If you’re not yet aware, there is a mysterious DJ who is popping up and playing at different house parties around Hyde Park. Here’s the curious tale:

You won’t find him on Spotify and you certainly can’t book tickets for his next show. A tall, lanky freestyle musician has drawn attention this semester for delivering astounding live sets in the most unlikely places. In the past three weeks, Bean Man has been sighted at least six times playing gigs at parties and in public spaces. His performances weave between fast-paced satirical tracks and slower, stirring renditions of the classics. This correspondent was lucky enough to see Bean Man in the flesh last weekend.

Two weeks ago, a friend recounted to me a party in Hyde Park in which a stranger performed an impromptu set to around 200 people, hypnotizing the revellers. He wasn’t invited, performed a bizarre set with nothing but a keyboard, and disappeared promptly after finishing, shying away from a revering crowd. The story seemed ridiculous – more so when he told me the name of said performer, ‘Bean Man’. He assured me this was a genuine encounter with someone who was fast becoming a local celebrity. We decided to trawl several parties the following weekend, with the hope of bumping into the mystery man. By 2am we felt that a chance encounter was unlikely – then we got a message from another friend, at a party on Brudenell Road: “Come quick, Bean Man NOW.”

We stumbled into the party, following the music upstairs, to find an intimate gig of around fifty people, crowded around a bespectacled young man crouched over a keyboard. The music was not easy-listening. Many of his tracks started with jarring, repetitive synth beats. However, this is his process – he pieces together the elements of the music, one by one. The end result was something fascinating – raw, unrefined music, but ultimately entrancing. His final song was a request from the crowd, which was a comic reimagining of ‘Sandstorm’, by Darude. I think my reaction was similar to most others: initially perplexed, eventually blown away.

Bean Man (Sometimes ‘Bman’, or just ‘the bean guy’ depending on who you ask) has apparently rejected an invitation to play at one of Leeds’ larger event venues. This may well be fiction; with the growing rumours surrounding Bean Man, it’s hard to know what is fact and what is legend. Despite effectively no online presence, the performer has managed to build a unique reputation in Leeds. The rise of Bean Man attests to the enduring power of sharing music purely through word-of-mouth. But who is Bean-Man?

I’ve asked several friends and acquaintances for his details to get in touch, but to no avail. People have no idea who he really is. Although many suspect he’s a student at Leeds College of Music, other will swear he’s a fresher at Leeds University. This seems likely; before this semester, no-one had heard of the name ‘Bean Man’. Bean Man may well be a short-lived escapade or some kind of practical joke, but the buzz around him refuses to dissipate. Bean Man is one of the stranger things Leeds has produced in recent years, and I recommend you look out for him while you get the chance.

Ricky Blatherwick