On 9th June 2010 at 19:50 Anonymous 7732 wrote...

Bit gutted we didn't get in!

On 11th June 2010 at 16:56 Anonymous 7354 wrote...

Same ol Shit different year!

On 11th June 2010 at 22:29 Anonymous 13 wrote...

@The Drop Punx - as far as I can see this is very different to previous years. Whether that means more or less of what you don't like is down to your personal taste. The fact that Leeds has 40 relatively new bands who all have something to say is pretty impressive I would say. I have been listening to the myspace tracks and while there are plenty that I personally don't like, you'ld have to be pretty narrow minded to call them shit.

On 11th June 2010 at 22:51 Anonymous 7354 wrote...

No it was nothing against the bands at all, I apologize to anyone who was offended, many of the bands in this list I have seen and enjoyed several times. I just think there's more to see in the local music scene than white middle class music and it's not representative of a lot of the scenes that are going on in Leeds and surrounding areas. I'm certain many people agree with this as it is a concern that has been raging around the introducing stage for years.

On 12th June 2010 at 17:44 Anonymous 13 wrote...

If you want to read a full discussion of this there is one every year in the Leeds Music Forum (the current one is running now). The answer each year is that Futuresound is linked with a specific Festival. Leeds/Reading has a character and an audience that put some practical limits on what kinds of artists are likely to apply and who might be chosen. That said, the limits are pretty wide. In recent years a black rap artist and a female folk singer have won first place spots and ended up playing the Festival Republic Stage.

PS I doubt very much if anyone has been offended. But personally I have to say that I have been at the introducing stage since it started (only five years ago) to see every band that has appeared there and I can't say I have ever noticed any concern raging anywhere near it.

There really ought to be a more multicultural feel to Leeds and its music - if that's your point, I 100% agree. The current state of affairs is pretty disappointing. Efforts to do something are the future - comments like "same ol shit" just reinforce the (weak?) barriers.

On 14th June 2010 at 11:31 Anonymous 7354 wrote...

Sorry if I could retract my first comment I would but there's no option to delete! I agree wholeheartedly with you Sam. I fully support local music, I just wish the Introducing stage would better reflect the variation of local talent. The Lee Unsigned days seemed to be so much better in my opinion. Don't forget there's a vast amount of big punk and metal bands to see at Leeds festival. This scene is totally unrepresented on the Introducing Stage.