Wakefield's Long Division music festival lauches television channel

The festival, held across venues across the city and now in its 10th year, was due to be held over the June 5 weekend but was postposted until November because of the of pandemic.

But director Dean Freeman and the team will broadcast a series of talks, panels, masterclasses and performances on the original dates.

The LD:TV lineup will include Billy Bragg, The Lovely Eggs, The Wedding Present, Pictish Trail, Hands Off Gretel, and Dead Naked Hippies among others.

Wakefield Cathedral has been used as a venue during Long Division.

Dean said: “This temporary normal of not seeing friends and family, of no live music or socialising has been tough for lots of people.

“And though we’re excited for what November will bring, I couldn’t let June pass without some excitement. I put out a few tentative emails to our many friends from over the years and was really chuffed to have so many positive responses.

“The idea behind the shows is not to overwhelm people with endless live streams, but almost present a ‘best-of’ Long Division, but with brand new, specially recorded songs and chats.

“Make a brew, grab a beer and get a taste of those festival vibes ahead of November in Wakefield.”

He hoped the music industry-tailored aspects of the event would be useful to creative people stuck in limbo as the country’s cultural scene remains at a halt.

Three episodes have been confirmed for LD:TV standing in for Wakefield’s Long Division festival.

A stream of the full live set of garage band Knuckle’s largest ever Wakefield show at a packed Warehouse 23 from November 2019 will be broadcast online on June 5.

Discussions of where Covid-19 leaves the music industry, including chat from organisations such as Help Musicians, BBC Introducing and others, will be held 2pm on June 6. Friends of

Long Division Festivals past and present come together for newly recorded songs, sessions, interviews and other surprises in one big programme at 8pm that night.

For more lineup details and information on how to watch the free show visit longdivisionfestival.co.uk/ldtv.