Saturday: 16/02/2008 @ The Packhorse, Leeds. £5. Doors 7.30pm.

Forest of Sound (www.myspace.com/forestofsound) present:

Dirge (www.myspace.com/strangesilence)
Hailing from Rouen, France, Dirge are a find that got the Forest of Sound camp very, very excited. Based around a minimalist core of guitar/vocal/violoncello/drums, Dirge take the raw emotion and sweeping bleak sounds from the post-rock canon (Mogwai, Godpseed You! Black Emperor et al.) and fuse them with story telling and lyricism of lo-fi indie and folk (think Arab Strap, Tindersticks) and slowcore beauty (Low, Audrey). Dirge are an extraordinary band who fuse the vital elements of truly affecting music together. It's their first time in Leeds. Don't miss them.

Her Name Is Calla (www.myspace.com/hernameiscalla)
Her Name Is Calla have become very very strong Forest of Sound favourites, for one very simple reason - they're astoundingly good. Watching these guys play is like watching a force of nature threatening to destroy everything around you - the power, beauty and effect of their music has to be seen live to be appreciated. We've never met anyone who hasn't been converted by them.

CHARLIESHERO (www.myspace.com/charlieshero)
CHARLIESHERO are a band who read from the post rock canon and spit it back out with blistering energy and conviction. This kind of music lives and dies in the playing - the dynamics, the passion, the sheer force of it all... and the pastoral breaks and lullaby melodies inbetween. Luckily, they've got all that down just right.

James Yates (www.myspace.com/jamesplaysthedrumsbadly)
You may recognise James from his skin hitting duties in the jaw droppingly good The Pattern Theory. So it'll come as no surprise that his solo show is something to behold - organic electronics, perfect drums, spot on percussion and mad-as-a-hatter inventiveness. Four Tet or Battles are reference points... but Master Yates makes them sound like worthless s**t. On his own. You have to watch this guy. If you don't believe, listen to 'Yammystar' on our MySpace. You won't resist its charms.