Local Bands

The band's first album Knowing Too Much, an eight-track CD, is out in January 2009 on local label Squirrel Records. The album was recorded both in Brudenell Social Club and a basement in Hyde Park with Matt Robson (Random Number) as producer.

"We also hope to have a download available but we hope to sell quite a few on CD.

"Life in the band is great at the moment, we've got an agent looking in to UK and European tours. We're a quite low-fi, indie pop band in the same vein historically as The Wedding Present or Tse Tse Fly."

Ged, 32, works at Leeds Met as a learning facilitator.

"Playing in the band helps with the stresses of the job, music can be stressful too especially in a band, but it is where my passion is and a great outlet.

In the garden with Downdime (E Durand)

"We'd like to do more gigs and tours, and try and get another release out soon. Playing in the band with all your mates is great. Don't get me wrong, of course it would be nice if the record took off but this isn't about being a professional musician it's more about having fun.

"When we played Brudenell Social Club at New Year we've got lots of good friends in the local music community and it was good to be there, Leeds is good at the moment.

"We've had the same line-up for four years and it works for us, we are great friends."

So life's looking good for Downdime. By the way Ged, where does the name come from?

"I had a pet dog, called Dime and I used to say 'Down Dime!' That's where it came from lots of people put other meanings on but that's the story."