Long Division Festival, Wakefield, June 2nd 2018 (PREVIEW)

By Plus One Magazine -

Wakefield’s leading arts fanzine Rhubarb Bomb, created Long Division back in 2011, the city’s own take on the multi-venue city centre all-day music festival that’s become increasingly popular in the last decade. 

 Over the years the event steadily grew in stature, running for six consecutive years with an ever broadening roster of city centre venues, all holding no more than a couple of hundred; and after a fallow 2017, the festival is back for its 7th renewal in 2018. It’s also been somewhat expanded to four days although the core event still takes place across a baker’s dozen of City Centre venues including Warehouse 23 and the iconic Red Shed, this year on Saturday 2nd June.

Biggest draw of the seventy-five artists booked to play is likely to be Bard of Barking and all-round national treasure Billy Bragg, who will be making two Long Division appearances this year. Firstly there is ‘Write Place Write Time’, a songwriting workshop taking place on Friday 1st June where Bragg will be sharing insights into his creative process, the perfect inspiration for any would-be songwriter. This will be followed by a Saturday performance at Wakefield’s famed Cathedral, still the city’s tallest building at 245ft.

Mr Bragg will be in good company at Long Division 2018, the roster brimming with a host of cult national acts including super scary space rockers Evil Blizzard, Mercury nominated Caledonian troubadour King Creosote and supremely influential goth-punks The Membranes.

There’s also plenty of top West Yorkshire talent to check out, including fiercely independent local stalwarts Adore Repel, living the rock and roll dream strictly on their own terms. If stylish electronic tinged pop with a twist your thing The Bleeding Obvious, alter ego to local musician Jessica Rowbottom, is sure to prove an inspirational show. Leeds based old school dance duo turned trio Galaxians are sure to leave whichever venue they play bouncing, not forgetting the uniquely talented Leeds lyricist James Mabbett, also known as Napoleon IIIrd.


The remainder will no doubt provide a rich and varied line-up packed full of surprises for the discerning music fan and with all-day “Pioneer Tickets” only £25, this represents excellent value for money. Snap them up in Wakefield (Wah-Wah, Warehouse 23), Leeds (Jumbo/Crash) and Huddersfield (Vinyl Tap).

Words - Mike Price

Long Division Official
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