Here you can get to know all of the awesome bands, artists and people performing at Long Division. We've got a little profile on everyone and included dates, times and venue info with each too for anyone who simply cannot miss their favourite act. They're all here in alphabetical order. Note: "The" bands are in the T section. (click these links to jump to the right section):
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Facebook Page

After releasing the incredibly well received ‘In Bed With The Bambinos’ and more recently a split 7” (both on Philophobia Music) The Bambinos are finally building on their apparently natural ability to pen odd, yet brilliant Indie Pop. It’s such a generic term now, but The Bambinos genuinely offer something different, and as their recent ‘Tour Of Fools’ showed, people across the country are getting it, in a big way.

Official Myspace Page

In November 2010, Blood Oranges, hailing from Leeds, released their fantastic debut single ‘The French Word for Love’ securing their growing reputation as purveyors of intelligent, superbly cheery Indie-Pop. Having connections with all manner of revered institutions (Dance To The Radio, Two Door Cinema Club, Rough Trade, Whiskas of Forward Russia) has only increased the sense that there are great things to come from these quirky pop scoundrels.

“Blood Oranges make upbeat contagiously catchy Indie pop”
- Artrocker Magazine

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Facebook Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Philophobia Music Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Myspace Page

Playing a dense mix of Ska, Rave, Hip Hop, Metal and some other genres they seem to make up on the spot, a live appearance by China Shop Bull is nothing if not exhausting, exhilarating and massively energetic. Having played with acts such as Dreadzone, Goldie Lookin Chain & Sunshine Underground, the band has managed to hone its ambitious approach into something quite outstanding. Remind us of the legendary Asian Dub Foundation at their most confrontational, which is obviously a damn good thing.

“The band’s sound reflects their picture of 21st century Britain, an angry, spitting, fun and intelligent melting pot.”
- Pushtofire.com

Official Reverbnation Page

Playing an Acoustic set as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Skint & Demoralised.

Official Website

A Shoegazing punk band… from Malta? Yeah, that’ll do for us. A Band with a sound so locked into the prevailing Wakefield aesthetic that we just had to get them over. Get on down and give them a massive Yorkshire welcome.

Live Video (YouTube)

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Red Riding Quartet and Diamond Studios.

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Myspace Page

Darwin Deez debut album was released in April 2010 and was met with universal praise from international radio and press, including the likes of Radio One, XFM, 6Music, Time Out and, especially, the NME who named him the 10th coolest musician on the planet and placed him on their cover.

Singularly a brilliant, hilarious, complex, entertaining individual, Darwin Deez writes songs that will make you want to bust out your dancing shoes while also cutting to that raw, emotional nerve. Don’t miss your chance to witness a rare insight into everything a pop star should be, and yet so rarely is, as Darwin Deez hits Long Division Festival on 11th June.

“totally fucking awesome.”
- NME

“really quite impressive.”
- The Guardian

Official Website

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Myspace Page

When not touring the country with Brigada Mercy, Don plays solo shows, showcasing his insightful and melodic brand of antagonistic, angry punk. Green Day / Operation Ivy melodies tied in with a Billy Bragg social conscience, accompanied by a solitary electric guitar Don Mercy manages to make the misery of modern life sound warm, inviting and almost celebratory.

Official Facebook Page

Currently riding high on a wave of hugely positive press, Eagulls have huge potential to be that often referenced ‘next big thing’. With driving, emotional centre that mixes sounds as varied as showgaze and post-hardcore (as heard on recent single ‘Council Flat Blues’( Eagulls will be helping Long Division kick off in style on it’s opening night.

“has that emotive energy you'd expect from hardcore but it's way catchier”
- Norman Records

Official Myspace Page

Grinding, riffing, heavy rocking bearded men from London, Elks have released records on respected Indie Labels The Great Oudoors & Unlabel and gained many fans when Rhubarb Bomb took a coach load of Wakefield people to play with them last year. Like a cross between QOTSA and That Fucking Tank, Elks insistent, relentless aural assault is a hypnotic joy to witness.

