The Leisure Society was founded by Nick Hemming, who grew up in Burton-on-Trent. As a teenager he formed the indie band She Talks To Angels with his art college friend, director Shane Meadows plus the actor Paddy Considine.

Following the band’s split, Nick was scooped up by local indie hopes The Telescopes, who were signed to Creation Records. Shane Meadows remained a supporter, hiring Nick to score 1999’s A Room For Romeo Brass and 2004’s Dead Man’s Shoes, but Nick was losing his confidence.

Everything changed with the arrival of fellow Burton-on-Trent exile Christian Hardy, who worked with Nick to develop and record new songs and encouraged him to venture out on stage.

The Leisure Society was born and developed rapidly, with an initial landmark being the single ‘The Last Of The Melting Snow’, which was championed by Dermot O’Leary on Radio 2, and Radcliffe and Maconie, and Guy Garvey on 6Music.

The band have been vaunted for their songwriting and production craft, winning two Ivor-Novello nominations and Rough Trade Albums of the Year. They’ve collaborated and toured with artists including Ray Davies, Brian Eno, Laura Marling, Neil Hannon, Richard Thompson, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott.

Roseanne Reid

You might also like...

SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST