Concert Review: Lyrically Justified (Various Artists), Carpe Diem, Leeds, Monday 27th October 2008

I was encouraged to spend a rare Monday night off checking out the music at Lyrically Justified at Carpe Diem in Leeds by several factors.  One of them was The X Factor on ITV. Last weekend it presented us with the pathetic but inevitable sight of a grown man, Scott, sulking and mute on live prime-time TV in the face of his failure to go through to the next round. In addition, my dad's response to a recent trip to Havana made me wonder. He was so impressed by the talent and community spirit of local musicians, playing for the love of music and without hope or expectation of financial reward or fame - on the streets, in bars, cooperatively and full of life, in a way that you don't find any more in the West. Or do you? A little fieldwork is in order...

Harry Lotta

Harry Lotta, one of the main organizers and MC of the Lyrically Justified sessions aims to provide a supportive and welcoming platform for local musicians and artists of all genres to share their music, poetry, beatbox, dance, and more ("anything but stripping"). There is no entry fee for performers or for the audience. You turn up at a nice big friendly pub in the city centre, "leave your ego at the door" and put your name on the running list to perform, or settle to enjoy the acts, dance, drink, chat, or all of the above.

To call the sessions Open Mic is something of a misnomer, as performers are given free and immediate access not only to microphones but to a decent PA system operated by an engineer, lighting, guitars, bass, keyboard, drums and even to experienced and talented resident DJs willing to collaborate and extemporize. DJ Ant Black did the job last night with style and skill.

It is clearly evident that Lyrically Justified accomplishes its stated aim of attracting and encouraging artists from an extraordinary range of genres to come together and share their talents. Musicians — it is mainly musicians — at varying stages of development made full use of the seemingly effortless and relaxed creative space afforded by what must surely be the result of tightly-structured organization and dedication on the part of the LJ team. There was poetry, hip-hop, grime, "alternative" hip-hop, heavy metal, acoustic ballads, rock, and some kind of anarchic proto-punk-rock-I-don't-know-what.

Article Author: Elaine Borthwick

Elaine Borthwick is a mother, blogger, poet, and tutor. Elaine likes music, art, films, reading and the Surreal. She is fond of sketchbooks and Dolly Mixtures. Image of Elaine by kind permission © Ben Wharton 2007.

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