Every month The Barn Coffee Shop welcomes the best performers to Meanwood Valley Urban Farm Leeds.

“Loving these Acoustic Nights” “super food, excellent coffee” “such a great buzz” “Blooming amazing concert” “Phenomenal night” “You have an amazing thing going on”

In March 2025 we're privileged to host a concert with NICK BATTLE ex After The Fire and Writz.

Four recent albums of Americana-influenced songs. Worked with Spice Girls, George Benson, Take That, Boyzone ... Written songs with Natasha Bedingfield, Gary Barlow, David Grant ... His songs recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Cliff Richard, Michael Ball ...

"brilliant"

"prolific songwriter"

"songs that touch the human heart"

NICK BATTLE BIO

Nick Battle has enjoyed a long and varied career in the music industry. He was in 70's prog rock band After The Fire, where he played bass and violin on their debut album, ‘Signs Of Change’, he worked with Godley & Creme when they produced Writz ( another band Nick was in) and worked at IRS records in the 80's as an A&R man (his first top 10 hit was the novelty record by Karel Fialka) ‘Hey Matthew’ he  also nearly got fired for doing a radio edit on R.E.M.’s single, ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It’.

He ran his own independent record promotion business from 1988-1993 and his clients included George Benson, Sir Cliff Richard, Ronnie Wood, Take That, Clannad, & Paul Hardcastle among many others.

In 1993 he helped start the music publisher Windswept Pacific Music Ltd and introduced Simon Fuller (his former client) and the Spice Girls to the company. At the height of the company's success they enjoyed 44 top 40 hits in one year with a team of just two creative staff. He has over the years been a music consultant to, Peer Music Ltd, Plangent Visions Ltd, Rock Music Ltd, EMI Records, Syco Records, Bucks Music Ltd and Decca Records.

He has had his songs recorded by the actress Jane Horrocks, Michael Ball, Sir Cliff Richard , opera singer Jonathan Veira, Karel Fialka, and Engelbert Humperdinck and has written with Chaz Jankel, Natasha Bedingfield, Tony Swain, Gary Barlow, Eliot Kennedy & David Grant to name a few…

In the ‘90’s he  served on the Ivor Novello's committee as well as the MPA Pop Publishers committee .Between 1993-2003 his first wife fought a ten year battle with cancer and this led to him founding the Gravel Road Trust a registered charity for carers, and patients dealing with long term illness and also the bereaved which he ran for 15 years.

In the noughties while writing books (two with Eric Delve) published by Hodder & Stoughton. 'The Billy Fidget Letters', & 'Billy Fidgets Family Fortunes', about a foul mouthed feckless forty year old and some others he prefers to forget about…

He managed the record producer Kipper ( Sting,’ Brand New Day/Sacred Love etc) he was  a pundit talking to Jeremy Vine, as well as numerous BBC local radio stations, usually the subject was music, but he was also known to talk about sex and celebrity. He claims to be an expert on at least one of these subjects…..he also managed Elizabeth McGovern’s band , Sadie & The Hotheads and for three and a half years had his own radio show, ‘Men At Work’, @ Premier Radio where he interviewed among many stellar guests, Lulu, Martine McCutcheon, Lord Hastings, Elizabeth McGovern, Simon Reeve, Colin Blunstone, politicians, TV presenters, musicians,and even some braver members of the clergy would all beat a path to his door. He also found time to work as  an Executive Producer for Decca/Universal and made records with, Michael Ball (four albums) the Honeyriders, Engelbert Humperdinck and Russell Watson.

In the last two years his songs have  also been featured in tv series, ‘Firefly Lane,’(Netflix), ‘Pretty Little Liars’, (Apple) & ‘East New York’ (CBS)

At present he runs a small music publishing company, (which among mainly Nick’s songs) also looks after the copyright, 'Let's Get Ready To Rumble' by Ant & Dec.

He is happiest when he’s working with truly creative people and if he could he would spend EVERY DAY writing and recording songs.

His musical heroes are Hall & Oates, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, Kris Kristofferson, Ralph McTell, Johnny Cash, Carole King, James Taylor and Paul McCartney.

He lives in Cornwall has three children, two now in their thirties, a teenage son ,a Boxer dog and a miniature Schautzer.

He lives to create, communicate and on a good day be compassionate.

He was also a funeral celebrant and took close to 700 funerals between 2015- 2023 and is currently writing a new book about his life and work in Cornwall.

Tentatively titled, ‘The Crem De La Crem’ ….

Since 2016 he has made four albums, ‘Big Heart’, ‘Love Is A Long Road, ’The Finish Line’ & the latest and he believes his best, ‘Audience Of One' is now available from all good digital sources.

He has performed, published, promoted, produced, signed talent some of it dubious and now in his 67th year wants to know why some folk think he’s too old to make records.

As he says, ‘The world may not be waiting for what I do, but it makes me happy and whether there are 2, 22, 222,or  2 million people listening I’m just happy to try and create something that will touch peoples heart and soul.

For tickets information see Tickets below.

THE CONCERT WILL BE A PART SEATED AND PART STANDING EVENT.

SEATS ALLOCATED ON FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

PRIORITY GIVEN TO ADVANCED TICKET HOLDERS.

Hot Food and Coffee on Sale from 7pm | BYOB

It is recommended that you ARRIVE EARLY at the venue from 7pm to allow time to order your coffee and/or food and get the best seats.

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Acoustic Nights concert photos.

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One of the inspirations behind Acoustic Nights @ The Barn is to introduce high-quality independent music at an affordable ticket price reaching out to the local lively community. The Barn concert buzz is an intimate gig aiming to attract the local neighbourhood and wider community creating an opportunity to make social connections and interact with others in an informal, friendly and entertaining environment.

Eating together is one of the coolest parts of the unique atmosphere where food and ethically sourced coffee is available prior to and at the concert interval.

The Barn Coffee Shop, based in Meanwood, an inner suburb of Leeds, love to see community activities and groups meeting in the coffee shop and exist to see loneliness reduced in the local area. Volunteering opportunities and training and work experience placements are available for local individuals including: young people, people with learning difficulties, those seeking work/returning to work, and the older generation looking to keep active. As a social enterprise, they give all their profit to help local community projects.

After covering overhead costs the Acoustic Nights door money is given to the artist as they depend on income from live performances to finance their expenses and music vision.

BRING A FRIEND

Free Car Parking available in the Meanwood Valley Urban Farm large car park.

Also available is Wheelchair access. Please email Andrew at the venue on barnacousticnights@gmail.com if you need to discuss accessibility.