Tag: huddersfield

Soundtrack to a Transformation: Local Artists Set to Launch Huddersfield’s Queensgate Square

BySaving Grace MusicCategoriesInFreebie, Gigs, NewsPosted onOn

When the Kirklees Most Wanted project set out on its mission—spearheaded by The Saving Grace Collective—the goal was simple yet ambitious: to build a platform that champions local artists, bridges the gap between home-grown talent and live venues, and proves that our region’s music scene can stand toe-to-toe with anywhere in the UK.

We’ve poured our energy into curated playlists, artist development, and creating real opportunities for musicians across Kirklees. That is why the upcoming launch weekend of Queensgate Square and the Huddersfield Library Hub on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September feels like a massive milestone for us.

“A new square. A new library. A new chapter for Huddersfield.” That’s the vision behind Our Cultural Heart’s transformation of the town centre, and we couldn’t be prouder to see artists who have come through the Kirklees Most Wanted pipeline taking center stage to soundtrack this historic moment.

The Sound of Huddersfield, Live in the Heart of Town

From 12pm to 5pm across both days, Queensgate Square will transform into a open-air festival space. Free entry, incredible local music, and a chance to explore a state-of-the-art public hub—it’s everything our creative community stands for.

Here is a closer look at the Most Wanted artists taking the stage across the weekend:

Saturday 26th September: Indie Roots, Gypsy Jazz & Brass Energy

  • Eve Jone: Bringing lush melodies and captivating vocals (like her standout track “Our Time” featured on our Most Wanted playlist), Eve delivers a performance that demands your attention.
  • Al’s Django Party: Injecting vibrant energy into the square with hot-club gypsy jazz swing that will get Queensgate moving from the very first bar.
  • Deadbeat Brass: Ending Saturday on an absolute high. Known for their explosive fusion of brass, hip-hop, and heavy groove (check out “On the Deadbeat”), they are guaranteed to turn the new public square into a full-scale street party.

Sunday 27th September: Soulful Blues & Acoustic Storytelling

  • Leo Brazil: Kicking off Sunday with his distinct blend of alt-folk and soul (featuring on our playlist with “Perhaps I Have The Power”), Leo’s stage presence is the perfect fit for a relaxed Sunday afternoon outdoors.
  • Hannah Rowe: With hauntingly beautiful acoustic tracks like “Bellevue” and “Thin Line”, Hannah represents the incredible depth of singer-songwriter talent nurtured right here in Kirklees.

Why This Moment Matters

For a long time, local music projects have fought for physical spaces where community and culture intersect naturally. The opening of Queensgate Square and the Huddersfield Library Hub offers exactly that: a gathering place where art, education, and live performance belong to everyone.

To see our Kirklees Most Wanted artists sharing the lineup alongside fantastic acts like Wolfe Trap, JULË, Ramshackle Orchestra, and Wadcutter Blues proves what happens when you invest in grassroots creative talent.

When you hear these artists perform on the 26th and 27th September, you aren’t just listening to background music for a civic launch—you are hearing the sound of Huddersfield’s future.

Event Summary

  • Event: Queensgate Square & Huddersfield Library Hub Grand Opening
  • When: Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Where: Queensgate Square, Huddersfield Town Centre 📍
  • Admission: Free Entry 🎟️

Come down, support the artists who make our region so vibrant, and help us turn the page on this exciting new chapter for Huddersfield.

The Huddersfield K.M.W Showcase

BySaving Grace MusicCategoriesInGigs, NewsPosted onOn

Prepare for an unforgettable night of live music as the Kirklees Most Wanted Showcase lights up The Northern Quarter in Huddersfield on January 10th. This eagerly awaited event will spotlight an amazing lineup of homegrown talent, offering a dynamic mix of genres and an electrifying atmosphere for music fans.

Joining us on stage are 4 exceptional acts, each bringing their own unique flair;

Rillington Place

Rillington Place is an alternative metal band that has been featured on the Kirklees Most Wanted playlist with their track “Lament.” The band’s name is inspired by the notorious street where Jack the Ripper committed his crimes, following a similar naming convention to a band they admire, Whitechapel. Their focus is on creating new music, with an EP expected after their next single, and they are active in the live circuit, including a headline show at Parish’s new space, Amped! in Huddersfield.

