Formed in Leeds, England in 2019, Yard Act is a British post-punk band comprised of James Smith (vocals), Ryan Needham (bass), Sammy Robinson (guitar, replaced in 2020 by Sam Shipton) and George Townend (drums, replaced in 2020 by Jay Russell). The groupâs first batch of singles in 2020 - including "The Trapper's Pelts", "Fixer Upper", "Peanuts" and "Dark Daysâ â established their style of black humour, cynicism, surrealism, and political consciousness. Yard Act released their debut album, The Overload, in January 2022. The album, which was nominated for the 2022 Mercury Prize, charted at Number 2 in England, Number 1 in Scotland and included the singles âPaydayâ, âRichâ, and âFor Anotherâ. The band's second LP Where's My Utopia? followed in March 2024 and took influence from disco and dance-rock rather than the post-punk of their previous work. The LP debuted at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and was followed by extensive touring across Europe and North America. Yard Act also appeared at Glastonbury and played their biggest hometown show at Leedsâ Millennium Square in August 2024. Later that year, they released the live EP Live at the Nave, featuring covers of songs by the Modern Lovers, Motörhead, the Osmonds and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. After further festival appearances in 2025, the band recorded its third album, Youâre Gonna Need a Little Music, with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen in Leeds and Los Angeles. Released on July 17, 2026, the album was introduced by the singles âRedeemerâ and âNew Beginnings.â
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