Tag: music

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

BySaving Grace MusicCategoriesInNewsPosted 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 MusicCategoriesInNewsPosted 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 🎧

LOMENS

ByDaniel PackhamCategoriesInArtist InterviewsPosted onOn

What is your songwriting process?

We try to make this process as organic as possible, as we know we all have our own distinct individual styles that we like to nurture as much as we can, so that it shines through in each song and gives us a sound that is hopefully distinctly ‘Lomens’.

Generally speaking, one of us comes to rehearsal with a very loose idea, whether that be a vocal melody, a guitar riff, a chord progression on the synth or even just a groove with drums and bass

We then most of the time sit on that idea and jam it together as a band and see where it takes us. Sometimes it naturally forms itself into a song very quickly. Unplug the Earth was like this, for example! Sometimes we can spend weeks/months exploring lots of possibilities and really refine each section as much as we can.

The main thing is just trying to keep things as organic and fun as possible!

Who is your biggest influence?
Now this is always a tough one as we’re all pretty nerdy with music, ha! What we get compared to isn’t necessarily what we listen to, and we all listen to quite an eclectic mix of music!

Vocally, Chris (lead vocals) takes a lot of inspiration from bands like Everything, Everything and Kid Kapichi. Some of us are pretty big fans of Radiohead, and there’s some Muse thrown in there too, a little bit of Prog as well, Porcupine Tree, TOOL, Leprous, The Mars Volta, Deftones.

Jordan (Drums) tends to have a raw attitude towards the drums, where he can, early Nirvana and The Melvins spring to mind, but again, the eclectic taste comes into play, and there’s also some Latin and Samba influences, especially coming from Tom! (Synths & Percussion)

These are just some influences that spring to mind, but as we’re all just massive music fans in general, it tends to make for some interesting jams and songwriting; we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Do you have any pre-gig rituals?
We tend to try to run the set in our studio on the day, get ourselves nicely warmed up, a couple of pints and seeking out some cool food doesn’t go amiss! 

What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
This is a difficult one; we’ve not played that many yet in the grand scheme of things, as we’ve only been active just over a year. There have been 16 gigs in that time, and we’ve played 3 headliners in that time (Parish, Huddersfield), Oporto, Leeds, Grass Fed 1 at Picturedrome, Holmfirth), so it would have to be one of those; they’ve all been equally fun and with some great supports! 

What’s next for you guys?
Write. Write. Write. We only have 4 singles out, and we just need to get more music out there! We’ll still be playing some shows in between, but the focus is definitely on increasing our repertoire and output. Expect an EP after our next single. We also have a Headline show at the new Parish space, Amped! on Mad Friday (December 19th) with support from Pageant Mum and Slipped Disco, that will be a big end-of-year party and a great way to see the year out! 

How would you describe your new single, ‘Kinetic Currency’?
Big! Our most out there song to date.

It’s got a punky edge to it with some proggy elements interspersed throughout. Also, a screamer of a riff at the end! We’ve recently been able to get our bassist, Josh, onto guitar as we’ve welcomed a new member on bass (Andrew Parkinson), so we’re now a 6-piece dual guitar assault on stage! 

Kinetic Currency is an observational anthem told through the lens of a working-class person in Britain in 2025. Through some vivid lyrics and striking imagery, the song captures the struggle to rise above the noise of modern life’s complexities, seeking simplicity whilst desperately trying to avoid unnecessary confrontation and stress.

We’ve kept it politically neutral, presenting observations without aligning with any cause. It’s simply what we see on a day-to-day basis, whilst most people are skint yet forever being bombarded with grandiose political movements and news cycles, whilst simultaneously struggling with the normality of everyday life. It’s not a commentary; it’s an observational piece about the everyday rat race of Modern Britain. We invite people to find their own meaning and use their own lens to establish their relationship with the song.

LOMENS is for everyone. 

Kinetic Currency, is out now on Spotify and many other major streaming platforms.

You can find out more about Lomans via their linktree: https://linktr.ee/lomens

Rohith Sakthy – HASRAT

ByAbigail UnsworthCategoriesInMusic ReviewsPosted onOn

Rohith Sakthy is an award winning classically trained singer, composer and sound engineer. The latter is made evident within his new song “Hasrat” which explores themes of unrequited desire and deep longing for something more. Sakathy’s music is primarily shaped by curiosity, collaboration, passion and a drive to bring Indian music to a global stage. The use of complex chord progressions in “Hasrat” generate a sense of free movement throughout the song, meanwhile classical Indian gamaka’s ground the music in its distinctive cultural heritage. Because the song isn’t reliant upon static notes/chords, it’s independent and intricate as we’re pulled along by Sakathy’s vocals which acts as its own instrument. Rohith Sakthy is successful in his ambition to create art which resonates across cultures. He produced this track for Manasamitra and “Hasrat” received a special Jury award at the Tune into Nature Awards organised by Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/rohith_sakthy

The Kirklees Most Wanted project is being delivered by The Saving Grace Collective and is part funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 
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