Celebrate music’s independent spirit with online festival
t’s one of the most celebrated independent arts festivals in the country ... and it’s coming to homes across the country this coming weekend.
The award-winning Long Division Festival places the best emerging grassroots artists alongside legends of the indie and DIY music scenes. Previous headliners include The Cribs, We Are Scientists, Billy Bragg, British Sea Power, The Fall, Asian Dub Foundation, Field Music, The Wedding Present, Peter Hook & The Light Ash and Gang Of Four.
The event is usually held in Wakefield city centre. While the current lockdown restrictions mean it cannot take place in its usual manner, there will still be plenty for music lovers to enjoy as it heads online.
Specially made shows will be aired on Friday June 5 and Saturday June 6, presented by the festival director Dean Freeman and featuring brand new sessions, interviews, masterclasses,
Idiscussions, special films and full gigs. They will be streamed across a variety of social media channels, including Facebook and YouTube, and be completely free to enjoy, though organisers will be encouraging viewers to donate to some worthwhile causes.
It begins at 9pm on Friday with A stream of the full live set of Knuckle’s largest ever Wakefield show at a packed Warehouse 23, originally performed in November 2019. The acclaimed powerhouse trio from Yorkshire play what they describe as “deluxe garage blues”.
At 2pm on Saturday, Let’s Talk Music will explore of where COVID-19 leaves the music industry, including contributions from organisations such as The Association Of Independent Festivals, Help Musicians, BBC Introducing, Music: Leeds and Backstage Academy, journalists John Robb (Louder Than War, The Membranes), Charlotte Gunn (former NME) and advice-masterclass sessions.
And at 8pm friends of Long Division Festivals past and present come together to present newly recorded songs, sessions, interviews and other surprises.
Artists include Billy Bragg, The Wedding Present, The Lovely Eggs, Pictish Trail, Emma Pollock, Dead Naked Hippies, Hands Off Gretel, Mi Mye and plenty more to be announced.
There will be various other one-off streams across the weekend too.
Visit longdivisionfestival. co.uk/ldtv for more information.
Plans are in place for the festival to return to its original live form from November 12 to 15. Acts lined up include The Unthanks, The Futureheads, Beardyman, The Lovely Eggs, She Drew The Gun, Brix & The Extricated, Lanterns On The Lake, Too Many T’s, Big Joanie, Allusinlove, Look Mum No Computer, Hands Off Gretel, Hannah Trigwell, POZI, Mush, Team Picture, Dead Naked Hippies, Faux Pas, Weekend Recovery, Scarlet, Ruthie, Abbie Ozard, Langkamer and 30 more.
Visit longdivisionfestival. co.uk/tickets to book.