Beacons Metro - Leeds (PREVIEW)

The loss of Beacons left a big void in this summer’s local festival circuit. Having attended the final two incarnations, the organisers had really demonstrated a flair for curating deliciously eclectic of line-ups. Save for better luck weather wise (the 2011 Beacons was totally washed out and the 2014 closing day experienced some disruption thanks to Hurricane Bertha’s denouement), it may have continued into this year and beyond. Such a pity, still it was great while it lasted.

Thankfully the phoenix has risen from the proverbial flames in the form of the even more ambitious Beacons Metro, kicking off a couple of weeks ago with the highly fancied East India Youth raising the curtain at Leeds’ brand new music and arts venue, Headrow House. The festival consists of 40-odd gigs in total, stretching out across the next 3 months at a quartet of Leeds city centre venues where the wind and rain can’t do any harm.  We’re talking almost 100 bands treading the boards in all, the remaining venues being Belgrave Music Hall, Wharf Chambers and Canal Mills.
   

Manchester’s increasingly high profile angular art-rockers Everything Everything play their headline slot this Saturday (17th October), supporting their cracking new release ‘Get To Heaven’, certainly no difficult "third album syndrone" with these guys and last miniute tickets are sure to be scarcer than rocking horse manure. Support comes from fellow Mancunian duo, the electronic laden experimental duo Bernard and Edith plus local four-piece Vitamin, fresh from their recent stint at Leeds festival. 

As expected with Beacons, the live music on offer has been thoughtfully curated so there’s something for everyone whether your taste is indie, something a little heavier, banging electronica or whatever. You can even snap up a season ticket for a knock down price, getting you into over 30 gigs. Bargain. 

Words - Mike Price

For the full line-up, dates, venues, ticket information and more, click on Beacons Metro official