“A Glimmer of Sonic Youth Experimentation and raw Nirvana-esqe basslines. It’s Sheer Brilliance”
- Melissa Greaves, Rhubarb Bomb

Official Bandcamp Page

Co-founder of the stupendously marvellous record label Chemikal Underground and former member of ‘The Delgados’, one of the greatest Indie bands of the last 20 years (says we), Emma now works as a solo artist, having released two wonderful records as well as a recent album through collaborative side project ‘Burns Unit’. Hers is a sweet, yet dark, pop sound of incredibly well crafted and engaging songs, an extension and progression of her work with the criminally underappreciated Delgados. Her Long Division performance will feature her with a full backing band. A rare trip down from Glasgow for Emma, this will be something very special indeed.

“[2nd album] The Law of Large Numbers proves solo Pollock just as exciting a prospect as her former band were at their peak a decade ago”
- The Skinny

Official Website

Beautiful and gently meandering nu-folk musings hide the passionate and inventive individual that is Emmy The Great, a highly talented songwriter and a frequent and varied collaborator having worked with artists as varied as Noah & The Whale, Lightspeed Champion and even Pop Punks Ash. Romantic and sad and honest and wistful, she has a unique authorial voice which finds many outlets outside her music, shown in her support on fanzine culture, save the library campaigns and various forays into journalism. A most welcome trip north from her London home, Emmy will be bringing a full backing band to support her.

“As disarmingly matter-of-fact as it is idiosyncratic”
- Plan B

Official Website

Inventive, direct, fuzzed out pop coolness. A guttural, frenzy fuelled, organic frantic mish-mash. LOUD AS. Either your favourite band, or simply the best band you’ve never heard of.

“Fonda 500 have nothing if not completely liberated imaginations and slightly unstable minds”
- Artrocker Magazine

Official Website

Clemence Freschard hails from Bourgogne, France via Berlin and creates astounding yet minimalist compositions with a prevailing sense of wandering melancholy and gentle beauty. She has collaborated with David Tattersall of The Wave Pictures and currently tours with Stanley Brinks, formerly of Herman Dune, who will appear with her at Long Division. With her sweet and understated persona, as well as her utterly captivating voice and charming pronunciation, Freschard was one of the best experiances of Rhubarb Bomb’s 2010 gig-going calendar and we are delighted to give you the chance to see her also.

“She sings with a voice of beautiful ennui - the sensual way she pronounces “cou-cou-noot” is incredible! The songs are rich and atmospheric, and if you were seduced by her singing on David Tattersall's recent album, you'll be hooked by her solo performances. Magnifique!”
- SoundsXP

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Red Riding Quartet and Diamond Studios.

Official Bandcamp Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Red Riding Quartet and Diamond Studios.

Official Myspace Page

I Like Trains pulled off a marvellous trick late last year. The release of their 2nd album proper, ‘He Who Saw The Deep’ saw them almost completely reinvent themselves, gaining them a whole new audience, yet they did so by keeping the hardcore fanbase of many years happy AND to critical acclaim. That’s a lot harder than it sounds. But after many years of slow burning success in and around Leeds which culminated with the doomy classic of ‘Elegies to Lessons Learnt’ the band refocused its energies and created an album that felt like a debut; so full of ideas and energy and direction. True, the historical obsessions may have lessened but this rebirth is a true revelation. Former unbelievers, prepare to be startled by the raging yet delicate assault upon your ears... everyone else, just enjoy, as you always did.

“While He Who Saw The Deep's lyrical content is steeped in sorrowful expectancy, it's delivered on the buoyant wings of a subtle majesty, suggesting that far underneath this dark soothsaying lies a far simpler truth: that the band are enjoying making music as much as they ever have”
- The Quietus

Official Myspace Page

‘It’s a Party!’ went one of their earlier songs, and aptly, it always feels like a party watching Imp, such is the infectious joy with which they perform. Its melodic and sludgy Indie, in that Wakefield style, or at least it was until the release late 2010 of their ambitious ‘Just Destroyer’ EP which saw the band embrace psychedelia and post rock as cornerstones, which in the grand scheme of things may not seem so unusual, but point is they did it with STYLE ­ and they got it right; that they have gone on to envelop more people into their rapidly growing hardcore fanbase only proves their instincts were correct.

“displays promise and youthful naivety in equal degree, yet still remains somewhat of a triumph.”
- Low Culture

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Philophobia Music Page

A Phenomenal, wonderful Indie Pop band from Leeds that continued their swift climb in the hearts and minds of all who cross their path with the recent release of the perfectly titled ‘New Adventures in Pop’. Effortless beauty and sweepingly pretty choruses characterise a band that sits way above their Indiepop peers.

