Record fans attend gig in Number One Riverside

Music lovers from far and wide visited Number One Riverside last weekend for an intimate gig and signing with indie hit, Josh Record.

Fans turned up to see the 26-year-old perform songs from his debut album, Pillars, as part of the national music project, Get it Loud in Libraries. The project sees artists perform gigs at libraries up and down the country to demonstrate that they are not just about reading, but a wider cultural experience.

The gig acted as a fantastic preview event for the upcoming Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival on 26 – 26 October, which will include appearances from playwright Willy Russell, actress Jane Danson and MOBO-nominated rapper Ghetts.

Josh, who hails from Stroud in Gloucestershire, had a number two with his debut EP in the singer/songwriter charts on iTunes in the UK. His next self-produced EP ‘The War’ received critical acclaim, with DJ Zane Lowe naming the title track his ‘record of 2013.’ His EP Bones was playlisted on BBC Radio One and he’s also performed live on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

A regular on the British festival scene, he has entertained the crowds at Glastonbury, Latitude and T in the Park as well as supporting big names including Bastille, London Grammar and Sam Smith.

His dramatic, yet lush music has drawn comparisons with the likes of Tom Odell, Chris Martin and even the heightened melodrama of Jeff Buckley.

Councillor Neil Emmott, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “What a fantastic way to kick-start the Literature & Ideas Festival – I can’t wait to see more of the great range of acts lined up. I’m really proud that Rochdale Library Service is able to run this event - our libraries are a place for people to come together and enjoy culture in all its forms and I know that this festival will be a huge success.”

Before the gig, Josh Record said: “I love playing in different spaces; it makes for a very special experience for everyone. I played in a library earlier this year in Brighton and it was one of my favourite gigs, it’s a new experience and very intimate! Good job that it’s not at my local library as I have a book that is overdue by four months I need to return.”