Stage is set for a year of musical superstars
From Tom Jones to acid house via hometown favourites Showaddywaddy, there will be plenty for music fans to enjoy on their doorsteps this year. has a playlist
LEICESTERSHIRE’S live scene is amazing, from indie festivals like 110 Above and Handmade to venues of all sizes hosting gigs. It’s no suprise that we end up with some household names on our stages.
Throughout 2023 there are some great gigs lined up. So we have picked out a few of the bigger names heading this way.
Some are topping festival bills, others are performing solo shows but all are not to be missed.
TOM JONES
The green green grass of Grace Road is to play host to Sir Tom Jones.
The legendary singer will be hosting a day to remember at the cricket ground this summer.
Sir Tom has confirmed he will be joined by five support acts, giving the show a mini-festival feel.
The Shires, Ward Thomas, Germein Sisters, Bethzienna and Chris Simmons will join him as part of his Ages and Stages Tour taking place at Leicestershire County Cricket Club on Saturday, July 15.
METALLICA
Metal’s spiritual home is Castle Donington, and this year’s special four-day Download festival will be rocked by not one but two headline sets by legendary rockers Metallica. The group are no stranger to Leicestershire, having played multiple times, including back in the Monsters of Rock days – but not for a decade.
Of course, Download’s bill is packed with legendary metal acts.
Slipknot, Evanescence, Parkway Drive, Disturbed, Architects, Ghost, The Distillers, Placebo, Alexisonfire and more are all heading our way in June.
THE GO! TEAM
Mercury Prize nominated act The Go! Team are as energetic as ever, 18 years and six albums on from their debut, and head to Timber Festival in Moira this summer.
The group mix hip hop beats with brass instruments, indie guitars and irrepressible dance music.
If you’ve seen them live, you know.
GOLDIE
Jungle pioneer is heading to the woodlands for this year’s Noisily Festival in July.
He helped create a genre, had a string of hits, and has even been a Bond baddie.
Those in the know will also be excited to hear the likes of Eva Lazarus, Gregor Treshor, Henri Bergmann and Joris Voorn are booked.
PENDULUM
Beyond Festival is hosting drum and bass legends Pendulum (who are also on the Download bill this year).
One of the biggest electronic bands of all time, they’ll be heading to Leicester’s Abbey Park in June for the second Beyond.
SOUL II SOUL
Of course, De Montfort Hall has hosted a fair share of legends in its time from The Beatles to Bowie to Bob Dylan.
The line-up in 2023 has plenty of legends heading its way.
The double Grammy Award-winning and five-times Brit Awardnominated Soul II Soul, pioneers of the 80s acid house movement, take to the stage in November.
Other stellar acts appearing at De Montfort Hall this year include Beverly Knight, Level 42, Boyzlife, Midge Ure, Europe, Jools Holland and Leicester’s own Showaddywaddy.
SPACE
Britpop high flyers Space will be playing a set that includes their two best-selling albums Spiders and Tin Planet in full in Leicester this year.
They perform both for their 25th anniversary at the O2 Academy this November – and maybe their hit The Ballad of Tom Jones, too, in tribute to the Welshman and his visit?
AND MAYBE MORE?
A two-day music festival which could attract 76,000 revellers will take place at Leicester’s Victoria Park if Leicester City Council grants permission.
Festival Republic has applied to the council for a licence for the event, which would take place on the weekend of September 16 and September 17.
But the details of who is performing if it gets the green light remain a closely guarded secret.