Blog – Leon The Pig Farmer – Website by Steve Reilly

See you in the fields

So.. On Friday we did the last Convential indoor Dirt gig until mid September.

(Fri 18th Sep supporting Headsticks in Bristol)

Last weeks gig was with the mighty Interrobang.. (yes.. those two chumbawamba / regular fries lads).. More with those two fine folk in Autumn.. Sheff and Derby are public… Boro soon!.. oops let that slip!

Friday was M.K Crauford arms with UK subs on in the room next door.. closest we got to punk royalty (if that oxymoron exists!)

At the weekend i also got to share some Leon verse at the scarecrow corner stage at Strawberry fair cambridge… Buzzin.. loved it…

Lots of beautiful folk at a truly DIY underground solar stage scene. Well done Tim & team!

Now… The fields… Ready.

A couple of rehearsals then its Fields bound…

It kicks off this weekend at “Going Feral” in oxfordshire.

Then onto Tribal gathering in Staffordshire…

Two belters…

Its our wedding anniversary after that around the solstice so we are taking a weekend off.. going away..

Plenty more July and August too. Please have a peek on our socials. Ill natter about them after these two beauts…

Other news –

Agitator DRT2.2 will arrive soon. The second press of our first studio album.. Folk asked.. now it comes to get!!. revamped rear cover too. Its on pre order at our bandcamp – @thedirt71

Next album – studio booked Jan 2027.

Sachiko is making demos… tracks are been road tested live at gigs, expect more at up and coming fests!

with that.. see you in the fields.. x

Oh.. and i nearly forgot last weeks EMF guest appearance in Manchester.

Yep.. its unbelievable… x

3 left…. then the Fields

Yep.. 3 conventional gigs left as such.. before we hit the fields….

Ive just been pulling feral vines from a neighbours tree that spreads into our garden and onto a pergola.. First world problem eliminated!.. Grounding complete…

Eyes now firmly on our last double gig weekender until september!!.. Its a NW M6 tour about…

Tonight – Lancaster… for Sonic Bloom at Kanteena.. Tomorrow Preston and The Ferret for an early eve slot!!.. Both be Crackin..

In 2 weeks we Reconnect with Interrobang for a night in Milton Keynes at Crauford arms..

After that… The Fields!!

9 summer festivals before we take a month off… buzzin..

And heres a catch up.. since last post we gigged Manchester – packed Gullivers. Hit Derby with a rammed Vic both DIY by us… and spread the sonic love at An all dayer in Brighton For Garageland..

The journey is nuts.. looking forward to the last three!!.. Gears at the door.. Van is ready.. Lets go!!..

So heres some posters and pics…

Next post will be fest Run down. including the where who and whens..

Come see what the Fuzz is about!!

How soon is it now

Yep The next Manchester gig date for The Dirt.

Since our Interrbang tour, we have had a blinder in Cov, bounced in Coalville and thrown a last min gig in Peterborough.. Oh and i did a solo slot at night n Day. good to share the verse again.

On the Admin side, booked more autumn gigs, Sorted tbe vinyl re issue, restocked merch and plotted some podcast bizniz..

Its been nuts, and tweaking the 8 new tracks for next album.

The four weve exposed live have had a great response too.

Now to May gigs before we git the fest world.

whats on?

08.05 Manchester at Gullivers

15.05 – Derby at Victoria inn

17.05 – Brighton at Daltons – Garageland all dayer

23.05 – Lancaster – Kanteena

05.06 – Milton keynes – Crauford arms with interrobang.

Then we hit the fields…

Ta to all joining us, booking in advance, buying merch and spreading the love DIY underground faahion!

heres some pics images and posters

Agitator mk2 is Go!

So… we have answered the calls!!!.
A few folk have asked at gigs so we have decided to oblige.

Agitator vinyl record rebirth is go…
With a twist… (nothing stands still!)

Rear cover revamp… disc label change.
Same 11 mix mastered tracks by Kevin Foy and Ayshe Aysh front cover remains.

Pal steve Reilly of fluid pre press has again done cracking design work.

It will go live for preorders as a limited run via bandcamp on Friday..
Expected Post out – Early July

Any cash goes to recording album #3.. DIY innit!!…

To keep tabs follow us there

https://thedirt71.bandcamp.com/

Cant remember what the media said about it?

Top fella Wayne Carey at Louderthanwar was complimentary about it..
And it got in their top list of 2023.
And album of the week.

https://louderthanwar.com/the-dirt-agitator-review-album-of-the-week/

So chuffed to get this back in stock…

Soon 2 vinyl records will be on line and at gigs.. Exciting stuff.

As for gigs… interrobang tour is still fresh in our minds.

But this weekend we head back to Midlands for a Coventry gig and day fest in Coalville. That then concludes April month of mayhem..

Baby 2 soon turns 3

As we, Sachiko Wakizaka and I soon shine a light and celebrate the birthday of The Dirt Child #2 (Agitator)..
3 years young!!!

we would like to invite folk to read a new “school report” of child #3 (Monkeypunch)

Its by the great folk at Band Assist

“Monkeypunch is bold, brave and unapologetically different. It’s an album that refuses to sit still, constantly shifting, challenging and rewarding the listener in equal measure.
The Dirt don’t just push boundaries – they ignore them entirely. And in doing so, they’ve created something that’s as chaotic as it is compelling.
One thing’s for certain… this record doesn’t just punch – it leaves a mark.”

