Blog – Page 3 – Leon The Pig Farmer – Website by Steve Reilly

Landed

In Japan that is..

Having had 6 days in Seoul S korea first to wind down from what was a hectic 8 months. Gigs and album recording.

We finished with a mega gig in Coventry with black Doldrums. At the Tin with cracking fella Joe Colombi of sink or swim.

The work continues.

Getting the first single to the wireless!!. CHAOS has already had an airing via zac peach show and is scheduled on more digital stations. Rumour has it 6 music might even be letting it loose!..

Also getting the attention of the music media. Grab the thoughts of those whos lugs we want to itch!. Then shout about Monkeypunch..

Get the love spreading..

Lastly some new fest plotters and promoters have got the preview.

Means we will be pitching up in new towns later this year. Lots booked in. A busy summer and autumn is on the cards.

Monkeypunch is currently a caged beast and ready to let loose!!..

Wirh new T shirt design too. Thats with printers getting mock ups made!!..

So while we now kick back in japan for a few weeks.. heres some Dirt diary dates.

18.04 – single CHAOS is released via sister 9 recordings..

07.05 – A mega support slot gig – To announce soon.

16.05 – Manchester gig – peerhat with Avid fan /// cherry fuzz club

23.05 – gig at strummer room revords fest – Banbury.

23.05 – single release – Demon Seed vis sister 9 records

01.06 – “Alice wicked Tea Party festival” – wareham nr Bournmouth.

05.06 – Brighton gig at Daltins with Shaws trailor park.

06.06 – London gig at Rooz studios with voodoo Rays /// cult of free love

Now thats a busy first month once we get back to showcase monkeypunch tracks!!

Posters and pics attached!.

All set

The chillzone is ready.. the kickback on ice ready to sip savour and embrace. Japan awaits for a lwngthy trip and wevare taking 2 months off..

2025 so far has been a rollercoaster.. its The DIY way.

Rockaway beach gave us a great platform and weve chatted to many folk since. About gigs.. playing peoples towns and cities. Mega!. Stuff even penned for 2026 already.

Weve joined forces with Sister 9 recordings on the Vinyl release of “Monkeypunch”. This is ace news to join an independent label our sonic psych punk suits.

Prep between gogs and in- sessions has been key.

Artwork – all sorted

3 x digital singles planned to release over next 5 months.

Bio- press info all the background material ready to send.

Weve just this week made the video for the first single release “Chaos”. Expect me dancing in masks…

The machine is serviced and oiled ready to kick in!..

We played Halifax last week.. cracking place is Grayston unity!

So.. We have one event left- The Tin in Coventry supporting Black Doldrums. Thanks to sink orvswim promo.

We dont gig then until May when we have Manchester planned.. The Peerhat 16th is all booked and tickets selling. Looking forward to that.

Leon has a couple of bits in May. But the Dirt priority this year.. and we are booked up now until 2026 with the exeption of a couple of dates offered to promo folk yet to nail down.

Anyway. This is the last natter before we fly east.. expect news of a music release next!!.

The online shop shuts in a week too. So come grab a piece of merch before head off!.

https://thedirt71.bandcamp.com

Thanks to all who watched.. comnented and bought our wares over this last chapter of our journey.

J&S

News soon

Its all about The Dirt

So… “Monkeypunch” is the title of our new The Dirt album. Test listens done!

We have the mixes and masterings back from Jason Shaw of Fuzz Face studios.

The Album art is complete.

It is ready for vinyl record ordering!!..

Released date pencilled for early August.

We have some label interest.. news on that soon. We want this sonic psych punk to fly far and wide!

There will be a presale.. And there will be a few singles released as tasters. Seen us live?. Some will be familiar.

We have two gigs left before we break for our regular Japan trips.

We then hit the ground running again in May. Kicking off with manchester.

Until then we have Halifax on 21.02 and Coventry on 07.03.

YANA fest in Stockport has been postponed.

As for Leon?.. hes taking a back seat live this year. Still doing workshops – creative meets. But the stage ramblings are giving way to lyrical writing.

I am popping up at some places but few and far between.

So. Albums set. News soon. Until then live dates to bounce at.

We have new merch at bandcamp too – hoodies!

Come see what the fuzz is about.

