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Monzanto Sound: With a sound that emanates from Dub, Jazz, AfroFunk, 70’s Krautrock and Electronica it’s simply too much to ask to put these guys into any category without misrepresenting how unique their sound is. With a shared currency of improvisation without ego between the Monzanto Crew, It’s nothing but off the cuff grooves and hypnotic rhythms that will have you locked in from start to finish.

Pleasure Barge: We’ve wanted to book this band since the moment we first heard them. The Funk/Alt-Pop Quintet born out the Mancunion underground that are sure to give you something to remember. Every Barge gig we’ve been to has always stuck with us and its not surprising why. Expect a wide range of musical influences from its members ranging from, Funk, Rock & Indie to UK Underground & Jazz, all condensed into a set designed to knock your boogie shoes clean off.

Mamilah: Mamilah will make the trip down the M1 from Leeds off the back of summer shows at Boomtown & El Dorado bringing with them some new material courtesy of some wholesome writing sessions somewhere in the Yorkshire Moors. Combining the sounds of Soul, RnB & Jazz, Mamilah are guaranteed to get you beautiful people in the mood, especially with the effortlessly soulful tones of Lydia Kotsirea.

Ife Ogunjobi: Growing up in South-East London, Ife’s surroundings have enriched his taste and style along with the sounds of Hip-Hop, Afrobeat & Jazz. This combined with his paying homage to past legends like Freddie Hubbard & Clifford Brown gives Ife’s groove an irresistible quality which we just couldn’t help but want to share. Along with a well cultivated sound, Ife boasts a huge amount of experience having played for or alongside the likes of Moses Boyd, Solange Knowles, Dele Sosimi & Ezra Collective. Couldn’t be more excited for this one if we tried!

Guest DJ’s to be announced for Room 2…

Sun Street Collective are an Arts Collective from Manchester/London & Pretend is a mutli-media platform and events company for alternative and underground music.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/535238277065572/

Tickets: https://fixr.co/event/142427417

Artwork By: Amberley Garland – https://www.amberleygarland.com/

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Why did you move to the current full band set up?

Sooooo I mean I guess the move to a full band set up is to avoid any kinda singer songwriter tropes that tend to hang over my music just because I used to play on my own you know. Not to discredit any of that like I’m a big fan of singer songwriters and all, i love lyrics and I loooove the construction of songs themselves but the vibe’s just not me really. I think what I’m singing about thematically and what I hear in my head requires a band and a different kind of energy. I mean it’s pretty hard to make a room dance with just an acoustic guitar haha

Who is in the band? What do they play?

All the band is made up of a lot of different groups really, different walks of life haha. All pretty local really you’ve got my twin sister Beth on bass from Long Legged Creatures, she’s really great; actually Ross from LLC, we produced the single together, really good lad. Ummm, we have Ash on keys from Mamilah and she’s really fantastic; we have Sean on drums from itoldyouiwouldeatyou he is such a powerhouse it is unreal, best drummer i’ve ever met really, Tom is a recent edition and we’ve known each other for quite a long time but he is an absolute dreamboat and we’ve got Matty on guitar as well he’s a charmer.

Barbed Wire Eyelashes came out on the 15th of March, talk us through what you would like people to know about the song now they’ve heard it?

I’m not sure what to say hahaha, I mean I’m a big fan of it myself and theres a lot of strange stories from the recording of it involving things like people, alone time and LSD but I wouldn’t really know where to start.  I mean if you like it then its there for you if you catch my drift? All you wanna know is there, bundled up in a honest little package. It’s kind of up to you to if you wanna unwrap it. The doors unlocked if you wanna come inside.

With only one single out, what is the next step for Joshua Zero?

Well world domination obviously.

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Tickets here

If that’s not enough then look at this wonderful video by the lovely Pink Picnic (keep up with them for some of the most fabulous parties in Leeds):

If you’re still going then look at the most wholesome gig ever last time Joshua Zero was at Book Club??

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Osquello is one of the fastest rising alternative hip-hop stars in the UK right now. Friday will be his debut Leeds show. He’s been making waves in London with his unique blend of lyricism, laid back delivery and jazz inspired beats. This led too a massive London show at Elctrowerkz la on Friday with his full live band. While they won’t be  making the trip up north with him next week he’s promised us some unreleased gems to get you grooving next Friday.

His collaborations with likes of Declan McKenna and Clairo are based on creating creative communities that are accessible to all. Osquello brings positive energy and good times with his music and his live show.

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Get tickets here: http://bit.ly/TugboatOnACID

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Pretend Presents: Tugboat Captain, Bull, Joshua Zero and A.C.I.D! We’ll be filling the Hyde Park Book Club on the 28th of March while bringing merriment and joy to the masses.

Venue: Hyde Park Book Club

Tickets: £6 Get Them Here

Doors: 19:30

//Line Up//

Tugboat Captain

Tugboat Captain have carved themselves a place in the hearts of everyone who’s seen them live since their inception in 2017. If you’re looking for some of the most wholesome, earnest and brilliant independently produced indie-pop in the UK you may look no further than this band. Their recorded sound might suggest a nice relaxing live environment but their live show brings an infectious energy that makes them perfect headliners for a quaint evening at the Hyde Park Book Club.

Joshua Zero.

Joshua Zero. Joshua Zero. Joshua Zero. The boy doesn’t have anything out right now but we’ve heard the unreleased unmastered stuff and trust, jump on this bandwagon before it leaves town because it’s going places. Nice places. Keep your eyes out for the single dropping on the 15th of March off the back of the bands wholesome Christmas launch gig.

Bull

Bull will be making the journey over from York to complete the musical section of our line up. Having established themselves across the north of England with a relentless touring schedule. You’ll find their charming and infectious low-fi indie to tickle you just right to ease you into the night.

Alternative Comedy, It’s Downstairs!

A.C.I.D! Will be opening the night, they’re a group of comedians in Leeds who commandeer basements around the city for some of the best alternative comedy you’ll find.

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You know when you leave a gig with the most incredible energy from an amazing performance and you just want to keep that going? Why don’t we just take that incredible live music feeling, that energy, that pure joy and put it into a club night? Monster Florence, Osquello and Hanible x Dante (12th Circle) are coming to HiFi on the 8th of March.

Expect hip-hop and jazzy beats.

Venue: HiFi, Leeds

Tickets: £9 Get them here
Doors: 23:00

//Line Up//
Monster Florence
Fresh out the studio with Miles Kane, loved by Huw Stephens, Steve Lamaq and Abbie McCarthy: Monster Florence are ready to smash 2019. They bring the most exciting alternative hip-hop show in the UK to Leeds on the 8th of March; in their own words “maybe this year is our year?” (yes it is, don’t question it).

Osquello
A debut hometown show for the hotly tipped Osquello. He’s been making waves in London with his unique blend of lyricism, laid back delivery and jazz inspired beats. His collaborations with likes of Declan McKenna and Clairo are based on creating creative communities that are accessible to all.

12th Circle
Hanibl x Dante (12th Circle) will be on the decks for the evening giving you a taste of their own productions honed on Kmah alongside countless gigs in all the best dark corners of Leeds. Expect some electronic beats, some new stuff and positive energy flowing from the booth all night long.

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