THE SMALL VENUE WITH A BIG REPUTATION!!
Now in its fifth year as a live music venue, THE DONKEY has now established itself as THE best small venue in the area! This 200 capacity venue has played host to quality acts such as -
FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS, ALABAMA 3, SETH LAKEMAN, NEW BEAUTIFUL SOUTH, MICHELLE SHOCKED, THE SLACKERS, DAVID FORD, PETE MOLINARI, JOHN POWER, MILES HUNT, MARTIN STEPHENSON, THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET, WRECKLESS ERIC, EARL JACKSON, THE HIGH LLAMAS, LOS PISTOLEROS, DAWN KINNARD, VIJAY KISHORE, DR. ROBERT, RHODA DAKAR, RODDY RADIATION, CHARLIE CHUCK, TOMMY WOMACK, NEW COOL COLLECTIVE, EL PUSSYCATS, KINGSIZE, KINGSTON TOWN, EL MAHICO, DAVID WYATT, THE KIRKLAND TURN, OUT OF KARMA, M48, DRUGSTORE COWBOYS, UNCLE FRANK, FATAL STAR….
building a reputation as a venue with a great atmosphere and sound.
Gaffa WARREN’s love for music has made sure he has surrounded himself with like minded people to help bring quality Live Music to this Victorian, out of town establishment.
We also boast a large beer garden and car park, free WiFi and serve fresh ground coffe and an excellent cheese board all day.
ONLY AT THE DONKEY!
NEWS……
EL PUSSYCAT SKA + Madagaska - Sept 10th - £7adv/£9 door
DEAP PEOPLE - Sept 11th - £5
RAGHU DIXIT + OUT OF KARMA 3 - Sept 16th - £5adv/£7door - check him out
Tickets for this event also available online here
SANDI THOM - Sept 18th - £10/adv - check her out
TOPLOADER - Sept 24th - £16adv/£18door - check em out
THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS - September 25th 2010 - £10 adv check em out
Tickets on sale now from The Donkey and Rock a Boom Records, St Martins Square, Leicester
AUGUST -
Tue
24
12:00
Titanic Jazz
FREE
Trad Jazz and Jazz standards every Tuesday lunchtime with the 8 piece TITANIC JAZZ band. Home made hot lunches served!
Wed
25
20:00
Midweek Mule - Open mic with Guest host
FREE
Our weekly open mic nights, THE MIDWEEK MULE will be hosted by special guests during Mr PLOW’s trek around the USA for the next couple of weeks. Bring a tune and an instrument and show the world what you can do.
Thu
26
12:00
Credit Crunchers
FREE
Jazz, Blues, Country, Comedy every Thursday lunch from the CREDIT CRUNCHERS. What else would you be doing?
Thu
26
20:30
King Cobra Club presents…DIRTY ROBBERS
£5
THE DIRTY ROBBERS play Killer 60’s Garage Beat Sounds and Classic 50’s Rhythm & Blues. The band is made up of musicians who already have inside knowledge of the blues scene! The Singer/Guitarist Oliver Darling served his apprentaship in two of Englands top Blues Bands - The Mike Sanchez Band and The Cadillac Kings. Expect a night of Energetic Rhythm & Blues played by some of the best musicians in this genre.
Blues harpist extraordinaire, ROLLO MARKEE hosts this once a month Blues ‘n’ Rhythm night where he picks the best of the countries acts in that field. Top quality performers guaranteed!
Fri
27
TBC
Sat
28
TBC
Sun
29
16:00
Frankies Wonky Donkey Band
FREE
What started as a last minute addition to a Sunday afternoon in which the charismatic Frankie Collins was introduced to The Donkey crowd, has turned into a super group of Leicester musicians! Frankie leads a pot pourri of musicians and styles in what is always a stunning afternoons live music as it is meant to be. Alive and unpredictable! Who knows who’ll turn up and play!!
Sun
29
19:30
The In Crowd with DJOOK
FREE
DJOOK spinning the 7” vinyl Soul and Ska from the 60’s. Classic and obscure tracks from this great period. Dancing is encouraged.
Mon
6
17:00
Nowt Flash
Free
As its a Bank Holiday Monday we thought we’d introduce a new weekly night for you.
NOWT FLASH is a night of free live music featuring our house band, THE MOONLIGHT SINATRAS - which includes David Wyatt, Carl Dawson and Lee Spreadbury - providing frivloity and music with weekly guest musicians stepping up to the mic with them.
As its a bank Holiday we thought we’d start proceedings off at 5pm to give you time to have dinner and then have a drink, go home early and get up for work all refreshed!
The band will be playing all manner of covers and guest musician for the night will be our very own, ROLLO MARKEE. So you know its gonna be good! Come and check it out then make a note to pop down every Monday night after that.
