For those unfamiliar, the recently refurbished Wardrobe, just opposite Leeds College of Music, hosts a range of live music events. The likes of Boy & Bear, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and The Hunna have graced the venue with their presence, to name just a few. Wardrobe makes a point of supporting local talent, and tonight saw no exception. Featuring artists Pé, Mansion of Snakes and soul singer Gracie, the lineup lived up to the long, rolling genre of hip-hop, neo-soul, jazz, afrobeat and cosmic jazz advertised.

With its bare brick interior and haphazardly applied fairy lights, The Wardrobe was a friendly and ambient space to enjoy music in. The artists played on a sunken dance floor previously used for impromptu break dance battles before the acts began. Clearly, those in the audience were just as talented as those on stage, and speaking to people outside affirmed my judgement. The crowd were mainly music students, other band members, and those who generally knew which way was up when talking about music.

They also weren’t afraid to give out a little criticism — more afrobeat was demanded, and there was talk of acts trying too hard to shoehorn their sound into the rambling genre advertised. Despite this, the large variety of people that attended seemed to lift some spirits, including mine; I always find it a huge testament to the gig when more than one demographic comes along!

The night’s music can only be described as ‘smooth’. After predominantly instrumental jazz with hip hop beats, we were introduced to Pé’s MC Cazzo and singer Alice Higgins, who complimented each other in groovy harmony. However, the night seemed far less diverse than the description suggested, with limited afrobeat, and I left feeling no closer to knowing what ‘Cosmic Jazz’ even sounds like.

Leah Dolan