James Smith: Last News

Yard Act opened the main stage at Reading 2023 today (Friday August 25), paying tribute to Sam Fender as well as airing some impressive choreography. Check out photos, footage, and more below.While many gathered at the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage to catch the surprise secret set from Bombay Bicycle Club, Yard Act pulled an impressive crowd to open the Main Stage East.“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, from a recently gentrified suburb of North Leeds, the one, the only, Yard Act,” said frontman James Smith, introducing opener ‘Dead Horse’, which bled straight into ‘Dark Days’ before a set highlight and first mass sing-along of ‘Pay Day’.Dedicating ‘Pour One Out’ to “anyone who dragged themselves out of their tent just to see what’s going on”, Smith then invited the crowd to throw their hands up for the first spectacle of “audience participation”.Another highlight came from recent new single ‘Trench Coat Museum‘, complete with some impressive choreography courtesy of Smith and some dancers which the crowd had previously through were mannequins.Reading thread:first show- Yard Acthad no clue who they were.

Emily Longeretta This story contains spoilers from the first two episodes of “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On” Season 2, now streaming on Netflix. “The Ultimatum” is back with a new batch of uncertain couples. The first eight episodes, which dropped on Netflix on Aug. 23, introduced the five new pairs to meet each other and co-hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey.

Ellise Shafer Plimsoll Productions, an ITV Studios company, has promoted veteran producer James Smith to head of adventure. In his new position, Smith will focus on adventure programming and report to Martha Holmes, Plimsoll’s chief creative officer of natural history and science.

Yard Act have released their highly-anticipated new single ‘The Trench Coat Museum’ – check it out below.Arriving yesterday (July 12), the standalone single marks the band’s first original music since the release of their Mercury Prize-nominated 2022 debut album ‘The Overload’.According to the Leeds indie heroes, the song is one of reflection and self-awareness, and was co-produced by Gorillaz member Remi Kabaka Jr. Discussing the meaning behind the release, frontman James Smith elaborated on how the band have now reached a level of visibility which both “left us open to scrutiny and disdain just as much as love and appreciation.”“‘The Trench Coat Museum’ is about how our perception of everything shifts both collectively and individually over time at speeds we simply can’t measure in the moment,” he added.

DEALSUniversal Music Publishing China has signed a global publishing agreement with singer-songwriter Tia Ray. “Music brings people together”, she says. “It transcends borders, culture and gender.

Inflation continues to hit ordinary Scots hard with the cost of food and fuel remaining "eye-wateringly high". The rate at which prices rise on average remained 8.7 per cent in May, the same as the previous month.

Yard Act have spoken to NME about their new single ‘Trench Coat Museum’ and what to expect from their next album.The Leeds band have been playing the new song at recent gigs, and NME caught up with the band to talk about the track and their next steps during their recent hometown residency at the Brudenell Social Club.“That’s going to be the next single,” frontman James Smith revealed. “It’s out in a few weeks. It’s a stand-alone single and not on the next record.

The net profits of a drag version of ‘The Steamie’ will be donated to a children’s hospital that helped save the life of one of the actor’s nieces after a horrendous car collision in Bellshill.

A Lanarkshire man caught with heroin worth nearly £10,000 was a "useful idiot" for drug dealers, his lawyer has claimed.

With things starting to warm up following the recent cold snap, now is the perfect time to get out and see the best of what Scotland has to offer.

Yard Act have announced a five night residency at the Brudenell Social Club in their hometown of Leeds. The shows in May will see them supported by stand-up comedians, including Harry Hill, Nish Kumar, Rose Matafeo and Lolly Adefope.“Yard Act is all about entertainment”, says frontman James Smith.

