With a steady flow of investment rapidly transforming the city into a prominent financial and cultural hub, the floodgates have opened for an array of eclectic talents to emerge and fill the creative spaces of venues like Brudenell Social Club and Belgrave Music Hall. It’s an exciting time for the city’s music scene and here are just a few of the many new and under-appreciated artists to call West Yorkshire home.
Eagulls
Eagulls’ misanthropic yet melodic punk is distorted, discordant and delightful. Think of something between The Damned and The Smiths and you’re almost there. Their debut album is out very soon on Partisan Records, with the band on tour currently promoting it.
https://soundcloud.com/partisan-records/eagulls-possessed
Eagulls will play Brudenell Social Club on Thursday 6th March
Menace Beach
Their recently released Lowtalker EP has been generating some buzz of late – and with good reason. ‘Fortune Teller’ is a glorious slice of My Bloody Valentine-esque fuzzed-out alt-rock goodness. The duo’s live performances have featured members of Pulled Apart By Horses and Mansun, making them some kind of indie supergroup.
Menace Beach will be supporting Tokyo Police Club at The Cockpit on Monday 31st March and tickets are available here.
Adult Jazz
Everyone loved Leeds Uni graduates Alt-J in 2012, and now Adult Jazz are making waves with similarly soulful, off-kilter art-rock. Their debut single ‘Springful’ combines sparse beats with shimmering moments of cascading guitar and ethereal noise – ones to watch.
Sky Larkin
These guys have been around since 2005, and remain one of the most underrated acts in the UK. Their latest single ‘Newsworthy’, taken from their third album, is a fine example of their brand of sprightly, smart indie rock, which has won the hearts of many over the years.
Sky Larkin will play Brudenell Social Club on Monday 26th May as part of Gold Sounds Festival w/ Cloud Nothings. Tickets are available here.
Vessels
Another group to have first appeared a few years ago, Vessels’ progressive post-rock has taken a beat-driven, dance/electronica turn of late, and with results like ‘Elliptic’, long may it continue.
Vessels will play Belgrave Music Hall on Thursday 27th March and tickets are available here.
Fun Adults
Fun Adults’ debut single ‘Sap Solid’ from 2012 is all spidery guitar lines and sparse beats, combined with lilting harmonies to create a danceable, subtle track with heart. Their next release promises to be something really special.
https://soundcloud.com/funadults/sap-solid
Imp
The self-released debut album Moon Coastal Maine came out last year – recalling early Flaming Lips, imp’s lo-fi psych pop is bursting with character and childlike joy, as exemplified by the wonderfully schizophrenic ‘Die!’
Imp will play The Library Pub on Friday 28th March and tickets are available here.
Hookworms
Last but not least, psychedelic noise-rockers Hookworms’ Away/Towards is just under nine minutes of pure visceral assault on the ears – truly awesome. Seeing Hookworms live is a must for those who like it loud.
Hookworms will be playing at the nearby Beacons Festival over the 7th-10th August weekend. Check out the Beacons lineup here.
Jake Maiden