old Live From Leicester Square
Every Friday a top smart band comes in to play exclusively for your listening pleasure. This is where you can hear the lastest session, check out the archive and event win tickets to come along.
That's right, every Friday afternoon between 6pm and 7pm, Rick Shaw plays host to an excellent band. As well as lots of banter with Rick, the band'll be running through a couple of live tracks including one cover. Past guests include Supergrass, The Wombats, The Stereophonics and Hard-Fi to name just a few.
If you want to come along to a session, just fill in your details by clicking here and we'll stick your name in a big cyber hat, from which we'll pick names and those lucky few will be invited along to Friday's session). Good luck.
Last Week
The Futureheads
'Beginnning Of The Twist' [listen]
'Area' [listen]
'Hounds Of Love' [listen]
We seem to be getting it right a lot recently. The Xfm studio was again filled to the brim with fans of the four Mackem lads as they thrashed out crisp live versions of three of their favourite tunes, taking time out from a busy tour schedule. The new single 'Beginning Of The Twist' is out on March 10 on the band's very own Nul Recordings and following that release The Futureheads will be headlining Xfm's Big Night Out, March 20. Get tickets here, you know it makes sense.
Coming Up
Friday March 7 - The Young Knives
Friday March 14 - PJ Harvey (tbc)
Friday March 28 - Foals (tbc)
Friday April 4 - The Kooks
Friday April 11 - The Courteeners (tbc)
The Live From Leicester Square Session Archive
The Charlatans
'Oh! Vanity' [listen]
'Weirdo' [listen]
'Lucifer Sam' [listen]
Playing in an Xfm studio so full Rick could barely operate the desk, let alone see the band, The Charlatans, dropped some fine live versions of new tracks as well as a cover of a true Pink Floyd classic. And what with an X-clusive download of new single 'Oh! Vanity' available on our website, it's a true Charlatans/Xfm love-in. Don't miss out. Download 'Oh! Vanity' here for free!
Fightstar
'Floods' [listen]'99' [listen]
'In Between Days' (The Cure cover) [listen]
Fightstar found themselves rockin out in a packed Xfm studio, playing tracks from their album as well as a Cure cover. Apparently one of them used to be in Busted, but that might just be a vicious rumour.
'House Of Cards' ['Today' (Smashing Pumpkins Cover) [listen]
Madina Lake dropped by Xfm to play an acoustic set of live tracks including a haunting version of the Smashing Pumpkins classic.
Biffy Clyro
'Who's Got a Match?' [listen]
'Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies' [listen]
Scotland's finest, Biffy Clyro, showed up at X towers to play to a studio rammed full of onlookers. Did they disappoint? 'Course not.
'Who's Got a Match?' [listen] 'Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies' [listen]
Scotland's finest, Biffy Clyro, showed up at X towers to play to a studio rammed full of onlookers. Did they disappoint? 'Course not.
'Just For Tonight' [Hot Chip
'Ready For The Floor' [South London's finest electro pioneers return with a superb live session that features their new single, a bonafide electro classic and a truly brilliant Snoop Dogg cover.
Supergrass
'Diamond Hoo Ha Man' [Under their current guise of the 'Diamond Hoo Ha Men', Gaz and Danny tore up the Xfm studio with a blistering live set, including a genius version of a Michael Jackson classic.
Little Man Tate
'Boy In The Anorak' [Those cheeky Sheffield lads return with a fantastic live session of banging tunes and an excellent Human League cover.Those cheeky Sheffield lads return with a fantastic live session of banging tunes and an excellent Human League cover..
Funeral For A Friend
'Into Oblivion' [One of the U.K's biggest rock bands crank it up to eleven in this blistering live session which includes a brilliant cover of The White Stripes.
The Enemy
'We'll Live And Die These Towns' [One of this years best new bands return to Xfm with a superb acoustic session of their biggest tracks and a brilliant Pulp cover.
The Go! Team
'The Wrath Of Marcie' [The all-bouncing all-dancing colourful outfit bestowed us with this brilliant live session in front of an Xfm studio bursting at the seams with energy.
Keane
'The Night Sky' [The hugely popular trio battled their way through a manic tour schedule and band illness to produce a brilliant live session in front of an Xfm studio bursting at the seams with fans.
