The Leisure Society was founded by Nick Hemming, who grew up in Burton-on-Trent. Over the years, the band have received high praise for their oustanding songwriting and production craft, winning two Ivor-Novello nominations and Rough Trade Albums of the Year.
As a teenager, Nick formed the indie band She Talks To Angels with his art college friend, director Shane Meadows plus the actor Paddy Considine.
Following the band’s split, Nick was scooped up by local indie hopes The Telescopes, who were signed to Creation Records. Shane Meadows remained a supporter, hiring Nick to score 1999’s A Room For Romeo Brass and 2004’s Dead Man’s Shoes, but Nick was losing his confidence.
Everything changed with the arrival of fellow Burton-on-Trent exile Christian Hardy, who worked with Nick to develop and record new songs and encouraged him to venture out on stage.
The Leisure Society was born and developed rapidly, with an initial landmark being the single ‘The Last Of The Melting Snow’, which was championed by Dermot O’Leary on Radio 2, and Radcliffe and Maconie, and Guy Garvey on 6Music.
They’ve collaborated and toured with artists including Ray Davies, Brian Eno, Laura Marling, Neil Hannon, Richard Thompson, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott.
LYR
L.Y.R. are UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, producer and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Pearson, and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Richard Walters.
After sell-out shows in previous years, a breathtaking performance at the 2025 BBC Proms, and following two highly acclaimed albums, the trio are undertaking their most extensive tour to date.
Soaring vocals, ethereal soundscapes and extraordinary lyrics have made LYR shows an unmissable and unforgettable experience, from a group who are now an essential part of the contemporary music scene.
Sean Taylor Duo
At the heart of Sean Taylor’s music is a desire to turn the world into a song. His songs are of love, desire, heartbreak and social commentary. ‘Sean Taylor must be one of the best songwriters around’ (Blues Matters). He can ‘turn anything into a song’ (Classic Rock).
Sean is an international touring troubadour. He was nominated for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 UK blues acoustic artist of the year award. His songs are best described as roots; influenced by blues, Americana, jazz, spoken word and folk music. As well as a prolific songwriter he is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player.
Sean gives everything to each of his live performances. Touring all over the world he is one of the hardest working artists around. Sean’s performances have included Glastonbury (acoustic stage), Cambridge Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival (Aus), Ramblin Roots Festival (NL) Avignon Blues Festival (FR), Harvest Time Blues Festival (IRL), Blue Balls Festival (CH) and many other global events.
He has opened for Robert Cray, John Fogerty, John Mayall, Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Band Of Horses, Richard Thompson, Eric Bibb and many other legends.
Superbly Tailored songs’ Daily Mirror
‘Articulate, compelling … brilliant” – Mojo
Katherine Priddy
Katherine Priddy has announced the release of her third album, These Frightening Machines for March 2026 via Cooking Vinyl. The new record follows Priddy’s highly acclaimed debut The Eternal Rocks Beneath and sophomore LP The Pendulum Swing which firmly established her as one of the most exciting artists on the contemporary British music scene. Greeted with critical acclaim in the press, many called it “One of The Albums of the Year”.
Priddy has sold out headline tours and supported world class artists with her haunting vocals and distinctive finger-picking guitar style. She recently wrote and released two songs with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and performed on the legendary BBC Later with Jools Holland TV show.
The most sonically varied of her career, the songs on Priddy’s new album span a full spectrum of emotions and explore what it means to keep going when things fall apart, to hold onto connections in a world that sometimes divides, and to figure out where we fit into the machines and systems we find ourselves a part of. With her momentum showing no signs of slowing, the release of These Frightening Machines is set to take her star even higher.
Keith James: The Songs of Nick Drake
Nick Drake is one of the most revered and loved of all this country’s acoustic Singer-Songwriters. He has given us timeless songs that shed all the tears of life within their fragile yet perfect lines.
He recorded three cherished albums between 1969 and 1972 but was almost entirely unknown in his day. After his tragic death in 1974 aged only 26 his music almost disappeared into obscurity. Now, thanks to a massive resurgence of interest and a worldwide re-evaluation of his unique music, Nick Drake has become a national treasure. Several meticulously compiled biographies look at every aspect of Nick’s life and music, throwing light on many shadowy corners of mystery and supposition.
Two decades have now passed since Singer/Guitarist Keith James first astonished the whole country with his stunningly beautiful series of concerts. He was the first artist ever to bring these intriguing songs to theatres and arts venues across the UK, and remains to this day, the foremost artist devoted to performing Nick’s music in its pure live acoustic form. Over the past 20 years, Keith has performed over 1000 highly acclaimed concerts in venues across the UK, Ireland, Holland, France, Italy and Spain including all of Nick’s schools and colleges – even Glastonbury Festival.
Keith will be joined by flautist Richie Cotterill.
‘Musicians brave enough to play the music they really believe in. Keith James is one of these’ Bob Harris OBE
‘Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’ The Independent
Hayseed Dixie
Hayseed Dixie began one summer day in 2000 when John Wheeler and Mike Daly drank enough whiskey to float a battleship from the Florida Coast over to Portugal and back and decided to play around in John’s studio.
With a few friends stopping by to join the party, ten AC/DC songs were reimagined and recorded forever anew, entirely reinvented as Appalachian Mountain hillbilly rave-ups.
Since then, Hayseed Dixie have evolved into a proper force, one that most people either love, hate, or have never heard of!
Fourteen albums later, with over half a million global sales and ove
Kathryn Williams
With 17 album releases over the past 27 years, Mercury Music Prize-nominated Kathryn Williams is one of the UK’s most distinctive voices. Her last solo album, Night Drives, debuted at No. 2 in the Official Folk Album Chart, while her collaboration with Withered Hand received SAY and AMA Award nominations.
She has worked with musical greats including Paul Weller, Chris Difford, Ed Harcourt, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Michele Stodart and she remains the only woman in the Top Ten Greatest Liverpool Songwriters of All Time.
Kathryn’s new album, Mystery Park, will be released this autumn and showcased on her upcoming tour alongside the brilliant guitarist and singer-songwriter Matt Deighton.
The Manfreds: Get Your Kicks On Tour ’26
Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring the legendary Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, two original members of Manfred Mann, along with the talented Marcus Cliffe, Simon Currie, Pete Riley, and Mike Gorman. Experience a thrilling two-hour performance packed with iconic hits, dynamic jazz, and powerful blues.
This exceptional line-up has become one of the most sought after live bands touring the UK and, in 2026, they’re inviting you to celebrate their timeless classics. Enjoy favourites like “5-4-3-2-1,” “Pretty Flamingo,” “Mighty Quinn,” and “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” alongside a captivating selection of rhythm and blues-inspired gems and unforgettable solo successes.
Don’t miss out on this electrifying event! Join their journey and GET YOUR KICKS ON TOUR ’26 with The Manfreds!