Official Myspace Page

Former singer with The Long Blondes, Kate has been working on solo material for some time, but is finally (and thankfully) now ready to unleash it upon the world. During her time with Long Blondes she was voted into NME’s annual ‘Cool List’ (we didn’t just pick this line-up from old NME’s by the way) and responded with typically nonchalance “They probably didn’t have enough girls, they needed some glamour”. Much missed within the Indie landscape since LB’s premature split, it’s a pleasure to have Kate play at Long Division

“…a greater focus on atmosphere giving her voice priority and allowing it room to fill all the little nooks and crannies. Even in the quiet moments her vocals are commanding. It immediately reminded me of why I loved her voice in the first place, and why her sabbatical from the music scene has left such a noticeable gap”
- Battery In Your Leg

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Official Facebook Page

Los Campesinos! are good at being in a band. Everything they do, they do with care and attention to detail. It’s there in the way they communicate directly with fans online, and in their Record Box Project ­ a treasure trove of seven-inch records assembled from the indie record shops of the world and given away to a lucky fan ­ and in the small-press fanzines they make, just because.

“a smart, spry, neon pop group possessed with a seemingly boundless everykid exuberance”
- Pitchfork

Official Website

Playing an Acoustic set as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Skint & Demoralised.

Official Website

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Official Facebook Page

Over the last few years, Mi Mye (aka Jamie Lockhart) has undergone a continuous metamorphosis of style and representation in his live appearances, varying from bare vocal and violin through to 8 piece, rocking, wall of noise grandeur. Yet with the release of debut album last year, ‘Senc of the Shaking’, it all seemed to come together; the delicate sweet storytelling, wistful odes to simple, romantic times and sudden gushes of heartfelt optimism, in a fine, direct and moving way. Always a warm and unbecoming figure, Mi Mye takes the basics of folk and pop and songwriting to new levels.

“Lockhart has created is a debut album filled to the brim with unique pop songs featuring melancholic lyrics that make you think as well as dance”
- The Line Of Best Fit

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Facebook Page

Playing an Acoustic set as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Skint & Demoralised.

Official Website

A hugely talented band long overdue some massive success. But their considered and persistent rise had given them chance to pretty much perfect the art of writing intelligent but good time music that you just simply have to move around to. Fusing Indie, Hip Hop, ROCK, funk and all manner of genres that they made up as they went along, Middleman are the thinking, or drinking man’s, party band of choice and massive amount of fun. We love 'em.

"Middleman make bouncy, vibrant, ridiculously catchy tunes that stand out a mile from everything else around at the moment."
- Huw Stephens, Radio One

Official Myspace Page

Basically, Pure Genius > "An embarrassment of musical riches... a perfect late curio of 2010." 8/10 NME. "Sheer pop-hook majesty and killer choruses... pure inspiration" - Sunday Times "An eccentric Yorkshireman who deserves to be considered the peer of fellow electro-melodicists Fuck Buttons and Animal Collective" - **** MOJO "Swirling atmospheric backdrops take you on bizarre aural trips... an infectiously entertaining, from-the-heart album" ­ Artrocker. Need we say more? Yeah we must; he will be bringing a full on backing band for Long Division. It’s gonna be loud...

"It's not often that an album like this comes along... a masterpiece."
- ***** God Is In The TV

Official Website

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Website

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Website

Stuck between the rock of ‘Post-Folk’ and the hard place of ‘Post Rock’, One Day, After School… occupy the deep space of colliding influences with great discomfort. Featuring a ‘squad rotation system’ in relation to the band line up, they are currently the noisiest and poppiest they have ever been and with their songs of alternate universes and unravelling reality they should be a memorable opening act to Long Division.

Official Soundcloud Page

Having won Futuresound and got themselves a spot at the Leeds and Reading festival, big things are expected of the Wakefield / Hemsworth 3 piece. Displaying an astute knack of nailing some power pop melodies and drawing in massive crowds wherever they go, all who see them agree there is something rather special about these young men, just turned 18. Sickeningly good.