Herea some recent gig pics (richie yates) and posters

Last walk in this chapter

We break for a lengthy trip to japan in March. Take stock. Relax and enjoy it. The last 8 months since our last trip have been busy.. if not hectic. My voice has 4 gigs left in it!!.. just… haha

A record number of gigs for us. Some mega stuff was experienced and top folk met. And we wrote .. then recorded a new album..

So 4 gigs until we as The Dirt down tools until May.. but we do come back with a bang.. a Manchester peerhat gig. But before that… a surprise slot with a mega iconic band on our scene!.. and a glasgow slot to announce!..

Leon.. hes doing workshops at the moment but nothing planned live. And no intention to either. Invite me.. ill pop up if i can.. but 2025 is about this music.. about driving this sonic psych punk space ship..

Plenty penned or ‘promised’ for the summer at fest/events before the new Album lands in August.

After that we want to take the music to all parts of the UK sep- Nov. Plenty in the diary so far. Room for a bit more!..

This is an exciting time.. we sit here now awaiting the first mixes of “monkey punch”.. we will then get on to ordering vinyl .. lighting the touch paper!!..

Also.. we have our conjuring festival to keep plugging and flog tickets. Its a mega line up!

But.. heres a list of where we will be before japan.. and our manchester and conjurung posters

Come see what the fuzz is about!!

Well that was crackers

Its been a week since The Dirt played Rockaway beach festival in Bognor. Time to reflect and enjoy tge moment. The crazy hour!!.. in a mental weekend.

We played a 30 min set. Then chatted to loads of a mega crowd after our set. Loved it.

Nice to know theres a load of new Dirt T shirt wearers. Beanie heads and CD Blaring from players!!.. Not to forget tge readers who bought Jacks books.

To all of you.. thank you..

The Dirt met in Manchester first date in London the week afyer was watching Ride amongst others. Last weekend we shared a fest line up with that band. Pinch me now!…

Since i last wrote weve gigged to other mega crowds in manchester, nottingham and Newcastle.

We have recorded our next album. Due out in late summer.. Monkey punch is in the mix stage.

Leon.. well heres going to kick back in 2025. Hes had a cracking few years. But… its Time The Dirt stepped forward.

I will be doing bits.. if asked.. and doing workshop – guest stuff. No more books forva while or excessive solo stage stomping.

Collaborations?.. yep. One on go as we speak…

So.. The Dirt. Where are we next.

Here we go.

15.01 – Sheffield – Sidney & Matilda

08.02 – Liverpool – more info soon

21.02 – Halifax – Grayston Unity

02.03 – Stockport – YANA fest

07.03 – Coventry – Tin man

We then take time off. Recharge head to Japan….

16.05 – Manchester – Peerhat

05.06 – Brighton – Daltons

Then we have lots to announce for fest in summer

Alice wicked Tea Party is announced for june.

Conjuring announced for August

Revolution announced for september

Few more coming to join the dots too.

So come say hello

See what the Fuzz is about!

Heres some pics and posters

Jack & sachiko

A busy month. And another to go

Its been crackers to say the least. After the comedown of Manchester at Night and Day we hit the road to Hull and Stoke and later Wolverhampton and Todmorden. Weve met some cracking folk on this journey too. And worked out some great gig collabs.

In between ive done some solo stuff. Huddersfield attic stories and shiine on fest, where a great friendship with Tonic music has formed (more on that to come!)

Behind the scenes weve been working on our next album cover which is now sorted. The demos all sent for recording in a few weeks too. T SHIRT design for album release is also ongoing!

Weve now got a packed merch travel emporium too. New mugs arrive this week. No beanies in stock and the usual CD, T shirts, and books are good to go. Someone say xmas is coming?…

For the future…

Some great gigs this month. And an album to record.

We head to Nottingham this saturday. Angel microbrewery. After that

14.12- Darwen sunbird records

15.12 – Newcastle – Trillians

21.12 – Manchester – with Deja Vega

We then kick off 2025 with a sunday slot at Rockaway beach festival.

So. Come say hello. See what the Fuzz is about.. maybe grab a piece of merch. Available via us or bandcamp at thedirt71

Heres some posters and stuff

Still on a high

Last Thursday saw The Dirt. Plot.. plan.. curate and collaborate on a night of DIY at Night and Day manchester. Such an iconic venue to be invited to play.

