Initially, my work colleague Mike and I were just discussing bands we like and would either want to play with ourselves, or host. Then we talked about putting something on together, and we talked about DIY communities around the UK and how fruitful and proactive things seem at the moment.”

It also occurred to them that DIY communities can sometimes be insular, with little to no crossover. JUX sets out to break these boundaries by putting disparate genres side by side: “We wanted to juxtapose different genres and bring people together who might share an ideology but never go to each other’s gigs.”

Matt makes a point of saying that they’re aware that they're not breaking new ground, with the likes of Chinchillafest having already worked on a similar ethos, but it’s the rejection of musical snobbery and notions of coolness that makes JUX sound so vital: “You might see someone playing klezmer music and then someone playing no-wave – it’s just a fun, open, inclusive thing.”

Indeed, it's this very quality that appears to be a regular facet whenever talking about Leeds DIY: “It’s been said many times before but there’s a sense of community that keeps people here, and keeps those people excited, motivated, energised and working together.

Virginia Wing play JUX Festival on 11 Feb, photo: Stuart Moulding

“Plus, I think it’s fair to say that there’s always been a certain quality to music activities here, and within the music itself. There’s a prolific, experimental nature to music-making in this city and people work really hard to build and establish meaningful relationships, both on a personal level but also as facilitators of art, counter-culture, etc...”

To close, we consider the idea that things can and should always improve: “One thing I think we need to work on more as a priority is making our DIY music communities more attractive and inviting to people who aren’t from middle class, white backgrounds. Things need to be more integrated.”

JUX Festival, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 11-12 February, from 2.30pm
Sat 11 Feb line-up: Happy Meals, Virginia Wing, Rattle, Piskie Sits, Drahla, Ladies Nite, Nanna, Crake
Sun 12 Feb line-up: Sacred Paws, Nano Kino, Spinning Coin, Game_Program, Beige Palace, Pepe Sylvia, Azores, 99 Watts

Leeds Gig Highlights

12 Feb – Youth Anthems #15 @ Wharf Chambers, 1.30-4pm, £5 (free for under-15s)

14 Feb – Omni, Duds, Autobodies, City Yelps @ Wharf Chambers, 7pm, £8 adv

17 Feb – Karma Presents: LA Witch, Chest Pains, Bleached Heart @ Temple of Boom, 7.30pm, £6 adv

25 Feb – Tough Tits, Young Conservatives, The Wub, Infernal Body @ Temple of Boom, 8pm, £5/£3 unwaged

26 Feb – Grotbags, Hot Shorts, Milk Crimes @ Wharf Chambers, 3-6pm (matinee), £5 otd