east midlands
Lightyear
Lightyear were a hugely popular ska punk band who blended elements of ska, pop, hardcore, punk and occaisionally hip hop who were probably best known for their intense live shows that regulaly saw members of the band (and unfortunately crowd) getting naked. Hailing from Derby and previously split up, they reformed briefly for the summer of 2006 in which they played a whirlwind UK tour which included both the Reading and Leeds carling festivals.
Grace Petrie
Grace Petrie comes from Leicester in the East Midlands, but can often be found further afield, particularly, recently, around the Nether Edge area of Sheffield. She writes indie folk rock songs (a couple with an acoustic punk twist), plays the guitar and sings with a voice that has been described by listeners as similar to Laura Marling, Kate Nash and nothing you’ve ever heard before. From the humble beginnings of small gigs in her hometown in 2006 and a home-recorded debut album, Grace quickly acquired a reputation as one of the best artists on the flourishing Leicester music scene...
