I found it surprising that one of the most anticipated gigs of the month was being held at the Brudenell Social Club. I felt like both bands could easily sell out a much larger venue in Leeds, however during the show, the initimacy paired well with the soundscapes that they strived to create. Citizen and Turnover have multiple times proven themselves to be a cut above many other bands in their genres, with their reputations being cemented in my eyes by this first date of their UK tour.

Fellow label mates and Virginia rock band, Turnover, take to the stage as the second support of the night after a set from local alternative rock band, Fade. Having recently gone through a dramatic change in style with their 2015 release Peripheral Vision – subduing their earlier pop punk tinged sound with elements of dream pop, indie rock and shoegaze – they command the stage with their novel take on the emo revival genre, primarily performing songs off Peripheral Vision as well as a couple new numbers.

Citizen take the stage not long after Turnover’s departure. Although their set is relatively short, it is by far the most energetic of the night; opening with ‘The Summer’, vocalist Mat Kerekes delivers a raw and emotional performance that is mirrored in the crowd’s enthusiasm. Songs being played from their most recent output, Everybody Is Going To Heaven, receive a more subdued response; however, the overall ambience of Citizen’s set is never diminished, with the energy picking up for other songs the band play off their previous album, Youth. The band end with one of their most popular songs, ‘The Night I Drove Alone’, with the majority of the crowd shouting the lyrics back at Kerekes in a sentimental end to one of the best gigs of 2016 so far.

Zygmund de Somogyi