Tue
31
12:00
Titanic Jazz
FREE
Trad Jazz and Jazz standards every Tuesday lunchtime with the 8 piece TITANIC JAZZ band. Home made hot lunches served!
SEPTEMBER
Wed
1
20:00
Midweek Mule - Open mic with Mr PLOW
FREE
Our weekly open mic nights, THE MIDWEEK MULE hosted by the very fine MR PLOW. Prizes for best act deemed worthy of Mr PLOW himself. New and established acts more than welcome. Bring a song and a positive attitude. And the world is your oyster!!
Thu
2
12:00
Credit Crunchers
FREE
Jazz, Blues, Country, Comedy every Thursday lunch from the CREDIT CRUNCHERS. What else would you be doing?
Thu
2
20:30
SONG CLUB featuring Ashdowne, Chris Conway, James Lewis Band, Phil Riley
The ever popular SONG CLUB is on tonight featuring 4 diverse and local original acts. Song Club reulars Ashdowne (www.myspace.com/ashdowne) return with their powerful rindy rock anthems. Then we have Leicesters most prolific singer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist, Chris Conway (www.myspace.com/chrisconwaymusics). Now on his 50 something album release of all original and diverse styles, Chris is a jewel in Leicester musics crown. Phil Riley has been on the Leicester scene for a while and will be airing his great pop/folk/country songs tonight. The James Lewis Band (www.myspace.com/thejameslewisband) are a hot young Leicester band who won the Original Band Showcase competition this year. Classy pop songs with a vital energy. Get there for 8.30 so as not to miss any of them.
Fri
3
20:30
Mr Plow’s Harvest Festival
FREE
Cracktown (folk blues), The Soar Valley Wayfarers (skiffle) and The 44s (country blues) all play. Admission free/donation.
Sat
4
Sun
5
16:00
The Bigger Men
FREE
This is the covers band of former Blaby band, The Displacements (now morfed into Little Night Terrors) so we know the quality and commitment will be top notch. Expect toons by The Jam, Beatles, Stones plus the whole array of great british and American pop rock trcks throught eh ages! Promises to be a packed afternoon!
Sun
5
19:45
Citizens of Swing & Guests
FREE
Our first Sunday of the month sojourn into the world of Jazz. First class jazz musicians jamming together for a wonderful chilled out candlelit evening.
Mon
6
20:30
Nowt Flash
Free
A new weekly night of free live music featuring house band, MOONLIGHT SINATRAS - David Wyatt, Carl Dawson and Lee Spreadbury - providing frivloity and live music with weekly guest musicians stepping up to the mic with them.
Tue
7
12:00
Titanic Jazz
FREE
Trad Jazz and Jazz standards every Tuesday lunchtime with the 8 piece TITANIC JAZZ band. Home made hot lunches served!
Wed
8
20:00
Midweek Mule - Open mic with Mr PLOW
FREE
Our weekly open mic nights, THE MIDWEEK MULE hosted by the very fine MR PLOW. Prizes for best act deemed worthy of Mr PLOW himself. New and established acts more than welcome. Bring a song and a positive attitude. And the world is your oyster!!
Thu
9
12:00
Credit Crunchers
FREE
Jazz, Blues, Country, Comedy every Thursday lunch from the CREDIT CRUNCHERS. What else would you be doing?
Thu
9
20:00
Dr. Mike Branney Trio featuring Richard Baker
FREE
The second Thursday of the month Jazz night featuring house band, DR. MIKE BRANNY TRIO with featured artists each month. This month features Richard Baker on trombone.
Fri
10
20:30
EL Pussycat Ska + Madagaska
£7adv/£9door
A night of top quality Ska and Reggae from Leicester’s premier Ska band, EL Pussycat. These top players know how to get a night going. All the classics plus a few more. Support comes from young ska upstarts Magagaska. Youthful zest and exhuberance make for a perfect partnership. A great skanking night will be had by all. get there early. this’ll sell out!
Sat
11
20:30
Deap People + guests
£5
The return of the cool rockers that are Deap people. Fronted by Happy Mondays man Mikey Shine these guys play the funkiest, rockiest, original toons in town. Rock stars in the making. This’ll be a hot sweaty night. Plus guests of the bands choice.
Sun
12
16:00
Kingston Town
FREE
A rare free gig offered by UB40 tribute act KINGSTON TOWN. Nick Murphy and the boys reminding us of those hazy summer daze with the vast catalogue of Brummie boys, UB40’s greatest hits. WARNING!! People will be dancing thoughout the venue to these boy. Stick in the muds stay at home
Sun
12
19:30
KGB Jazz
FREE
With a line-up of tenor sax, bass guitar, lead guitar and drums, KGB offer you a fine mix of jazz standards, swing and Latin. Just relax with a drink and conversation, or get up and dance.