“The bands energy on stage is rivalled only by their amazing musicality and power of their music”
- SallysGigReviews.com

Official Myspace Page

Wakefield Legends Piskie Sits were at the forefront when the spotlight was on Wakefield the FIRST time around. And here they are again, still centre stage and still kickin those sweet slacker vibes. But not quite; the Piskies are never afraid to mix things up and recent acquisitions of new members saw them release the delicious ‘Churp Churp’ single and the outstanding ‘The Way I’d Like To Go’ EP which rounded up nicely the new found energy and direction that has been central to their recent live forays, whilst also moving them away form the general ‘US Slacker Noisnik’ pigeon hole. In a career that has seen them play Leeds Festival and support bands as diverse (and awesome) as The Fall, Frightened Rabbit and Nine Balck Alps, it’s great to see, and be sure, that their best days are still ahead of them.

“The EP is, then, refreshingly filler-free and comes highly recommended to the kind of indie rock aficionados who dig the ATP line ups and read hipper sites than The Music Fix”
- The Music Fix

Official Myspace Page

From the remnants of one of the greatest Wakefield bands EVER (Pylon) and the much missed Dugong, Protectors were formed. Mixing their previous bands’ flair for pop and punk, but somehow totally avoiding that occasionally dire genre, ‘PopPunk’, Protectors have an incredible ear for a very catchy chorus. They then make that the verse, add and even catchier chorus and then add a really catchy bridge for good measure. How do they do that? A wonderful band.

"New single ‘Honeymoon?’ Is a great track with a cracking vocal melodic, very catchy indeed. They all are. Very, very catchy."
- eGigs.co.uk

Official Website

Simple one of our favourite bands ever. Although they only ever released 2 EPs (1999 / 2001) and an album (2005) the influence of their Pop infused Post Hardcore sound and DIY approach continues to be felt far and wide, despite their split in 2007. At the tail end of 2010, Rhubarb Bomb ran an article citing them as one of the great 'Lost Bands' and we hope in some small way we inspired the recently announced reunion, to play the 'last ever gig' that never was at Out Of Spite Festival. For Long Division, Singer Chris Charlton will perform some acoustic versions from their classic back catalogue. Though, word is, some other members of the band might make it down, so who knows what might happen?!

"To describe or compare Pylon is no easy task, the sound is what I'd call full. Full of emotion, full of passion and full of thought. From the sometimes Spy vs Spy ish quality of the guitar work to the smooth layered vocal harmonies it's smashing stuff."
- Leeds Music Scene

Official Website

South East London’s finest Hip Hop collective, featuring a mass of talented songwriters, producers and artists, will be heading north of the Watford Gap for Long Division. And we couldn’t be happier. Amongst their number is Pikey Esquire, twice UK beatbox finalist, backed up with lyricists Sherlock & Leon Rhymes and the soulful tones of MC Source. Veterans of the touring circuit that has seen the play all over the UK and Europe, The Queen’s speak out to the new wave of an educated youth who refuse to be spoon fed mundane lives and expectation, instead delivering an honest, genuine slice of authentic Hip Hop.

“If The Streets are the streets, then Queen’s English are The Royal Mile”
- 4Music

Official Website

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Red Riding Quartet and Diamond Studios.

Official Facebook Page

Playing an Acoustic set as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Skint & Demoralised.

Official Website

Runaround Kids had a fantastic 2010; selling out their first record, 'Kiss Chase EP', before releasing 7" 'Falling Into Better Hands / No Dreams' on Philophobia Music, performing a series of outstandingly confident gigs, including winning Futuresound, performing at Leeds & Reading Festivals and Constellations in Leeds. A Wakefield festival wouldn’t be complete without them. Theirs is a sound in debt to the thrill of being young and carefree, hopeful and hopeless.

"A mesmerising display of pop noise majesty. So much more than the sum of their influences, which puts them around either a very punky New Order, a bubblegum Sonic Youth or THREE Graham Coxons. Must see live band."
- Dean Freeman, Rhubarb Bomb

Official Myspace Page

Playing an Acoustic set as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Skint & Demoralised.

Official Myspace Page

After releasing the incredibly well received ‘In Bed With The Bambinos’ and more recently a split 7” (both on Philophobia Music) The Bambinos are finally building on their apparently natural ability to pen odd, yet brilliant Indie Pop. It’s such a generic term now, but The Bambinos genuinely offer something different, and as their recent ‘Tour Of Fools’ showed, people across the country are getting it, in a big way.

