Jazz infused Soul singer and Kirklees Most wanted alumni Hannah Rowe is the headline act for the April Sonar Sessions. Likened to Raye, Lianne La Havas, Moonchild and Yebba Hannah is joined by a group of highly accomplished musicians who happen to be her adored closest friends! @hannahr0we
Catch this intimate stripped back performance on April 26th at The Watershed, Slaithwaite.
Also featured on the Kirklees Most Wanted playlist for their first year Slo Blome who be providing Support via Banjo, cello, and guitar reimagine folk with fearless invention. Rooted in tradition yet unbound by it, their sound soars on the strength of powerful vocals telling exciting fables, supported by restless folk spirit. @slo.blome
The Wilson’s Republic WRXL event, which celebrated a decade of fostering creative community with the theme of ‘Routes,’ culminated in an absolutely electrifying private afterparty at Amped in Huddersfield.
Seamlessly transitioning the day’s inspiration into a night of community and celebration, the party was curated by us, transforming the venue into a powerful showcase for local talent. Attendees were treated to a diverse and gripping line-up that kept the energy high well into the night. Highlights included the beautiful, honest songwriting of Good Good Blood, the alluring and soulful sounds of vocalist Hannah Rowe, and the complex, yet highly danceable, Psychedelic Rock fusion of Don Gonzo. The celebration reached its peak with Therealdemo, a staple of the West Yorkshire scene, spinning classic and new Funk, Soul, and Hip Hop that kept the floor moving.
Take a look at the Highlights from the event below;
More than just a concert, the afterparty was the perfect, vibrant finale—a powerful demonstration of the collective spirit of the Northern creative scene and a truly triumphant way to cap off Wilson’s Republic’s 10th-anniversary celebration.
Additionally take a look at the highlights from the day event at Bates Mill featuring six speakers from different creative disciplines, they delivered heard honest, inspiring and beautiful interpretations of the event theme ROUTES.
Missed WRXL? Don’t worry – we’ve got the soundtrack. A little gift from us to you.
If you couldn’t make it (or just want to relive the event), we’ve got an official WRXL playlist – featuring the incredible artists who brought the afterparty to life.
Plug in, press play and keep the WRXL energy going 🎧
Hannah Rowe is an upcoming jazz vocalist based in West Yorkshire. After selling out a multitude of local venues and a summer full of festivals, her 10-piece band of close friends are now celebrating their recent EP with a new single called ‘Bellevue’. It’s a bittersweet, beautiful song which takes the listener on a journey of hesitant growth after friendship break-ups and growing apart. Rowe’s soulful sound and lyricism guide us through being young and learning to live, nostalgia and embracing the nature of change.
‘Bellevue’ starts with some enchanting, fingerpicked guitar and it’s only a few seconds before Hannah’s vocals flow into the song like water. A simply paced bassline then brings more reliant rhythm into the first verse and a lack of percussion at this point produces calm ambience with emphasis on the emotional vocals. From the beginning, this track is an obvious musical masterclass because we’re constantly being introduced to new instrumentation. So much energetic innovation is packed into this 3-minute song, yet it still upholds a sense of settled tranquillity. The chorus is vulnerable, intimate and is soon built with a swelling brass section and backing vocals which completely transform the song into its own alluring scene which still re-enforces that classic lounge jazz sound.
Their theme is ROUTES. In a creative career, there is no one ‘golden path’. Routes will explore the pivots, twists and turns that shape creative careers.
Check out the exclusive interview, highlights & snaps from the Kirklees Most Wanted showcase at Northern Quarter in March.
Join Lillie as she goes behind the music with all the talented performers who lit up the stage at the first Kirklees Most Wanted Showcase. Each act opens up about their musical careers, sharing touching moments, amusing anecdotes, and ultimately insightful perspectives on their creative paths.
