Rochdale tunes up for Literature and Ideas festival with intimate music gig

Indie hitmaker, Josh Record is set to bring his unique brand of acoustic rock to Rochdale Central Library at Number One Riverside this October.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Stroud in Gloucestershire, will be performing songs from his debut album, Pillars, as part of the national music project, Get it Loud in Libraries.

Get it Loud in Libraries sees artists perform intimate gigs at libraries up and down the country to demonstrate that they are not just about reading, but a wider cultural experience.

Originally funded by Lancashire County Council, the scheme has helped introduce the likes of Adele, Florence and the Machine and the Vaccines to the world since it was set up in 2005. It is now funded by Arts Council England and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Josh’s debut EP reached number two 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.

The gig is one of a series of preview shows set to gear audiences up for the second Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival, which kicks off on 24 October.

Councillor Neil Emmott, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is a rare opportunity to see a future star of the British alternative scene who has been critically acclaimed by the industry and I’m really proud that Rochdale library is going to be part of it. Our libraries are a place for people to come together and enjoy culture in all its forms and I know that this event will be a huge success.”

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 4 months I need to return.”

The gig is on 11 October at 8.15pm. All ages are welcome. Tickets, at £8 each, can be bought at seetickets.com, joshrecord.com or getitloudinlibraries.com