Mon
13
20:30
Nowt Flash
Free
A new weekly night of free live music featuring house band, MOONLIGHT SINATRAS - David Wyatt, Carl Dawson and Lee Spreadbury - providing frivloity and live music with weekly guest musicians stepping up to the mic with them.
Tue
14
12:00
Titanic Jazz
FREE
Trad Jazz and Jazz standards every Tuesday lunchtime with the 8 piece TITANIC JAZZ band. Home made hot lunches served!
Tue
14
20:00
Remember Vinyl
FREE
Another evening of the celebration of Black Vinyl through the ages with your host DJOOK!
Wed
15
20:00
Midweek Mule - Open mic with Mr PLOW
FREE
Our weekly open mic nights, THE MIDWEEK MULE hosted by the very fine MR PLOW. Prizes for best act deemed worthy of Mr PLOW himself. New and established acts more than welcome. Bring a song and a positive attitude. And the world is your oyster!!
Thu
16
12:00
Credit Crunchers
FREE
Jazz, Blues, Country, Comedy every Thursday lunch from the CREDIT CRUNCHERS. What else would you be doing?
Thu
16
20:30
Raghu Dixit + Out Of Karma (acoustic)
£5adv/£7door
I’ve been looking forward to putting on this gig for the last 6 months. I hope you can come and support this fantastic music by this excellent band. Raghu Dixit has fast become a shining beacon in the burgeoning Indian independent music scene. Last year, Raghu’s debut self-titled album went on to become India’s highest selling non-film music release. Having re-located to the UK for most of this summer, he has quickly won hearts and minds wherever he has played. His debut album will be released in the UK on September 13th by Wrasse Records. Raghu also recently signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony ATV.
With a towering voice fronting traditional Indian folk music, which is subtly infused with elements of Western Rock, Arabic, Latino and Reggae textures and rhythms, Raghu’s music transcends national borders and whatever language he sings in he always gets audiences singing and dancing with joy.
Raghu has always said that it is his country, the Indian people, the colours, fragrances, food and languages that have helped to influence and shape his music. This influence can be seen on stage with the band adorning colourful Lungis (sarongs), anklets and beads. With over 400 shows under their belt, the band has become an explosive live act bringing an entirely new genre to the forefront of the Indian music community. He is now taking that music on to the world stage……..Support for the night comes from Leicesters finest soul/reggae band OUT OF KARMA (acoustic)
Fri
17
20:30
Dead Rock Stars
£5
Where there’s a stiff, theres a riff! A cracking night of covers from Dead Rock Stars. Literally! A unique twist on reasons for covering a song. Dan Britton, fanny et al turn the amps up to 11 and give us a great rocking night out at The Donkey!
Sat
18
20:30
Sandi Thom + David Wyatt
£10
www.myspace.com/sandithom - ”As striking a musical reinvention as you’re likely to witness this year.” - Barry Nicholson, News Of The World
The real Sandi Thom has stepped forward, and surely no one has ever been quite so happy to get the blues.
On June 7, a new Sandi emerged with ‘Merchants and Thieves,’ an album that brilliantly reflects how she’s opened up a whole new channel for her creativity. Retaining her innate feeling for a powerful melody and a trenchant lyric, the record adds the new blues sensibility that visitors to her famously powerful gigs have sensed for themselves in recent months.
Thom was encouraged to bring her long-held love of such heritage music to the fore, and her respect for such guitar giants as Peter Green, as fate called for her to sit in as vocalist with Joe Bonamassa, when the modern-day blues titan lost his voice. There’s no better endorsement than his presence on the album as both singer and guitarist on the album’s lead track, ‘This Ol’ World.’ Sandi calls it a “watershed moment,” and it’s as lithe and lively a piece of contemporary blues as you’ll hear all year.
“When I did Joe’s dates, the reaction at first was like ‘What?’,” she remembers. “Then we got on stage and the reaction was brilliant. Now, the way that music’s turning, it’s so much about the touring, so I’m really excited about the world I’m entering. The cool thing I’ve found from entering this new world of the blues is that they’re the most dedicated fans I’ve ever come across, because they’re true music fans.”
The million-selling platinum-selling Scottish troubadour has long since proved the sheer power of her songwriting, with her album and single chart-topping adventures. Now, four years after her debut album ‘Smile…It Confuses People’ and the massive hit single ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker’ both raced to the top of the UK charts on the way to combined sales of about 1.5 million worldwide, Sandi’s back with a fresh sound that reflects her real self, and she couldn’t be happier about it.
Single: This Ol’ World, feat: Joe Bonamassa is out April 18th on Thomcat Records Album: Merchants and Thieves is out June 7th on Thomcat Records.
Support comes from Leicester’s finest troubadour, DAVID WYATT. Songs to make you laugh cry or sigh! The ultimate performer you never know what David will come out with next. A cracking night will be had by all!
