We found ourselves back at The Soundhouse again on Friday the 8th March to watch the last of the Western Park 2019 auditions. The festival is an annual event held at Western Park in Leicester. Acts far and wide are invited to audition for a spot of the diverse line-up, whether you’re a band, a solo artist a poet or a creative of any kind, you’re welcomed with open arms to gain a spot upon the bill. Last year saw some of the region’s best up and coming acts such as Tequila Sunrise, Gallows High, Not My Good Arm and many more. We attended the audition to get a taste of what we can expect this year, and saw some familiar faces. It was a really great night with a wide range of music played from all bands and I’m here to recap on some of the highlights of the night.
Code Switch Theory
Psychedelic rock duo Code Switch Theory were first up. Their set was really interesting to watch and to listen to. They each put 110% into their performances and did a great job of making it visually interesting instead of just focusing on just the musical elements of their set. The duo used samples and loops to their advantage, they managed to produce such a huge and unique sound, if you weren’t paying much attention – you could easily think there were more than just the two of them performing. Everything was so in-sync and tight, their skill level on their instruments alone would have made a great set, but their use of electronic sounds just made it better.
If I had to make one suggestion, it would be that they could do a little more with the crowd in terms of involvement. Although I was impressed with what they did manage to do, since the allocated set lengths can sometimes be too short and leave more to be desired. I managed to pick up a copy of their album, “HyperMegaSuperMassive” and I must say it’s hugely impressive. The 8-track is packed with hard hitting, foot tapping riffs and backbeats. Overall I thought the duo were brilliant and certainly have my vote to gain a spot on this years Western Park festival line-up. Check out their Spotify below.
Tequila Sunrise
The four-piece have a few notable things on their music resume that make them stand out. Having played Western Park last year, they know how this goes. They’ve recorded an EP, performed their very own headline gig and supported bands such as Definitely Oasis. As if that wasn’t enough to get you interested, they’ve managed to bag themselves a spot at Glastonbudget later on this year!
The first thing I remember about the band is the amount of energy they had on stage. Not too much, not too little. They’re really good at finding that middle ground that allows them to look good, but doesn’t compromise on their musical performance. This goes hand in hand with their stage presence – involving the crowd and displaying their confidence really makes them come across as a seasoned band, which is brilliant for a group of lads so young.
Their songwriting skills are next to none. Clearly they’re very well informed on the indie genre and know how to write matching the trends. The instrumental skills displayed that night were just as good, cutting edge riffs and technical drum beats make their sound all the more impressive. Oh, and did I mention that the youngest member is seventeen? Their skill, confidence and knowledge at such a young age promises great things for the future of our music scene! Check out their debut EP “Dawn” on Spotify. The link is below.
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