The 12 Gigs of Christmas – The Lowdown

We can’t afford big tele advertising campaign, but if we could it would go like this.

[overly dramatic X-Factor voiceover, massive silver words rush towards screen]

“12 GIGS” [big drum]

“1 DAY” [cannon fires]

“6 IDIOTS!” [fireworks] etc.

It’s safe to say we’ve had some stupid ideas as a band. We just get over excited, things snowball wildly out of control and before you know it Ben Denison spends all your budget on neon head bands, salad, 18 kilos of peas, christmas crackers and plastic cutlery, none of which arrive on time or get used. We thought we’d cracked it this time though, a nice simple idea, busking around our home town, no frills, how hard can that be?

“The Twelve Gigs of Christmas” – Friday the 19th December 2014 (Huxley’s birthday!!!!)

Idiots that we are, we’ve been totally blindsided by our own pun.

We chirpily tweeted and blogged, not stopping to think what that actually meant. 12 gigs……hang on, twelve gigs…….1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 gigs……….A DOZEN GIGS!!! In one day. ONE DAY!!!!!!!!

Fools.

It’s too late to go back now though. We’re not the kind of band to leave our bride standing at the altar though. The church is booked (literally) and promises have been made, so here is the definitive list of our gigs, some public, some private, some ticketed. Come play out to sing, point and laugh with/at us, armed with your best Chrimbo jumpers and festive cheer.

The 12 Gigs

09:30 – 9:50 GIG 1 An Office somewhere in Leeds – Not a public one this, but a Christmas surprise for one particular office. All will be revealed… as we turn up and draw the economic well-being of a fully functioning business to a temporary standstill. Happy to help! ;)

11:00 – 11:20 GIG 2 BBC Radio Leeds (APPLY, ON THE FORM BELOW, BEFORE 12 NOON ON FRIDAY 12TH DECEMBER FOR VERY LIMITED TICKETS)
Ever wanted to go into a radio station to hear and see your favourite band do a radio session? Well, this Christmas, you can make do with seeing Hope and Social do a radio session instead! This is a live pre-record for the lovely Johnny I’anson‘s show later in the day. Don’t worry if you don’t get tickets you’ll be able to listen to how it all went down from 15:00 GMT.

12:00 – 12:20 GIG 3 Leeds City Markets – Stall Q in the 1904 Hall (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG)
We’re teaming up with our lovely and brilliant bezzie mates Invisible Flock to take a little bit of Bring the Happy back to where it all started, the historic Leeds Markets… just a couple of stalls up from where M&S started. Beautiful.

13:00 – 13:20 GIG 4 Trinity Shopping Centre (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG)
We started our Tour Of Infinite Possibility, one of our biggest adventures to date, here earlier this year, so we’re going back. Should be a bit of a surprise one this. All we’ll say is, get yourselves a pitch on the balcony or just in front of the Apple shop for a good view.

14:00 – 14:20 GIG 5 Corn Exchange (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG) – The iconic Leeds Corn Exchange. One of the most beautiful buildings in Leeds, and a stunning setting for our fully acoustic set.

15:00 – 15:20 GIG 6 Leeds Train Station (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG)
It’s many people’s first sight on arriving in Leeds, and the site of many a tearful goodbye and happy reunion. You’ll find us just opposite the Wetherspoons. Come watch us get walked past by the travelling public!

16:00 – 16:20 GIG 7 Leeds Children’s Hospital – Clarendon Wing (PRIVATE GIG) – In the words of Adam Duritz, ah, “The smell of hospitals in winter”. It’s where Huxley became a father. This one’s just for the patients and staff at the hospital. Sorry. But don’t worry, another gig comes along in an hour.

17:00 – 17:20 GIG 8 Town Hall Steps (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG) – We’ve been here before, making noise and generally disturbing the peace. Consider this the Christmas Encore from our Snow-Ball of 2010.

18:00 – 18:20 GIG 9 Secret Location (APPLY BEFORE 12 NOON ON FRIDAY 12TH DECEMBER FOR VERY LIMITED TICKETS VIA THE FORM BELOW) We’re not going to tell y’all about this just yet… but it’s super-limited tickets and it’s probably somewhere you’ve never been before.

19:00 – 19:20 GIG 10 The Tetley (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG) – We’ve been trying to get something together with the lovely people of The Tetley all year… finally, we’re getting together for our Chrimbo shenanigans.

20:00 – 20:20 GIG 11 Trinity Kitchen (FREE OPEN PUBLIC GIG). Stock up on food from fine independent foodies before our final show of the day. Bit of a last minute addition this one… mainly due to a conversation with the lovely Wendy Denman, and Chilli Paneer Wraps courtesy of our favourites Manjit’s Kitchen. Tasty.

21:00 – 22:30 GIG 12 Holy Trinity Church (TICKETS SOLD OUT) – If you’re coming, we’ve got a lovely evening planned. If you’ve over-bought on the tickets front, please let us know and we’ll re-release ’em to the baying public.

What’s that you say? You can’t make ANY of the gigs?!?! Well fret not, our buddies and partners in crime Shot by Sodium are following us round and filming the day for all to see. They’ll be sticking up footage throughout the day of shenanigans as they occur and then packaging it all together for a nice little mini documentary in the new year.

What more can we say? We wish you a Merry 12 Gigs Of Christmas, and a happy Rich’s birthday. See you on the 19th!

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H&S
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PS – here’s the The Private Gig Lottery Form. Good luck y’all!

12 Gigs of Christmas is supported by Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council.