Yard Act

Originating from the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, Yard Act is a band comprising the talents of James Smith (vocals, lyrics), Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar), and Jay Russell (drums). The group made a resounding entry into the music scene with their debut album, "The Overload," released on January 21, 2022, immediately claiming the No. 2 spot on the UK Albums Chart.

Before the inception of Yard Act, frontman James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham had already left their mark in the Leeds music scene as members of Post War Glamour Girls and Menace Beach, respectively. Their collaboration on a split EP in 2016 set the stage for a creative partnership that would materialize in Yard Act. In September 2019, the duo took the plunge and cohabitated in a residence in Meanwood, bringing guitarist Sammy Robinson and drummer George Townend from Treeboy & Arc into the mix. The departure of Robinson eventually led to the inclusion of Sam Shipstone. Yard Act's early journey was marked by the independent release of four singles, later consolidated into the EP "Dark Days" in 2021.

Yard Act officially entered the music scene with "The Overload" on January 21, 2022, receiving acclaim and earning them a spot on the Eirewave 'The Next Big Thing' list. The collaboration with Elton John on the re-recorded version of "100% Endurance" in July 2022 added another milestone to their impressive journey.

Looking ahead, Yard Act is poised to captivate audiences once again with their second album, "Where’s My Utopia?," scheduled for release on March 1, 2024.

Musically, Yard Act defies categorization, seamlessly blending elements of post-punk and indie rock with influences spanning from 1970s Italo disco to '90s hip-hop and early 2000s indie rock.