Music in Leicester

Facilities

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• Uncover the story - For more than six decades, Leicester has welcomed scores of famous bands to a variety of music venues, from the Il Rondo of the 1960s to The Charlotte, which had its heyday in the 80s and 90s. A Who’s Who of rock and pop royalty including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Oasis and Snow Patrol wowed audiences back then, and the city’s music scene is still making a big noise. <hr> Raising its curtain in 1913, De Montfort Hall has seen most of the big names of the 20th century play its stage, and its programme always features a liberal scattering of musicians performing every genre. As the home of Leicester Symphony Orchestra, and with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra resident for more than 20 years, it also hits the right note with classical fans. <hr> Other big players that lure big names to Leicester include the Morningside Arena, which is the home of stars of the basketball court Leicester Riders, and the O2 Academy, based on the University of Leicester campus. <hr> Smaller venues in the city showcase up-and-coming talent, and many have hosted arena-fillers-in-the-making. Leicester band Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys and Ellie Goulding played at The Shed at the start of their careers, while Syston singer/songwriter and 2021 Grammy nominee Mahalia impressed as a beginner at The Soundhouse open mic nights. <hr> For more late nights laced with music, head to The Donkey, which bills itself as a small venue with a big reputation, or the upstairs stage at Firebug for an intimate gig. Music of Black Origin is 2Funky Music Café’s speciality, alongside legendary tribute nights, and The Musician is the self-proclaimed home of live music at least six times a week. <hr> For more non-stop music, check out Leicester’s diverse festivals. World-class DJ Aba Shanti-I is a fixture of the Caribbean Carnival, and classical chamber music is the star of Leicester International Music Festival. Equally diverse is homegrown talent which includes Queen’s John Deacon, crooner Engelbert Humperdinck and alternative R&B band Easy Life, who all keep the city in the spotlight.<hr>