Following the success of Live@Leeds, southern near-neighbour Wakefield has managed to create and establish its own boutique citywide all-day festival of its own. Formed in 2011, the 11th hosting of Long Division sees the music and arts festival restored back to its early June slot after two years of covid enforced upheaval.
With shoulder events on Friday evening (Poet Laureate Simon Armitage in conversation) as well as Sunday’s free music festival at Vortex, the main paid-for event is still on Saturday. With as many as 70 different acts across nine venues only a stone’s throw from each other, there’s something for everyone. We’re talking less than a ten-minute walk between each place, capacities ranging from a few dozen (Jolly Boys) to a few hundred (Venue 23).
De facto headliners Sea Power were formerly known as British Sea Power, dropping the first word in the wake of the unfortunate rise in homegrown nationalism they didn’t wish to be confused with. Anyway, the name change seems to have invigorated the sextet, their fine new record Everything Was Forever their highest charting long-player. Like Sea Power, mackem (sic) indie proggers Field Music will be another big draw at Long Division’s largest hangout so expect plenty of bodies present late on.
For those seeking fun and surprises in the Festival’s darker corners, Vortex may be the place to head for. Quasi-local alt-folk exponents Mi Mye, and the ethereal indietronica of Leeds based Bored At My Grandma’s House will both be appearing. The latter sounds way better than their band name might suggest, perpetually breathless vocals from Amber Strawbridge vying with swirly guitars, a bit of a Cocteau vibe in fact.
If you like to watch your bands with your feet luxuriating in pile carpets instead of sticky floors, the mid-sized Kingswood Suite at Wakefield Town Hall is sure to provide a bit of refinement. Fans of Public Service Broadcasting will no doubt be making a beeline there to see Haiku Salut who guested on the splendid PSB album Every Valley. The all-girl Derbyshire trio will be expertly complementing the interior grandeur, sharing their strangely alluding experimental alt-rock to an unsuspecting audience ahead of Mancunian trio W.H.Lung, on many a “ones to watch” list, rounding things off here.
With all but one venue wheelchair accessible, as well as plenty of places allowing younger festival-goers, Long Division is continuing to open its doors to as many as possible and long may that continue. Should prove to be a cracking Wakey weekender.
Words by Michael Price
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.