Eskar & Micky Swags

Eskar is an impactful, fiercely independent hip-hop artist, songwriter, and label owner (Nuke Fam Records) from Huddersfield, UK. Known for his dense lyricism and genre versatility, Eskar is a prominent figure in the UK underground rap scene and was featured on the Kirklees Most Wanted playlist with his track “Kaiju.” In 2024, he released the widely acclaimed album Thy Flesh Consumed, which featured powerful collaborations with artists like Celph Titled, Tonedeff, and his frequent partner Micky Swags. The album also contained the track “116 123,” a vital song promoting a mental health message by sampling the last voice notes of a friend.

Leo Brazil

Before you ask, it’s not a stage name! Leo Brazil has been writing and recording his own music since he was a child singing into a tape machine. As well as drawing on his love for classic pop, rock and roll and soul, Leo draws inspiration from animals with songs that connect personal emotions and experiences with stories from the natural world.

Leo works out of his home studio and is developing a unique and colourful evolution of sound that mixes acoustic, folk, rock and psychedelia.

Leo is a multi-instrumentalist and in the studio plays keyboards, drums and violin. Live he mostly sticks to guitars and banjo where he draws on his big repertoire of self penned songs, equally comfortable with low key acoustic ballads or foot stomping energetic numbers.

Sophie & Songs

Sophie & Songs is an independent singer/songwriter who focuses on folk music and is currently studying music in Leeds. She uses writing and performing for self-expression and self-knowledge. Her songs, such as “Denial” and “Love Betrayed Me,” are described as hauntingly beautiful folk tracks featuring mesmerising acoustic guitar and stirring harmonies, appealing to listeners with their stripped-back, authentic, and vulnerable style.

Fiesta La Ginger

Throughout the night, there will be DJ sets from Fiesta La Ginger, opening up the event and filling the spaces between the live acts and keeping the energy high.

Don’t miss this extraordinary night of music and discovery.

The Kirklees Most Wanted Showcase is more than just a concert—it’s a celebration of the thriving music scene in Kirklees. By providing a platform for local artists to shine, this event highlights the incredible talent within the community and offers audiences the chance to discover their next favorite act.

Don’t miss this extraordinary night of music and discovery.

Get Your Ticket here


Facebook event link – https://fb.me/e/6i7CiUUTK

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kirklees-most-wanted-showcase-tickets-1976782029263?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hannah Rowe & Ibibio Sound Machine tear the roof off at Parish

BySaving Grace MusicCategoriesInGigs, NewsPosted onOn

The Parish in Huddersfield, known for its intimate, energetic atmosphere, was the perfect crucible for the sonic fireworks delivered by Ibibio Sound Machine on Friday night. It was an evening that started in soulful reflection and exploded into a joyous, sweat-drenched dance party, proving once again that the best nights out are those where the walls feel like they’re breathing along with the crowd.

Support: Hannah Rowe—A Local Star Shines Bright

Leeds based and Kirklees Most Wanted alumni Hannah Rowe set the bar high, proving exactly why she’s generating so much buzz. Trading the massive festival stages for the confines of The Parish, Rowe’s powerful, soulful voice filled every corner of the room. Drawing heavily on her jazz and soul influences, she delivered tracks like the reflective “Bellevue” and the massive “Waistcoat” with an emotional depth that belied the venue’s small size. Performing with a scaled down outfit from her normal 10-piece band they managed to create a sophisticated, layered soundscape that was both rich and intimate, providing a perfect, locally-sourced dose of warmth before the main event.

Headliners: Ibibio Sound Machine

When Ibibio Sound Machine took the stage, the vibe shifted instantly. Led by the magnetic Nigerian-British vocalist Eno Williams, the eight-piece group immediately plunged the packed room into a mesmerizing blend of West African highlife, post-punk electronica, and pure 80s synth-funk.