Full Review here- https://band-assist.com/review-the-dirt

Monkeypunch isnt 1 year young until August so clearly copies of child #3 are still available to purchase…

https://thedirt71.bandcamp.com/

Any help contributes to us incubating child #4 expected in this world next year..
Kicking.. and defo screaming!!

We are a DIY family!!!.. x

Two belters more to come

Since the last words.. (louder than war still gives us a buzz!)… weve bounced in stoke with pals Zipstyle at Artisan tap and last weekend met a load of new folk for a gig in Nortingham for promo pal Will of Im not from london..

Stoke was nuts.. a packed tap house/ venue- Zipstyle invited us.. stanley muggins on vox plays our tunes on his radio show.. buzzin night.. top fella..

Nottingham brought in friends to hook up with new followers and lots of new folk as all other bands were new to us. A cracking night which coincided with us making a weekend of it!..

We now have a week or so off – Downtime from gigs.. But ive been on the radio – recording a podcast. Negotiating new gigs and announcing others. not to mention polishing new stuff. So the wicked get no rest!!…

Weve even put some new vids up on our Youtube…

So.. new album.. ??? 7 tracks created of which four tested live to great responses.. one to muster… then we have 40+ mins of new noise…

Studio booked for early 2027.So monkeypunch still has room to breath… and punch fast…

so whats occuring?

Over the next couple of months there are 9 events confirmed

10 – 12 April we tour with top folk interrobang in Stourbridge – Newnham and Northampton…

24 April Coventry at The Tin

25 April – Coalville for shazfest vic bikers bar

8th May – Manchester gullivers

15th May – Derby Victoria

17th May – Brighton Daltons

23 May – Lancaster Kanteena

Posted all attached… and some pics

We are still floating in space…

When i first started this beautiful creative journey.

i never thought it would go to places it already has.

Now to quickly name drop a few – As The Dirt – here we go

Neds atomic dustbin support – EMF tour support, playing to a massive crowd at Rockaway beach fest. Been on the same fest billings at RDF (now pals!) Senser, members of chumbawamba and Carter USM.. members of The fall.. Buzzin.. for all of it.. theres lots more!

As Leon – doing solo slots with members of Dodgy, Happy mondays, rev & makers, charlatans, inspiral carpets. and much more!.. pinch me.

If in the mid 90s youd have said it was going to happen, and all within the first few years of picking up a pen.. id have laughed silly at ya.

Now give me a few secs to pick up them names i dropped. which is the tip of this journey may i add.

because every gig is mega and every band that plays has a place and we all create memories. And theres a few big hitters on the europe circuit too.

And the folk crowds and peopple weve met who get us is amazing…

But here we are and with more to come.. announce.. and hopefuly more paths to cross.. Poppies.. please come chat.. haha.

But this post is meant to be about last week.. ive just rambled the intro too long!

Anyway.. the point!.. 3 words .. “Hop and Grape”… simple…

When i moved to Manchester (yep im not a manc!) in 1999 my initial go to places were Night n Day and The Hop n grape now Academy 3 to mention a couple…

smaller more independent alternative bands playin.. my cuppa

Now.. the two N&D gigs weve done have been mega.. but on saturday.. i got to stand.. then bounce.. and spout verse as The Dirt at Hop n Grape.. Academy 3

Im still buzzin loved it.

And to a crackin crowd… loved it…

And to be part of the first louder than war live and open the gig was crackin..

This event – this gig … will be etched in my mind long past the days when dementia kicks in..

Louder than war have backed.. reviewed and supported me since the kick off.

so to put a shift in was an honour.

Anyway this lad is chuffed.

And.. 3 days later .. still floating in space..

here are some pics from pal photographer Steve white.

The poster for our next manchester gig on May 8th and new logo are at the end!

Chat soon.. from the kid in a sweet shop

Bar lifted – Energy raised

since the last natter – 3 cracking gigs have occured.

cambridge as support to Meryl Streek with The restarts.

This weekend Leeds and Newcastle

all different – crowds – sizes – style.

All mega.. weve had a top time. in between tweaking the new stuff.

Some shared with a crackin response.

So far since we kicked off 2026 we have shared 4 new tracks

One Day – Borders – P.A.I.N and Age of Rage. Another is ready too ” Freedom”

we are loving the new stuff and still buzz off getting Monkeypunch and Agitator to new places.

some much so.. restocks on both albums is go..

This year.. another 30 events await..

Dates to record album 3 are pinned down..

So we now have one eye already on plotting 2027..

Things move quick – And as the header says.. The bar goes up.. with intensity…

Next stop louder than war fest in Manchester this weekend

We then do return gigs to stoke & notts this month.

April .. well thats a whole new busy month that includes a 3 date weekender with top lads interrobang..

So.. come see whatbtge Fuzz is about!

theres plenty going on at planet Dirt!

6 months on…

Wow.. that 6 months flew by!!

“Monkeypunch” has been alive and well and truly kicking a while now.

Recorded in live takes 15 months ago at Fuzzface Studio .. Thanks Jason.

Its cracking hearing folks comments on it.
Was ace to see some media pick it up.
And we love the response at live gigs.

The Dirt are not done yet.. This beast is still on a roll and finding new places to be let loose!

After 30 uk events and 7 in Japan with it so far. We have at least another 30 venues so far this year to share the sonic Psychpunk.
And chatting to few more!..

Thanks to all those who supported us on it.
Copies bought – Monkey Tee worn and streams. (they do help!) as do shares and mate telling..

It all helps
Thanks also to Sister 9 Recordings on this and Neal Simmonds Hart Art Gallery

not got stuck into it yet?
heres your chance!