And we got a cracking crowd.. loved it.. The energy was high.. the crowd was mega.. we are still buzzin from it… And planning a return next year!!…

So big thank you to the venue… the bands and all those who joined us. It takes alot of emotional energy to get these gigs to where they go.. so ive slept alot since!!.. Haha..

We played Hull New Adelphi on Sunday too.. which was a great crowd too.. chats of going back there too so something is going right.

Focus now on 8 more gigs to close the year. Which concludes with a support slot for pals Deja Vega in Manchester which is dold out..

And we have the new album to record !..

We head into the studio in December to lay down 8 new tracks.. some have had an airing recently too.

As gor Leon.. solo i am taking a back seat for a while. This is The Dirts time!!. A few slots but focus on the music… its where we go heading forward!!..

Other projects include painted vinyl exhibition.. soon heading to redwilliw tap in Macclesfield!.

Tbe co juring next year… a 3 day fest of psychedelia

Acoustic/word nights.. in various places..

Keep an eye on socials!

So heres a few pics from last week. All by Pete Rooney

Next stip Stoke on saturday at Captains bar… 09.11.24..

The cauldrons bubbling

Its approaching Halloween. All eyes are on The Dirts gig in Manchester for that night in our house. Then as per last post there is a string of Dirt activity leading up to the next album recording.

But in the background The Conjuring cauldron bubbles. For our psych fest over 15-18 Aug 2025.

Our 3 day psych fest with Richie of last stop sounds/liverpool psych society is still offering excitement!..

Weve gathered a cracking three day line up!… the poster is attached.. tickets are on sale too. Early birds have flown but general sale exists…

For those not in the know.

Its set in an 18th century barn near Northalerton, North Yorkshire called Pealies barn with camping.. over 3 days/nights and still under £100.. bargain… its DIY music.

Some great Northern and UK psych is converging on this old farm heres some links.. come check out what we are doing there

https://www.facebook.com/share/v9SzE2bAeiUps664/

https://www.instagram.com/theconjuringfestival?igsh=MW5nOGtrdmc2MnN1eQ==

https://www.ticketline.co.uk/the-conjuring-festival#bio

So socials and ticket link.give you a flavour!!.. come join us .

The Dirt take over

Hello.. Hows things?…
Halloween is knocking on the door!!
The night The Dirt play Manchester and the iconic venue Night and Day. So excited!!..
There are some tickets left if folk want to join us.

Weve also done a new test run T shirt colour to honour the gothic and dark season.
Black T shirt and purple reflective logo.

Not on our merch pages but they can be ordered via a message direct. Or picked up at gigs!

The night and Day gig on 31.10 in manchester kicks off a string of 8 gigs before The Dirt head into the studio for album 2.

Heres the others
03.11 – Hull – new Adelphi
09.11 – Stoke – captains bar
22.11 – Wolverhampton – Giffard
28.11 – Todmorden – Golden Lion
07.12 – Nottingham – Angel brewery
14.12 – Darwin – Sunbird studios
15.12 – Newcastle – Trillians

Come say hello as we road test a few new tunes along the way before the studio beckons!

In other new Leon will be doing bits along the way. Like Shiiine on fest and a feature word slot or two..

Gallery – gigs – going forward

Tonight is a kind of official opening of a gallery exhibition at Industry in Stalybridge that ive plotted. Its centred around painted vinyl from The Dirt miss press… some great artists.. all women i or the band know that have resurrected the damaged goods.

The last project in the damaged goods run…

It kicks off with some spoken word and acoustic vibes tonight and will remain in situe for 5 weeks until the Dirt play manchester at Night and Day on Halloween

In other parts of this crazy world the second conjuring fest for 2025 has been announced. Weve got a mega line up and found a great creative event space in a historic barn complex in N Yorks.. poster attached. Some great alternative and psych happenings.

The gigs and bookings continue to flow.. The Dirt are loving this journey of new and returned places.The new tunes are growing.. being put to demo and by next year will be on record..

A few things in the pipeline for autumn coming.. a bit of Leon and lots of The Dirt. Gigs are secured well into 2025 for this sonic psych duo too.

Anyway.. lets have some posters of things that are coming up.. fitst pics though are from a couple of solo gigs last weekend..