Kirkstall band welcome people to ‘God’s own county’

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music from the attic kirkstall festival
Music From The Attic at Kirkstall Festival 2019

Words: Lucy Meredith

Kirkstall band Music from the Attic have written and recorded their own original song called ‘See What I Can See’, inspired by all things Yorkshire, from its beautiful landscape to its reputation for being a friendly and welcoming place to live.

The single goes on sale today on a pay-as-you-feel basis, with the group donating the profits to Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network, to help welcome people to Yorkshire.

The group, who are based at Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club, have been playing together since 2016.

The band brings together guitarists, ukulele players, violinists and percussion players, of all abilities. The group was started to encourage lapsed musicians to pick up and dust off their instruments and play together.

They have now played many festivals and events including Music:Leeds’ ‘Live in the Square’ on the main stage in Millennium Square, as well as Grassington and Kirkstall festivals

Music from the Attic are led by professional musician Rich Huxley, guitarist and singer with Leeds band ‘Hope and Social’, the group got together weekly at the cricket club until the coronavirus pandemic intervened.

They have continued to meet and play via Zoom, but have also used lockdown to record their collectively written song ‘See what I can see’. Band members recorded individual tracks, on instruments and vocals, in their own bathrooms, bedrooms and dining rooms, on whatever equipment they had available, so that Rich could mix his magic to bring it all together. Many members then made videos of themselves playing, sometimes at iconic Yorkshire venues, which were put together as one video.

The song has also been shortlisted for the LNER & Welcome to Yorkshire’s ‘Song for Yorkshire’ competition, but they will have to wait until next year to find out whether they have won.

Rich Huxley said:

“Being apart for so long this year has proven a challenge for so many, so I’m proud as punch with how this bunch of Leeds lovelies have stuck together in our weekly online sessions and come together to make and record a song and video about openness and community.

“I’ve settled here though I’m from Liverpool, and we have born and bred Leeds members, people from all over Yorkshire and beyond. We’ve even got people from continental Europe who’ve made Yorkshire their home. Like the group itself, the song is a welcome to all, wherever they may come from”

Download ‘See what I can see’: musicfromattic.bandcamp.com/album/see-what-i-can-see.

Music from the Attic are making See What You Can see available on a Pay as You Feel basis (including free), with all proceeds going to Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network.

Music from the Attic have been supported by Leeds City Council’s wellbeing fund.

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