Nine Black Alps
'Bitter End' [The Manchester grungers produced a blistering live session of tracks from new album 'Love/Hate' and a very special Beck cover.
The Wombats
'Let's Dance To Joy Division' [listen] 'Kill The Director' [listen] '(Everything I Do) I Do For You' [listen]The Liverpool trio seduced a packed Xfm studio with their banging anthems and a startlingly good cover of a Bryan Adams classic.
Stereophonics
'Dakota' [Kelly Jones and the boys return with a special acoustic session that drew tracks from across their extensive back catalogue including a very special cover of one of The Beatles best tunes.
Kula Shaker
'Out On The Highway' [The reformed British faves return with a new tune and a couple of old classics in this brand new live session. A packed studio partied and rocked out like it was 1996 all over again.
The Gossip
'Jealous Girls' [Just before they head back into the studio to record the follow up to their break-through album 'Standing In The Way Of Control', The Gossip played a truly jaw dropping live session in front a jam packed studio and Beth Ditto proudly displayed THAT voice which has made them one of the most revered live acts around.
Jack Penate
'Second, Minute Or Hour' [Following in the footsteps of Kate Nash and Jamie T, Jack Penate looks all set to be one of the countries biggest new solo stars by the years end. His skiffle flavoured and hugely infectious singles have turned him into one of the most popular artists on Xfm and he treated a packed studio to a couple of favourites plus a sublime cover of the Beats International classic.
Athlete
'Hurricane' [The South London band return with their third album ‘Beyond The Neighbourhood’, hoping to follow in the successful footsteps of their 2005 Number 1 album 'Tourist'. The record was produced and recorded by the band at their own studio in South East London.
The Rumble Strips
'Girls And Boys In Love' [The London boys displayed why are one of the most exciting new acts around in this blistering sax-fuelled live session which includes an amazing version of a Thin Lizzy classic.
Hard-Fi
'Suburban Knights' [The Staines boys played a couple of tracks from their brand new album 'Once Upon A Time In The West' to a packed Xfm studio and an old favourite from their massive selling debut 'Stars Of CCTV.'
Super Furry Animals
Wales' finest band return after a two year abscence with their eighth studio album 'Hey Venus!' which is due for release very soon. Dropping by the Xfm studio they played a special stripped down set armed with just a couple of guitars and a troublesome keyboard/drum machine.
Kate Nash
'Foundations' [Having got her first play from John Kennedy on X-Posure only a few months ago, Kate Nash has had a meteoric rise to stardom and looks set to be one of this years biggest new acts. Listen to her play two singles from her debut album 'Made Of Bricks' and a cover of The Cribs.
The Coral
'Who's Gonna Find Me' [With their long awaited new album 'Roots & Echoes' due for release very soon the Liverpool six-piece swung by the Xfm studio to play their new single, an old classic and a sublime cover of a Harry Nilsson classic.
The Thrills
'Nothing Changes Round Here' [Dublin's finest return after a two year abscence with a session of tracks from new album 'Teenager' plus an old favourite.
Air Traffic
'Get In Line' [With their debut album 'Fractured Life' having just been released, one of the countries hottest new bands returned to Xfm with another blistering live session of tracks drawn from it.
Manic Street Preachers
'Autumn Song' [With Nicky Wire absent due to his wife giving birth it was up to James and Shaun to play a couple of blinders from new album 'Send Away The Tigers' and one stone cold classic to a packed Xfm studio.
Biffy Clyro
'Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies' [The massively underrated Scottish trio finally look set for mainstream success with their brilliant new album 'Puzzle' which crashed its way into the top of the charts following the two hugely popular singles that they treat a packed studio to in this exclusive session.
The Hours
'Narcissus Road' [The hugely talented Antony Genn and Martin Slattery stopped by the Xfm studios to produce an electric live session of tracks drawn from their sublime debut 'Narcissus Road'.
For more of Live From Leicester Square Sessions click continue below.
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schedule
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now: 10:00PM - 2:00AM
John Kennedy plays the newest music first. Email john@xfm.co.uk or text 83936 (standard network).
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next: 2:00AM - 6:30AM
Rich Walters on XFM. E-mail rich@xfm.co.uk or text 83936 (standard charges apply)