The Blanche Hudson Weekend

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Blanche Hudson Weekend

| origin = Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

| genre = Alternative rock, indie rock

| years_active = 2009–present

| label = Squirrel Records (UK), Odd Box Records (UK)

| associated_acts = Pop Threat, Ailsa Craig, The Manhattan Love Suicides, Girl One and the Grease Guns

| website = [http://www.squirrelrecords.co.uk/the-blanche-hudson-weekend Official website]

| current_members = Caroline McChrystal
Darren Lockwood
Chris Shake
Lee Hooper
Sasha Delirium

}}

The Blanche Hudson Weekend is a UK-based indie band, originating from Leeds and formed in 2009. The band is named after the fictional character portrayed by Joan Crawford in the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, which itself is based on the Henry Farrell novel of the same name.{{cite news|url=http://www.thenewcurrent.com/2010/09/24/tnc-interview-the-blanche-hudson-weekend-ica-london/|accessdate=7 May 2011 |title=TNC Interview: The Blanche Hudson Weekend |publisher=thenewcurrent.com}}{{cite news|url=http://www.punkrockistnichttot.com/album-review-the-blanche-hudson-weekend-reverence-severance-spite/|accessdate=7 May 2011 |title=Album Review: The Blanche Hudson Weekend |publisher=punkrockistnichttot.com}} The band was formed by Darren Lockwood and Caroline McChrystal after the split of their former band The Manhattan Love Suicides in July 2009. AllMusic's Margaret Reges described the band as "[...] a twee pop outfit whose blissfully buzzy, girl group-influenced tunes drew heavily from seminal twee pop acts like the Shop Assistants, Dolly Mixture, and Talulah Gosh",{{cite news|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/the-blanche-hudson-weekend-p2069591/biography|accessdate=9 May 2011 |title=The Blanche Hudson Weekend Bio |publisher=AllMusic}} and the band have cited the British indie pop band The Primitives as an influence.{{cite news |url=http://www.scaredtodance.co.uk/2010/12/25/the-blanche-hudson-weekend-interview/|accessdate=10 June 2011 |title=Scared To Dance Interview |publisher=scaredtodance.co.uk}}

Initially the band were a studio-only project with various guests helping on recordings. They released their debut 7", an EP titled The Letters to Daddy, on Squirrel Records in November 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.soundsxp.com/artman2/publish/news/Blanche_Hudson_Weekend_debut_single_out_next_week.shtml|accessdate=9 May 2011 |title=Blanche Hudson Weekend debut single out next week |publisher=soundsxp.com}}{{cite news|url=http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/11447/|accessdate=10 June 2011|title=The Blanche Hudson Weekend to release their debut single on 23rd November |publisher=leedsmusicscene.net}} On 20 July 2010 the band debuted its live line-up for the first time.{{cite news|url=http://www.artrocker.tv/live/article/the-blanche-hudson-weekend-insect-guide-the-wilmington-london|accessdate=9 May 2011 |title=The Blanche Hudson Weekend / Insect Guide @ The Wilmington, London |publisher=artrocker.tv}} The band then released two further 7" singles,{{cite news|url=http://drownedinsound.com/news/4140379-listen--the-blanche-hudson-weekend-let-me-go|accessdate=9 May 2011|title=Listen: The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Let Me Go|publisher=drownedinsound.com|archive-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010151043/http://drownedinsound.com/news/4140379-listen--the-blanche-hudson-weekend-let-me-go|url-status=dead}} followed by a 17-track compilation CD, released on the band's own Squirrel Records imprint at the end of 2010, titled Reverence, Severance and Spite.{{cite news |url=http://www.squirrelrecords.co.uk/the-blanche-hudson-weekend/reverence-severance-and-spite/|accessdate=10 June 2011 |title=News From The Squirrel: 14th October 2010 |publisher=squirrelrecords.co.uk}}{{cite news |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/reverence-severance-and-spite-r2054193|accessdate=10 June 2011 |title=Reverence, Severance and Spite |publisher=AllMusic}} The band's debut album, titled You Always Loved Violence, was released on 10 October 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.squirrelrecords.co.uk/the-blanche-hudson-weekend/you-always-loved-violence/|accessdate=1 September 2011 |title=You Always Loved Violence|publisher=squirrelrecords.co.uk}} The three-track limited edition Deep Thrust EP was released on Odd Box Records on 12 November 2012{{cite news|url=http://oddboxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/deep-thrust-ep|accessdate=26 February 2013 |title=Deep Thrust EP |publisher=oddboxrecords.bandcamp.com}} as a prelude to a new album to be entitled How Many Times Have You Let Me Die?, scheduled for release on 8 April 2013.{{cite news |url=http://oddboxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/how-many-times-have-you-let-me-die|accessdate=26 February 2013|title=How Many Times Have You Let Me Die? |publisher=oddboxrecords.bandcamp.com}}