It’s a little known local fact, but stalwart London-based independent label fierce panda has a satellite office in Stowmarket, smack bang in the middle of Suffolk. Since 1994 this tiny record company has been irresponsible for early and pivotal releases by acts with names like Coldplay, Keane, Placebo, The Maccabees, Idlewild, Death Cab For Cutie and quite-literally-dozens-more.

We are now delighted to announce that fierce panda’s 23rd birthday party will take place at the nearby John Peel Centre For Creative Arts in February 2017 with two of its current highest-flying acts and a brace of lovely local guests, like this...

FIERCE PANDA PRESENTS
COQUIN MIGALE
+ special guests DESPERATE JOURNALIST
+ other special guests ANIMAL NOISE
+ LEAONE
+ DJ SEYMOUR (WASHING MACHINE)
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11TH 2017
JOHN PEEL CENTRE FOR CREATIVE ARTS
Stowmarket Church Walk, IP14 1ET
DOORS 7.30PM – MIDNIGHT
£5.00 EARLYBIRD TICKETS: www.wegottickets.com/event/383663

** COQUIN MIGALE (onstage 10.15pm) are an alt.rock quartet from Newcastle. 2016 saw them put out their debut album ‘Munro’ on fierce panda along with a string of terrific singles with names like ‘Grindie’, ‘PT.2’ and ‘Soft’ , which you can see at www.fiercepanda.co.uk/videos.php?video=181 now. Radio love from Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq saw Coquin Migale headline the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading / Leeds Festivals in a bold attempt to usurp Disclosure. www.facebook.com/coquinmigale

** DESPERATE JOURNALIST (9.30pm) are a glowering gothpop outfit from North London propelled forth by two boys and two girls. Their second fierce panda album ‘Grow Up’ is released on March 24th featuring the pounding ‘Hollow’ single which you can see at www.fiercepanda.co.uk/videos.php?video=180 now. Happily, the Desperate Journalist name is taken from an early Peel Session track by The Cure who had been irked by an early NME album review, so some kind of cosmic circle is hereby complete. www.facebook.com/desperatejournalist

** ANIMAL NOISE (8.45pm) are three boys from Colchester who return to the JPC after previous fun times for BBC Introducing Suffolk. And ‘fun times’ is the key phrase for a trio who merrily mix together grunge, psychrock and folkiepop flourishes, as proven by last single ‘Little Things’ which you can hear here: http://louderthanwar.com/urgent-animal-noise-little-things-premiere/
www.facebook.com/animalnoise

** LEAONE (8.00pm) (pronounced ‘Lee-own’) is a smouldering new talent from Beccles with a deep, rich vocal sound which has seen him described as the missing link between Leonard Cohen and Lana Del Ray. Expect an EP on fierce panda in the spring, featuring the solemn grandeur of ‘Goldtooth’. www.facebook.com/hisnameisleaone

** DJ SEYMOUR (WASHING MACHINE) is another local boy, steaming across from Bury St Edmunds where he has forged a name for heroically supporting his hometown scene either as frontman of Peel faves Miss Black America and Horse Party or as enthusiastic promoter and endorser of fellow musical dreamers. www.facebook.com/washingmachineclubnight/

www.johnpeelcentre.com
www.fiercepanda.co.uk