Sun
19
16:00
Drugstore Cowboys
FREE
Leicester’s finest purveyors of all things Rock and ‘a’ Billy!! Nick Whitfield and the Cowboys cook up a storm everywhere they play. Their Leicester shows are becoming few and far between these days so make the most of this free show from them!
Sun
19
20:00
Cool Jazz and Bossa Nova with Richard Everitt
FREE
Our regular third Sunday of the month Jazz/Bossa Nova sessions with the Richard Everitt band. Cool as cucumbers!
Mon
20
20:30
Nowt Flash
Free
A new weekly night of free live music featuring house band, MOONLIGHT SINATRAS - David Wyatt, Carl Dawson and Lee Spreadbury - providing frivloity and live music with weekly guest musicians stepping up to the mic with them.
Tue
21
12:00
Titanic Jazz
FREE
Trad Jazz and Jazz standards every Tuesday lunchtime with the 8 piece TITANIC JAZZ band. Home made hot lunches served!
Wed
22
20:00
Midweek Mule - Open mic with Mr PLOW
FREE
Our weekly open mic nights, THE MIDWEEK MULE hosted by the very fine MR PLOW. Prizes for best act deemed worthy of Mr PLOW himself. New and established acts more than welcome. Bring a song and a positive attitude. And the world is your oyster!!
Thu
23
12:00
Credit Crunchers
FREE
Jazz, Blues, Country, Comedy every Thursday lunch from the CREDIT CRUNCHERS. What else would you be doing?
Fri
24
20:30
Toploader + support
£16/£18
It’s official - Toploader have decided to reform and settle some unfinished business! After a five year sabbatical, the band are now ready to take their own mix of heady, feel-good rock back where it belongs, on the road. The guys have been thrilled at the idea of playing together again and have just been in rehearsals for the first time in nearly half a decade with some explosive results!………Toploader signed a six album deal with Sony Records in 1998 and went around recording their debut album, Onka’s Big Moka, at Rockfield Studio’s in South Wales with Manic Street Preachers producer Dave Eringa. After its release in 1999 Toploader went on to become a popular act in British music selling over two million albums with a string of top 20 chart hits home and abroad. They started their live career playing with the likes of Coldplay and Muse in small venues across the UK and later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Wiliams and Bon Jovi (where they became the last British band to play the original Wembley Stadium.) The band split up in 2003 shortly after the release of their second album “Magic Hotel………The band are looking forward to seeing you at the festivals this summer, breaking out some of the old favourites and introducing some new classics, with an EP release of new material to coincide with these. There will be a UK tour at the end of this year followed by a brand new album at the start of 2010.
Sat
25
20:30
Lancashire Hotpots
£10
Chips. Ale. Meeting women on the Internet. Shopmobility Scooters. Sat Navs. Competitive drinking. Keys, wallets and phones. Swedish furniture stores. Welcome to the world of The Lancashire Hotpots!…………”The Spinal Tap of folk bands” Paddy McGuinness……….”One of my most enjoyable gigs of the year” Steve Lamacq – BBC 6 Music………”The sexiest band in the world” Arthur Smith, The Smith Lectures, BBC Radio 2…………“Masters of parody” The Guardian
Sun
26
16:00
Sound Groove
FREE
The first Sunday Session outing for Donkey local Russell Emery’s great covers band, SOUND GROOVE. Covering the funk and soul bases of Jamiraquai and Stevie Wonder plus a whole heap of obscure but well remembered tracks, we are looking forward to an afternoon of solid gold
Sun
26
19:30
The In Crowd with DJOOK
FREE
DJOOK spinning the 7” vinyl Soul and Ska from the 60’s. Classic and obscure tracks from this great period. Dancing is encouraged.
Mon
27
20:30
Nowt Flash
Free
A new weekly night of free live music featuring house band, MOONLIGHT SINATRAS - David Wyatt, Carl Dawson and Lee Spreadbury - providing frivloity and live music with weekly guest musicians stepping up to the mic with them.
Tue
28
12:00
Titanic Jazz
FREE
Trad Jazz and Jazz standards every Tuesday lunchtime with the 8 piece TITANIC JAZZ band. Home made hot lunches served!
Wed
29
20:00
Midweek Mule - Open mic with Mr PLOW
FREE
Our weekly open mic nights, THE MIDWEEK MULE hosted by the very fine MR PLOW. Prizes for best act deemed worthy of Mr PLOW himself. New and established acts more than welcome. Bring a song and a positive attitude. And the world is your oyster!!
Thu
30
12:00
Credit Crunchers
FREE
Jazz, Blues, Country, Comedy every Thursday lunch from the CREDIT CRUNCHERS. What else would you be doing?
Thu
30
20:30
King Cobra Club presents….
