Riverside festival 2017

Barges on the Soar at Riverside festival 2017.

3rd June

Riverside Festival 2017

Celebrating its twentieth year, Leicester’s Riverside festival took place over the weekend, 3rd and 4th June. As in previous years, a main stage and an acoustic stage provided people with a variety of music. Large crowds of people took advantage of the fine weather and filled Bede Park, Western Boulevard and the sides of the River Soar. Both music stages presented local bands and artists showcasing Leicester’s musical talent to the general public.

Main stage

The music on the main stage started the programme on Saturday with performances by the De Montfort University music collective. A variety of bands and artists performed during a one and half hour slot.

DMU Music Collective band at Riverside festival 2017.

The stage shows were compèred by Alex T Smith, one-time lead singer of Leicester band de Sade.

DMU Music Collective band at Riverside festival 2017.

Singer Joe Doyle (a.k.a. Homeless Shakespeare) delivered an entertaining set.

Joe Doyle aka Homeless Shakespeare at Riverside festival 2017.

A rousing solo performance was given by Tom Iliffe the lead singer of the Jav’lins band.

Tom Iliffe at Riverside festival 2017.

Today’s main stage headline band was Goldwater. Musicians in this band have been seen before in the Dirty Backbeats, Ego Armalade, Moonlights and the Platforms.

Goldwater at Riverside festival 2017.

This was a set that drew large numbers of people, eager to see a band that does not appear very often in their home town.

Goldwater at Riverside festival 2017.

Acoustic stage

On Saturday acts appearing on the acoustic stage were introduced by Kevin Hewick.

The first act to perform was Fiona and Frank.

Fiona and Frank at Riverside festival 2017.

James Cull sang some of his own songs and some covers in a performance that was well received and appreciated by the growing audience.

James Cull at Riverside festival 2017.

By one o’clock Bede Park was already thronged with people. The annual event has over the years attracted people in very large numbers. Many previous years have been blessed with fine weather and this has resulted in the free festival being a magnate for families and groups of friends.

One of Leicester’s most widely renown artists, Kevin Hewick performed a set of his own songs.

Kevin Hewick at Riverside festival 2017.

It was to see Michael Vickers again. An artist with a long track record in Leicester’s music scene, Michael has appeared on the stages of many previous Riverside events.

Michael Vickers at Riverside festival 2017.

The Riverside festival programme continued on Sunday with David Wyatt band headlining the main stage.

Looking back over previous reports on the Leicester Riverside festival, here are some selected pictures to jog your memory:

Resin at the riverside festival. 2012. Photo: the late Harjinder Ohbi.

 

Preacher and the Bear at the Riverside Festival 2012.

 

Prash Gor at the Riverside festival in 2012.
Mike Kerslake at the Riverside Festival in 2012.

 

Midnight Wire at the Riverside Festival in 2012.

 

Michael Vickers at the Riverside festival in 2012.
Charlie Jones at the Riverside Festival in 2012.

 

Joel Hanson of The Strangler Figs at Riverside festival 2015
Photo: RhinoFeroSs photography

 

kyle jarvis riverside festival
KY performing with a choir at the Riverside festival in 2013

 

siobhan mazzie
Siobhan Mazzei at the Riverside Festival in 2014

 

rhett barrow
Singer Rhett Barrow at the Riverside festival in 2013
preacher and the bear band
Preacher & The Bar at the Riverside Festival 2012

See also:

Our report on the Glastonbudget festival

Our report on the Hand Made festival

Read our round-up of Leicester’s live music in May

About The Editor 536 Articles
The Editor of Music in Leicester magazine is Kevin Gaughan assisted by Trevor Locke