Yard Act have teamed up with Mad Professor to create a dub version of their debut album ‘The Overload’ – fittingly titled ‘The Overdub’.“Back when I first moved to Leeds and discovered [record shop] Jumbo Records, I used to treat myself to a record with my student loan once every two or three weeks (bloody students, scrounging bastards)”, writes Yard Act frontman James Smith. “Jumbo always had (and still does have) an excellent dub/reggae selection – and actually released reggae records on its own ‘Jumbo label’ imprint back in the 70s (how ace is that?!)”.“I had a grounding in reggae from my dad who’d turned me onto the likes of Burning Spear and Linton Kwesi Johnson, but didn’t really know much about dub music beyond a Bob Marley record produced by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry he’d given me called ‘African Herbsman’”, he goes on.“I started dabbling in dub off the back of that.

An Aldi customer was left 'horrified' after allegedly finding two shards of broken glass or plastic in a quiche. James Smith said the unknown material 'crunched like a bone' when he took a bite of the cheese and onion tart.

Cambuslang Harriers athletes have done well in competitions in Germany, Scotland and Northern Ireland recently.

Phillip Schofield was quick to apologise to This Morning viewers after a guest broke a golden TV rule while appearing on the show. The presenter was back at the helm of the ITV daytime programme alongside Holly Willoughby on Thursday (September 22).

Yard Act have spoken to NME about what this year’s shortlist for the Mercury Prize 2022 says about guitar music – as well as plans for their next album and working with Elton John.The Yorkshire band were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their acclaimed debut album ‘The Overload‘ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz, Self Esteem and more.They were in attendance without frontman James Smith, “because of the trains,” said guitarist Sam Shjipstone, adding: “support the strikes.”Asked what the Mercury Prize shortlist says about music in 2022, Shjipstone replied: “There’s quite a lot of guitar music on it, which is quite weird. People are finally realising that the guitar is the greatest instrument ever made!”Bassist Ryan Needham added: “There’s quite a lot of rage and unrest lyrically across the whole thing, which is nice to see.

Elton John has claimed that women are making the best music with the exception of a few names including Sam Fender.The pop legend was speaking in a new interview when he praised the work of Nova Twins, Wet Leg, Let’s Eat Grandma, The Linda Lindas and Haim for producing “the best music” in the current climate.He told Music Week: “It’s so great to see Nova Twins, Wet Leg, Let’s Eat Grandma, The Linda Lindas, Haim and all these girls rocking out and making the best music. Apart from Sam Fender, none of the boys are doing it, the girls are.

Yard Act singer James Smith has spoken about the “amazing” experience of collaborating with Elton John for their new version of ‘100% Endurance’.The pop legend, who is a fan of the Leeds-based band, contributed piano to the new studio recording. ‘100% Endurance’ is the latest single released from Yard Act’s debut album ‘The Overload’, which was released in January.Speaking to Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1 today (July 6), as part of his UK City Spotlight on Leeds, Smith said: “We had a lovely afternoon together at Metropolis Studios in London.

Elton John has joined forces with Yard Act for a new studio version of ‘100% Endurance’.The pop legend, who is a fan of the Leeds-based band, has contributed piano to the new version. ‘100% Endurance’ is the latest single released from Yard Act’s debut album ‘The Overload‘, which was released in January.Explaining how the collaboration came about, Yard Act frontperson James Smith said: “Within our camp we have a saying, ‘Mad shit happens when you do art’. It means what it means.

Yard Act are set to release a new studio version of their track ‘100% Endurance’ featuring Elton John.The reworked track is slated to release on July 1, and will feature vocals and new instrumental arrangements from John, per a press release.Yard Act first released the original cut of ‘100% Endurance’ in January as part of their debut album ‘The Overload’. The track served as the album’s closer.In a press statement, Yard Act’s James Smith revealed how the collaboration came to be: “Elton John saw our stuff and he started telling the press he thought we were good and then we chatted on the phone and after a few calls I said ‘Elton, do you want to come to the studio and play piano on a tune?’ because, fuck it, it doesn’t matter if he says no.

Yard Act frontman James Smith has shared concert footage of him with his grandad covering Tom Jones‘ 1966 classic ‘Green Green Grass Of Home’.Smith took to Instagram to share a snippet of their cover at a recent gig in Warrington. You can view the footage below.“A few weeks ago my grandad Dave asked us if we knew ‘Green, Green Grass Of home’ by Tom Jones,” Smith wrote.