“You can’t always get what you want” Mick Jagger wisely sang, and this is especially true at Christmas. If you have a music lover in your life, and she hopes for your sake that you do, here are some gift ideas to please even the most sensitive ears, by Wendy Denman of Leeds Playlist.
Music to own
Jumbo Records have put together a list of their Top 20 albums of 2012, which is a great starting point for inspiration. Many of the regulars have sent lists in too, and these are displayed in store for your chin stroking appreciation/judgement.
This Christmas with Anthologies and Hide & Seek is a festive compilation album made by Leeds musicians for the Simon on The Streets charity. Download a copy for someone, feel good about yourself and avoid wrapping too.
Tickets for gigs and festivals
When the weather is cold our thoughts naturally drift towards the warmer less cold summer months and the festival season. The first Leeds Festival acts to be announced are Deftones, alt-J and Sub Focus. You can buy tickets now at the 2012 price of £197.50. Beacons Festival was one of my highlights of last summer and fantastic value at £64.50 for a weekend ticket.
For a mud-free festival atmosphere try the one day multi-venue Live At Leeds in May for £15. A great line-up of local bands has already been secured for British Wildlife Festival in March. Weekend tickets are £12.
Local florists and costume makers rejoice! Elton John has announced his only UK indoor show of 2013 will be part of Leeds Arena’s opening season in September, along with a one off Kaiser Chiefs concert. JLS will also be performing at the venue this time next year – all tickets are on sale now.
Making music
For experienced and budding musicians, we have a number of shops in Leeds including Hobgoblin, Northern Guitars, Northern Acoustics and Scheerers Music. This green ukulele from Music Room makes a great gift for £19.99, and to go with it, try this Led Zeppelin sheet music.
At the fantastic Leeds Music Hub in Headingley, you can get music lessons from members of Wild Beasts, Post War Glamour Girls and Witch Hunt with group sessions starting from just £4.
Membership
If you want to support the musicians of the future, Friends of Leeds College of Music membership starts from £20. You can even give them presents too! Gift membership for Friends of Opera North starts at £45, making a unique present for opera fans.
Something different
The Lush Spa offers a Sound Bath treatment, a massage combined with sound therapy featuring a specially commissioned soundtrack. During the hour of synaesthesia, your body ‘becomes the instrument being played’. Groovy. £65 for 60 minutes.
Books and memorabilia/merchandise
Give the gift of popularity when you buy someone a Brudenell Social Club tee. At only £6.50 from the venue, you should buy two, as they are likely to get ripped off your giftee’s back by random admirers.
Keep memories from a great gig alive with posters from the artists who created them, like this Sigur Ros poster by Rabbit Portal, or this Of Monsters and Men poster by Army of Cats.
Fans of the Leeds and Manchester music scene in the 80s and 90s will love The City is Ablaze! The Story of a Post-Punk popzine by Karren Ablaze – an entertaining account of DIY culture.
It’s not all about Leeds of course. Some other things that are on my list include a book about How Music Works by David Byrne, the LCD Soundsystem Shut Up and Play the Hits DVD and this special edition Audio Cassette Moleskine. I’m also desperate for tickets to see cockney superheroes Chas & Dave at City Varieties in May. Gertcha!
Creative cost-cutting gifts
Clocks made using vinyl can be easily created with a clock kit costing less than £10 from craft shops and a record from a charity shop. Pick a record the recipient loves or something that works with the theme like KLF – What Time is Love? Wilson Pickett – In The Midnight Hour or The Chromatics – Tick of The Clock.
Why not dress up like your loved one’s favourite artist and recreate an iconic album cover for a unique photo gift? I can turn myself into a bad Amy Winehouse, convincing Little Richard or an uncanny Robert Smith using just hairspray and eyeliner.
Making music doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. Check out what this guy does to the Faithless track Insomnia with just a couple of spoons!
One last suggestion – personalised mixtapes are as popular and treasured as ever, no matter what format they come in. Your tunes = my swoons.