Official Myspace Page

Beat Poetry from the streets of the Merrie City itself, Skint & Demoralised (AKA Matt Abbott) is the sound of finding optimism amongst the misery, mixing up Trad Indie and an engaging and honest free flowing story telling style.

Skint & Demoralised are also playing an Acoustic set as part of the Fringe Festival at Fernandes; 19:45 on Sunday 12th June.

“amounts to a blast of aural blast of sunshine that is sure to cheer up all but the most cold-hearted of listeners”
- ClickMusic.Com

Official Soundcloud Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Official Myspace Page

A rapidly rising star of Lo-Fi, mixing 60’s guitar washes and melodies to ‘through the rehearsal studio wall’ echo-laden 80’s Indie production. Like the Beach Boys recording a Tarantino soundtrack, in your cellar. Big hype around this chap, yet it’s pleasing to hear how unhinged and un-eager to please it is, but accessible with it.

"‘Peppermint’ once again showcases young Louis Jones’ incredible ear for sixties style production without ever sinking into predictable pastiche slash plagiarism. Just like the accompanying video that’s flecked in the colour tones of its title, ‘Peppermint’ is incredibly hard not to love."

Official Myspace Page

By far one of the most interesting and ambitious bands to come out of Wakefield in the last 5 years, St Gregory Orange was originally the solo project of former Lapel, Tim Metcalfe and the first album, Things We Said In Bedrooms (and recorded, solo, in a bedroom too) was incredibly well received. Since then the band has expanded its scope and members whilst keeping its downbeat, electronica-tinged melancholia and astounding poetic mumblings intact. One of Neon Filler’s bands to watch out for in 2011.

“Ambient Regret Fuelled Soundscaping Majesty”
- Rhubarb Bomb

Official Myspace Page

Former member of Herman Dune, but now performing under the moniker of Stanley Brinks, we have here a marvellous, hugely talented songwriter. Having worked and performed with many other artists, including The Wave Picture, David Tattersall and Clemence Freschard in a variety of combinations, Stanley himself presents an ultra stripped back, bare bones masterclass in minimalism and beauty. In many ways, the ultimate purveyor of a DIY ethos, he has removed himself from all outside pressures and simply records music as and when he sees fit (often at rates of up to 4 albums a year) from his modest abode in Berlin. Seeing him in Wakefield Cathedral will be a truly magical experience.

“It’s the lyrics where the real meat of the performance lies, they are often very poignant and amusing, lots of laughs filled the room this evening. In fact, tonight felt less like a gig and more like a poetry reading albeit a sung one.”
- Brighton Culture

Official Website

Long Division will be the first EVER gig performed by The Birthday Kiss. Have we gone mad and randomly picked bands out of thin air? Of course not, for this band already has a fine pedigree, featuring the astounding pairing of Ben (The Lodger) and Sarah (The Research). Featuring the bounding, driving optimism of the former and the sweet yearning of the latter, there’s a good chance The Birthday Kiss could be absolutely phenomenal. Be literally the first people to have a chance to decide.

“They sound like a Saint Etienne who have dumped their synths for guitars! Promising stuff...”
- Indie MP3

Official Tumblr Page

Former Dugong legend props us the bar with some rootsy, gutsy balladering and impassioned post hardcore spirited acoustic whimsy.

“come across a little like Dugong covering The Gaslight Anthem”
- Punktastic

Official Myspace Page

The release of ‘For Love Nor Money’ at the start of 2011 solidified The Finnlys place as one of the great Wakefield bands working today. Classic pop of the jangly, guitar driven Indie variety is the order of the day and it has taken the band all over the country as their reputation for grand, engergetic and emotional performances has grown and grown. Not a bad way to kick start your Long Division all dayer...

“Really well crafted Indie grit that's pop friendly”
- Leeds Music Scene

Official Website

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by Philophobia Music.

Official Myspace Page

Fresh from releasing their debut EP on Louder Than Bombs Records, the Wakefield 4 piece have been expanding their explosive, melodic and occasionally melancholy excursions into Classic Indie Rock.

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Myspace Page

With Indie Credentials aplenty (Album released on Cherryade Records, Radio play from Lamacq, Stephens & Riley on the BBC, sets at SXSW, collaborations with Damo Suzuki…) Indiepop 2 piece The Lovely Eggs certainly know their way around an, at times, INSANELY catchy pop melody, displaying a carefree, charmingly ramshackle approach to this whole music lark.

