Ellen & the Escapades named as Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition finalists

Alumni band Ellen & the Escapades is one of 11 acts to go through to the live Emerging Talent Competition finals, where they'll compete for a main stage slot at this year's Glastonbury Festival! The Glastonbury website describe the band as "dragging the folk rock and psychedelic pop of the late '60s into the present, Leeds-based Ellen And The Escapades sound like a youthful Kirsty McColl, with clever, catchy pop songs and some reeling melodies, not to mention the occasional harmonica". The band is ND Pop alumni Ellen Smith (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar) and Andy Calder (Bass) alongside third year BA Popular Musaic Studies students Chris Quick (Keys, Backing Vocals), Jeff Schneider (Guitar, Backing Vocals) and James Warrender (Drums). The band is developing a substanial following, having performed on the BBC Introducing stage at last year's Leeds/Reading festivals. The band was chosen to play at the Live at Leeds launch event in January of this year and will also perform during the Live at Leeds festival in May. The band released their first single ‘Without You’ in 2009 on their home-grown record label ‘Branch Out Records’. Having been played by Alan Raw on BBC Radio Leeds, the single was picked up by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 2, and Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6. www.myspace.com/ellenandtheescapades