BY STUART GLOSSOP
Pleasure Centre are an alt/art rock quintet from the North Yorkshire coast (Scarborough and Bridlington), forming from a group of childhood friends in late 2019. Now living together in Leeds, the group explores cross-genre soundscapes both on record and onstage, crafting a sound to captivate audiences. From shared and continuous memories of growing up, moving out and navigating the world together; the band crafts songs dedicated to those experiences and emotions. Taking influence from the alt rock movement between the mid 80’s and 90s (think MBV, Slowdive, The Jesus and Mary Chain) mixed with the catalogue of Radiohead and other modern contemporaries like Wolf Alice and BDRMM, the bands’ material spans across these inspirations, combined with the members’ own individualistic tastes, finding both delicate melodic moments and blissful walls of sound, branching out into ambient electronic corners and back. Since releasing the debut EP ‘The Weight Of It All’, Pleasure Centre gears up for their latest release, a second EP. This body of works showcases the bands creative best since they formed, a dynamic stretch of sonic progressions to embrace an audience into a sea of noise, recorded at The Nave Studios in Leeds during August 2023. Sunday 11th May Brudenell
Freak Slug is the newest indie star who should be on your radar. Hailing from Manchester – real-name Xenya Genovese – is an artist, producer and songwriter ready to share her talents with the world. Her latest single, “Sorry Not Sorry”, comes from a forthcoming EP ‘I’m In Love’, set for release on Friday 22nd July. Coming alongside a self-directed video, Freak Slug lets loose her creative talents for the glistening visuals. She describes the track as “full of attitude and fire. It brings unapologetic confidence to the audience in a playful and energetic way, reminding us never to apologise for how great we are, or for those who never believed in us.” Her writing style is unapologetic, fearless, and brimming with blazing honesty, as the EP seeks to empower women and help others discover their unique selves. Wednesday 14th May Brudenell
Live at Leeds in the Park 2025 returns to Temple Newsam on Saturday, 24 May, offering a vibrant one-day festival experience that blends iconic performances with emerging talent. Headlining this year’s event are indie legends Bloc Party, celebrating 20 years of their seminal debut album Silent Alarm by performing it in full alongside their greatest hits . Joining them are Leeds’ own post-punk outfit Yard Act, Norwegian pop sensation Sigrid, and Liverpudlian singer-songwriter Jamie Webster . The lineup also features Natasha Bedingfield, marking two decades since her hit “Unwritten,” as well as performances from The Amazons, We Are Scientists, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and many more . Expanding beyond music, the festival introduces its first comedy stage, headlined by Yorkshire’s own Maisie Adam, with appearances from Angelos Epithemiou, Stephen Bailey, and others . The on-site pub, The Two Legs, will host interactive events like Barrioke with Shaun Williamson, music bingo, and pub quizzes.
Slam Dunk Festival 2025 is set to electrify the UK’s alternative music scene over the late May bank holiday weekend at Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday, May 25. This year’s lineup boasts a stellar array of acts, with headliners A Day To Remember, Neck Deep, and Electric Callboy leading the charge. Fans can also look forward to performances by The Used, Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, Finch, Hot Mulligan, Stray From The Path, Less Than Jake, Streetlight Manifesto, and The Aquabats. Emerging talents such as Hot Milk, Wargasm, As It Is, Greywind, and Sophie Powers add fresh energy to the diverse lineup. Gates open at 9:00 AM with the main arena kicking off at 11:00 AM .
Prima Queen’s ethereal sound, which shimmers with delicate vocal interplay and glacial instrumentation, takes them to regal heights”on their new LP ‘The Prize’ which represents a fresh era for a band primed and ready to truly assert their individuality. The songs of Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden play like a love letter to the radical power of friendship; to the fans who have revelled in the band’s bitingly charismatic storytelling, qualities which are showcased vividly throughout their entire debut record. Wednesday 28th May Brudenell