“I reckon Peel would have loved the skewed gobbledegook lyrics mostly sang by a screechy woman-child with her male partner in crime comin' on like a DIY Hazlewood/Calvin Johnson to her possessed Nancy (Spungen)”
- Norman Records

Official Myspace Page

Bizarre, collaboration super project, led by 'chief droid' Duncan Alexander, fusing 'psychedelic electronic hip-hopic offerings' in a cosy lo-fi stylee. As you'd imagine, bringing that kind of vision to the arena of live music (or beer garden, in this case) is a huge challenge and one that sees the band reworking, remixing and 'peeling the skin to release the pure energy at the core' as they go, into something you cant help but move around to. Hope that makes things nice and clear.

Official Website

Wakefield’s finest purveyor of regret fuelled, loved-up, inefectious and cheeky Folk Pop. Joined by whatever group of friends he can gather on the day, Mr Fancy will charm you with his upbeat ponderings on a variety of issues, including Love, Beer and Music - in seemingly limitless combinations. Real good time stuff to start your Long Division with a smile.

“Refresingly Unpretentious, Charismatic Low Key Indie Folk”
- Leeds Music Scene

Official Myspace Page

Many bands bounce into the spotlight only to crawl away due to the law of diminishing returns, The Spills simply get better and better. Their 'Smoke Signals EP' was one of the best records to come out of Wakefield, if not Yorkshire last year and 2011 has already seen them touring the UK, bringing their intelligent, ferocious noise pop to many new converts.

“It's the balance between unashamed pop and aggressive intelligent noise-making that makes The Spills so special now"
- Rhubarb Bomb

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by The Hop.

Official Myspace Page

Woozy, splintered, small town romanticism from a very special band. Led by David Tattersall and his sublime gift for lyrical poetry, off hand imagery and genius moments of twisted logic, the band are simply one of the finest exponents of… well, that’s just it. What are The Wave Pictures all about? Very English, very well observed dissections of the delicate world delivered in a gentle croon that shelters a cutting wit, but an aching heart too. Smart, hard working, hard thinking musicians, The Wave Pictures are something many bands can never hope to be; so much More than the sum of their parts. And on top of that; special. A band that inspires mass devotion not only through their music but their DIY ethic too.

“nervy, hyper-articulate pop, with long intricate lyrics that unspool in perfect sync with jangly, syncopated rhythms”
- Dusted Magazine

Leeds Based Indie Legends. Much loved by John Peel, the band formed in 1985 releasing a string of classic 80’s singles and albums, often funding and distributing the records themselves. Theirs was a whirlwind sound of romance and honesty, often heartbreakingly so, set against a rush of post punk energy and jangly experimentation. Since then the band has pushed itself into new sonic territories, whilst maintaining that incredible knack of tying a surprising and sometimes revolutionary approach to traditional industry games round the core songwriting skills of David Gedge, Singer and Guitarist with the band since 1985. Long Division is incredibly proud to welcome the band to Wakefield for the first time since 1991.

“The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Era. You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!”
- John Peel

Official Website

‘SoundBlab’ said : “Coming on like Yorkshire's answer to Art Brut, with a frontman that looks uncannily like stand-up comedian Stewart Lee” which I like a lot. That’s the kind of band I want to see. But there’s more to The Wind Up Birds than 90’s Comedian comparisons. Signed to the excellent Sturdy Records, the band have become well known for their ferocious, vitriolic live shows, combining swaggering pop punk and art school mischievousness; Cynical, honest, full of spirit and laced with ennui.

“The Wind-Up Birds are a little too obtuse, a little too unusual, a little too caustic for the sensitive palates of today’s journos. Thank god then for the blogosphere who have clutched the band to their ample bosom.”
- Artrocker Magazine

Official Bandcamp Page

Created from the ashes of several incredibly well regarded Wakefield bands, including the much missed The Old House, Tiny Planets mix some thoughtful, off topic lyrical dissections with some hard rockin, spaced out, idiosyncratic guitar playing against a solid and inventive rhythm section. Sporadic but very well received appearances now promise to build into something much more worthy of their talents as new releases sit teasingly on the horizon.

“One of the Best New Bands in Wakefield Today”
- Rob Dee, Philophobia Music

Official Myspace Page

Playing as part of the Fringe Festival, as curated by FreakyBeeLive.

Official Website