Williams is an unstoppable force of nature, narrating in the Ibibio language (often translated in real-time through her movements and sheer energy) while commanding the stage. The band’s setlist, featuring fan favourites like “Electricity,” “The Chant (Iquo Isang),” and the hypnotic “Protection From Evil,” was a masterclass in controlled chaos. Each song was a vibrant, polyrhythmic workout, driven by the relentless, propulsive basslines and the swirling, retro synthesizers that give the band its distinctive electronic edge.

The Parish’s relatively small 300-capacity room amplified the intensity; there was no room to stand still. By the time the band launched into the irresistible call-and-response of “Fire Fire Fire, Higher Higher Higher” the floor was a unified mass, hands in the air, echoing the sheer joy radiating from the stage.

The Huddersfield crowd’s embrace of the band’s global sound was a testament to the universal language of rhythm. Ibibio Sound Machine didn’t just play a gig; they curated a transcendental experience that lifted the spirits and left everyone feeling like they’d just participated in something primal and necessary. An unforgettable show, cemented by the raw energy that only a venue like The Parish can provide.

Photos by Zak Brierley

Take a look at the video highlights via the Saving Grace Instagram reels;

WRXL Afterparty at Amped

BySaving Grace MusicCategoriesInGigs, NewsPosted onOn

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 🎧

MachineAfro-Funk Meets Soul: Ibibio Sound Machine with Kirklees Most Wanted’s Hannah Rowe at The Parish!

BySaving Grace MusicCategoriesInGigs, NewsPosted onOn

Get ready for an explosive night of music as London’s sensational electronic afro-funk collective, Ibibio Sound Machine, prepare to tear the roof off The Parish in Huddersfield on Friday, November 7, 2025. Adding a massive dose of local pride to the bill, they will be supported by Kirklees’ own rising star, Hannah Rowe. Having cultivated a powerful, soulful, and jazz-infused sound with her seven-piece band, Hannah is no stranger to the local scene—she’s a successful participant in the Kirklees Most Wanted project and recently thrilled crowds at the KMW Showcase and the WRXL After party at amped. Don’t miss this chance to see one of the region’s most exciting talents open for a global powerhouse!

The Headliners: Ibibio Sound Machine 💥
Ibibio Sound Machine is led by the magnetic Nigerian vocalist Eno Williams, whose lyrics are often drawn from her mother’s folk tales and told in the Ibibio language of Nigeria. Their sound is an irresistible mash-up: a clash of electronic elements with the golden era of West African funk and disco.

The eight-piece band has garnered international acclaim for their exhilarating live shows, building a reputation across major festivals like Glastonbury and WOMAD. Their latest material, following the success of albums like Electricity, promises a blend of raw energy and powerful synth-funk grooves that will transform The Parish into a sweat-soaked, all-night dance club. Prepare for an infectious performance that is as rhythmically complex as it is joyously danceable.

The Support: Hannah Rowe (Kirklees Most Wanted) 🎤
Opening the evening is the sensational Hannah Rowe, a local vocalist from the Leeds/Huddersfield area who has quickly become a standout on the UK’s independent music scene. Backed by her trio rather than her usual mighty 7-piece band, this is your change to catch Hannah delivering a more stripped down set of a sophisticated blend of R&B, Soul, and Jazz, drawing comparisons to artists like Raye and Cleo Sol.

Her recent appearances, including a knockout set at the Kirklees Most Wanted Showcase and the high-energy WRXL After party at amped, have firmly cemented her status as one-to-watch. Her voice is described as “timeless,” and her band’s captivating passion is palpable. This performance at The Parish is a fantastic opportunity to see a truly homegrown talent step up to a major support slot and showcase the powerful, authentic music she has been refining right here in Kirklees.

Event Details
What: Ibibio Sound Machine with special guest Hannah Rowe
Where: The Parish, Huddersfield
When: Friday, 7 November 2025
Time: Doors at 20:00

Tickets: General admission tickets are available for £27.50 (plus booking fee). Check The Parish website or major ticketing agents like See Tickets to secure your spot! (Note: This event is 14+ with an adult companion required for 14-17 year olds).

https://parishevents.seetickets.com/whitelabels/event/ibibio-sound-machine/parish/DF-3437755

Book Your Ticket

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