Leeds DIY scene newsletter: September 2016

Leeds Zine Fair

In case the arrival of autumn’s dark early nights is making you feel somewhat dejected, there are plenty of DIY events happening across Leeds this month that will help to lift spirits. In fact, September in particular is so jam-packed full of gigs and inspirational events that we’re spoilt for choice. How about a whole day of zine-related activities to kick things off? Sounds pretty perfect to us.

After the success of last year’s event, the Leeds Zine Fair makes a return to the Left Bank this Saturday. Taking place all day from 10am-6pm, the aim is to celebrate zines of all genres, and it’s the perfect outing for those who are enthusiastic about self-publishing, radical politics and/or DIY culture. There’s a lot more on offer, too, with more than 50 stalls, workshops, have-a-go screen printing, badge making and even an opportunity to get involved with the fantastic Zine in a Day – a zine printed there and then, with pages provided by attendees.

Organised by Leeds’ radical printing co-operative Footprint, there'll also be food from Streatza and a licenced bar all day. Dreamy.

Leeds Zine Fair, Left Banke, 10 Sep, 10am-6pm, Free entry

Why DIY?

Saturday 10 Sep seems to be the day to celebrate all things DIY: this event will be useful to anyone interested in DIY as a revolutionary tool, or just anyone wanting to find out more about it. Zine queen Karren Ablaze! will be joined by the equally inspiring Gem Prout (of Fancy Claps Promotions and the band Crumbs) and Sarah Statham (of DIY collective CHUNK and bands like Esper Scout, Molars and Living Body) in a discussion about self-confidence, creativity, community and whatever else DIY means to you. Karren will also be attending the zine fair, selling copies of her esteemed Ablaze! fanzines.

Taking place at the Kirkgate Market from 1-2pm, the event is part of a series of events celebrating 50 years of music in Leeds, hosted by the Leeds Music History Project, and there is an accompanying exhibition at the event space at Kirkgate Market running throughout September.

Why DIY?, Event Space, Kirkgate Market, 10 Sep, 1pm-2pm, Free entry

CHUNK presents Thee MVP’S / Chest Pains / New Woman

Everyone’s new favourite Leeds co-operative CHUNK host yet another unmissable show on Friday 16 September with London’s Thee MVP’s – “purveyors of catchy garage riffery”, apparently in possession of a fine collection of hats too. Also joining them are Leeds’ own proprietors of surf pop and CHUNK regulars Chest Pains, who last played there at July’s triumphant No Sad Faces.

Leeds duo New Woman complete the line-up. Their discordant brand of garage rock is perfect for small venues like this, and their debut EP Doom School (released in March this year on Dead Young Records) deserves your undivided attention.

There’s a suggested donation of £5, but all proceeds go to keeping CHUNK alive, so it’s very much worth it.

CHUNK, 16 Sep, 8pm, £5

A new album from Unwave

Post-hardcore Leeds trio Unwave are set to release their debut album Distracted/Suspended via Voice of CHUNK. In an unusual turn of events, the band will be playing a launch show in the building where the album was recorded, with the full LP available on the night as a zine containing a download code and over 20 pages of prints and lyrics. Listen to last year's The Slow Reveal EP below:

Also joining them are Leeds’ veteran fuzz boffins Bilge Pump, a band who'll be no strangers to most of the Leeds DIY scene. Having been going for over 20 years, their avant-garde, free-jazz influences have resulted in them becoming local cult heroes, despite an infamous unfavourable review from the NME which referred to them as “unlistenable guff” – take from that what you will; we think they're ace.

Oil complete the line up, another Leeds gem described as “Parquet Courts starting a barfight with Weezer”, featuring members of Zozo and Bearfoot Beware.

Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel, 17 Sep, 7.30pm, £5

Girls That Gig: Network & Chill

Girls That Gig is a recent venture with the aim of inspiring women to start bands and become more involved in their local music scenes. The collective are hosting a networking night especially for women on 19 September, which gives them the opportunity to meet other like-minded women and, hopefully, form bands and develop ideas for other exciting projects.

There will also be live DJing from two of the best female DJ acts around – Stephanie Pullen and Hanna Marion Johnson. Remember, there's no such thing as having enough women in music. This is what every city should be doing – more of this, please. What’s more, it’s free!

Hyde Park Book Club, 19 Sep, 7pm, Free entry

A day of music, films and parties at the Brude

On Thursday 22 September, The Brudenell Social Club will play host to a collaboration between Leeds Becket Music and Broadcast, with two rooms providing music from some of Leeds’ finest and films from the Northern Film School kicking off from 6.30pm.

The line-up is an admirably diverse affair: the excellent Hindi /Bollywood-inspired indiepop of Maggie8 should never be missed, while Ceiling Demons’ singular take on hip-hop is refreshing and inspired. Also joining them on the bill are The Wharf Street Galaxy Band, who recall the misanthropic belligerence of the likes of The Pop Group and The Fall. At the other end of the scale are Team Picture, self-confessed “polite individuals” whose hybrid of repetitious psychedelia and 90s indie rock is informed by Thee Oh Sees, Yo La Tengo and Deerhunter.

Completing the line-up are Elle Call and Peace Frog – the former an ambient singer-songwriter and producer known for her soft refrains and melodic harmonies, while the latter is a five-piece indie band with “big tunes, huge atmosphere, and a guaranteed great time”. Well, if they say so...

Brudenell Social Club, 22 Sep, 6.30pm, £5

Scene Better Days #22

Scene Better Days is Andrew Cream, a man known for promoting some of the best DIY shows in Leeds. This is his 22nd event, to be held at The Fox & Newt on Saturday 24th September with a line-up that's typically filled with some of the best bands operating under the radar, including Syslak – cited by Andrew as one of the city's most exciting bands at the moment. They play fuzzy, lo-fi garage punk and you can check out this year's self-titled EP here:

Also joining them are Massa Confussa, an electro post-punk band from Newcastle, Radio Partizan who play Gang of Four-informed post-punk and Settle For Anything – a punk band with a predilection for the glory days of Lookout! Records. Elsewhere the haunting acoustic folk from Gerard Bell-Fire promises to sublimely counteract the chaos of other acts for an added dose of variety.

The Fox & Newt, 24 Sep, 7.30pm, £5

Notable mentions:

18 Sep – Fawn Spots / Prison Whites / Modern Rituals / The Whales @ Wharf Chambers

19 Sep – Doe / Charla Fantasma / Cat Apostrophe @ Wharf Chambers

21 Sep – The Tuts / Crywank / Milk Crimes @ Wharf Chambers

24 Sep – Loose Meat w/ Galaxians @ Brudenell Social Club (free entry)

28 Sep – Super Friendz Presents: The Goon Sax @ Headrow House