Weekend in Leicester Saturday 18th June 2011

Saturday 18th

On this page : Zombie Attack | Skateboard launch | Music in the Town Hall Square | Young bands at the Shed | Karl Phillips and the Midnight Ramblers

Next page: Sunday 19th June.

Zombies attack Council Offices

Artsin looks at the first zombie flash mob to hit Leicester

Zombies gathered at the clock tower at noon to prepare themselves for an attack on the city council's offices.

The gore was going on by the bucket load.

Make-up artists were on hand to apply the face paints.

The lead make-up artist, Zombie Ed, clearly knew what he was doing. The cost of the event was sponsored by games company MiniClip. Things like this don't just happen! The huge news coverage that this event attracted will have publicity hungry brand managers rubbing their hands with glee and running for their marketing budgets.

Film crews interview the organiser. This was the first time a flash mob had been organised in Leicester.

A team of make-up artists added realistic details to the participants.

The organiser explains what he wants the crowd to do. This included where to go, how to walk and how to groan properly. The event had been organiser through Facebook.

The Zombies are ready to set off down Gallowtree gate to surprise weekend shoppers, most of whom couldn't understand what was happening.

There were so many film crews and photographers around, a lot of shoppers thought they were making a film.

Some of the make-up was quite realistic. Unless you're a devotee of zombie films. The whole thing looked more like a planning exercise for a major civil disaster.

The crowd of zombies shuffled off down Gallowtree Gate. The sun was shining and everyone was having fun and looking really happy. Not what you expect of zombies but hey this event didn't take itself that seriously.

Heading for the New Walk Centre, the crowd shuffled through the Town Hall Square, almost colliding with a wedding party and the Red Cross day. Red Cross Organisers knew they were coming because and so didn't rush out with the bandages.

Some zombies got into role but for a lot of them it was just a fun day out.

This statue artist was having a nice peaceful time until she got attacked by a crowd of zombies. She looked genuinely surprised when she opened her eyes to see a group of blood-caked nasties clawing at her.

See our video of the Zombie flash mob.

From Zombies to Skateboarders

Artsin hung out with the urban crowd as Edition Skateboardslaunched itself at the SoundHouse.

New Leicester business Edition Skateboards launched itself today at the SoundHouse with an arts exhibition, a BBQ, display of street wear, graffiti artists and a line up of exciting bands and DJs.

The walls of the pub were hung with art works made by local people, many of them including disused parts from Skateboards.

Some of the artwork on show employed some cool ideas for combing brushwork with projecting pieces.

Old boards featured as a way of adding 3D depth to the art works.

This piece follows the style of spray painting but on a smaller scale canvass.

There were plenty of vibrant and fun pieces to see.

This amazing Baboon had a skateboard for a tongue.

Outside in the patio area, two Graffiti artists were creating new paintings with their spray cans. Here Dave from Loughborough is marking out his picture of a guitarist.

Next on the wall, a piece with a band theme begins to take shape.

Dave begins to fill in his outlines with colour.

The colour fills start to be sprayed on to the layout lines.

Spay cans lined up ready for use.

Here's the finished piece. A work of art, we say.

A great new addition to the SoundHouse patio and a good days' work.

The night brings music to our ears

Leicester punkers More Amour on stage to get the evening's live show underway. An energy laden set of pounding punk numbers.

Headliners Karl Phillips and the Midnight Ramblers notched up an amazing set and got the crowd dancing to their wildly good set of songs.

One of the best bands seen at the SoundHouse recently, Wellingborough based Karl Phillips put on a storming performance.

Bassist David Pape added to the stage presence of a band that were as good to see as to listen to. The band's infectious cocktail of hip-hop, rap, dub-step and ska went down a treat with the crowd and they were just the job for a day devoted to Skateboard culture.

Find out more about Karl Phillips & The Midnight Ramblers.

Karl Phillips is signed to Medical Records.

The bands over, it was the turn of the DJs to take over the room

Here's Jon 1st, juggling the decks. He's an award winning DJ, we are told, and filled the room with some really cool sounds. Hosted by J-Man, other deck devotees included Tanda Beats, Aeroplane Dope, Ben Jammin, Murky Boy, Diablo Books, Braidee, Jonny Mac, Brooks, and King Richard the 8th.

Find out more about Edition Skateboards.

Artwork on a roller shutter door near to the SoundHouse in Southampton Street.

Music in the Town Hall Square

A celebration of the city's diversity was staged by The Red Cross in the Town Hall Square today. Music featured highly on the day's agenda.

While the sun was shining the Red Leicester Choir got in a few sets of their a-cappela songs on the grass by the Fountains of the Town Hall Square.

The day was held to draw attention to the international work of the Red Cross, particularly with refugees. Displays showed the public just what a wide range of work is undertaken by the Red Cross.

A troupe of dancers perfomed some traditional indian dances.

This band with members from Congo performed a set of drumming tunes, despite a downpour of rain that sent onlookers for cover under the trees.

Despite the occasional showers, artists and organiser were in good cheer and many shoppers and passers-by stopped to enjoy the music that was on offer.

Local singer Gemma Laken, who works for the Red Cross, told us "It's been a fabulous day where we have celebrated the diversity of our city".

Headbangers gather for a mosh in the Shed

Leicester is famous for its young bands. With new ones cropping up all the time, they are all eager for a chance to play at public gig.

New Leicester band One Less Finger got the kids moshing in front of the stage at The Shed Live Music Venue this afternoon. They blasted out a rip-roaring set of head banging songs with their lead vocalist, Bam Milkshke, doing some impressive post-hardcore screaming.

Also on the lineup were another new band, These Roads Arn't Safe, who we have seen before when they played at the SoundHouse.

Both bands are on Facebook One Less Finger | These Roads Arn't Safe.

Next page: Sunday 19th June.