Yard Act: Last News

Independent Venue Week 2022 and why it’s more important than ever to shine a spotlight on these live music spaces.Between lockdowns, last-minute cancellations, high rents, Brexit uncertainty, and the  battle for meaningful government support, the last two years have seen the UK’s grassroots music scene endure unprecedented levels of instability. As the most recent wave of coronavirus starts to recede, it’s tempting to view 2022’s Independent Venue Week as something of a victory lap for those that have endured.“Now more than ever, it’s more and more important for small venues to be shouted about,” Julian Ive of Newcastle venue The Cluny told NME.

Primal Scream, Anne-Marie and Loyle Carner have been announced as the main headliners of Standon Calling 2022.The Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire festival will return this year from July 21-24, with Madness set to headline the opening night of the event on July 21.Standon Calling have today (February 2) confirmed their three other main headliners, while also announcing a host of new names for their 2022 line-up.Primal Scream, Anne-Marie and Loyle Carner will all headline, while the likes of Craig David Presents TS5, Sigrid, Sleaford Mods, Self Esteem, Sugababes, Annie Mac, John Grant, Yard Act, Kojey Radical, Example, Basement Jaxx (DJ), Grandmaster Flash, Ezra Furman, Kelly Lee Owens, Billy Nomates, Enny, Nadia Rose and Lynks will all perform.A post shared by Standon Calling (@standoncalling)“After the joy of bringing everyone together against the odds in 2021 we could not be more pleased to share this unbelievable line up for 2022,” Standon Calling Founder and Director Alex Trenchard said in a statement.“So many incredible artists are coming to Standon for the very first time, and with each year we get to enjoy this magical weekend with new and old friends from all around the UK! Standon Calling really is for everyone and this year we’re excited to bring you our most eclectic line-up to date!”Further line-up announcements are set to be made in due course. Weekend Camping and Thursday Day Tickets for Standon Calling 2022 are on sale now and available here.

Elton John spoke to his new favourite band Yard Act on his Rocket Hour radio show this week, telling the group he would “love to catch up” with them in person.John praised the rising Leeds outfit during an interview with NME last October, describing their musical style as “a different ballgame”. He added: “I can’t do it but I love it and I wonder how they do it.”Earlier this month, Yard Act frontman James Smith told NME that it was “mind-blowing” to receive an endorsement from the legendary artist.

The Great Escape has announced 100 more acts for its 2022 festival, including Yard Act, The Amazons and Rebecca Black.The Brighton music showcase will return between May 11-14, having cancelled its 2020 and 2021 editions due to COVID-related restrictions. Organisers confirmed the first 50 performers for this year last September.100 more artists have today (January 27) joined the line-up for The Great Escape 2022.Appearing alongside Yard Act, The Amazons and Rebecca Black on the bill are Baby Queen, Lola Young, The Goa Express, Phoebe Green, Dylan Fraser, English Teacher, Balming Tiger, Honeyglaze, Joe & The Shitboys and many more.Organisers are promising that “there’s much more to come” for TGE ’22.

Florence + The Machine have been announced as the next headliners of Øya Festival 2022.The Oslo, Norway festival will return this year from August 9-13, with Gorillaz, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Aurora also set to top the bill.Florence + The Machine have been joined on the Øya bill today (January 26) by Fontaines D.C., Parquet Courts and Porridge Radio.Those acts have all expanded the festival’s growing line-up, which already features the likes of AJ Tracey, Girl In Red, Pa Salieu, Michael Kiwanuka, Yard Act, Princess Nokia and Beabadoobee. The Øya bill is split 50/50 between male and female artists.A post shared by Øyafestivalen (@oyafestivalen)Weekend tickets for Øya Festival 2022 have sold out, but day tickets remain available from here.

Yard Act and Years & Years are in a close race for this week’s UK Number One album, with just 400 sales separating them.Last Friday (January 21) saw the rising Leeds band release their debut record ‘The Overload’ as Olly Alexander dropped Years & Years’ third studio effort ‘Night Call’. Both albums were awarded four stars by NME.As the Official Charts Company reports today (January 25), Yard Act are edging closer to securing their first Number One in the UK albums chart on Friday (January 28).Should the group achieve the victory, they would become the first act of 2022 to land at the top spot with their debut full-length.Fewer than 400 sales separate Yard Act and Years & Years in the chart battle as of today.

Franz Ferdinand on Monday (January 31), who will perform an acoustic track live from PJ Molloys.

Self Esteem, The Lathums and Yard Act.The two-day event will return for a 15th anniversary edition between April 30 and May 1, 2022. Tickets go on general sale here at 10am GMT this Friday (November 26).Today (November 24) organisers confirmed that Self Esteem and The Lathums will play debut festival headline sets, appearing on the bill alongside Yard Act, Alfie Templeman, The Reytons, Matilda Mann and more.“Positively thrilled to finally be making it to Liverpool next year, a lovely bit of font too!” said Self Esteem (aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor).The Lathums added: “It’s mental to see our name at the very top of a festival.

Yard Act have shared a new track called ‘Payday’ – you can listen to it below.The song is the latest preview of the Leeds band’s debut studio album ‘The Overload’, which is set for release on January 7 via Zen F.C.“‘Payday’ was one of the few tracks on the record we had to rebuild completely in the studio because the first demo was recorded on my computer and the hard drive corrupted,” explained frontman James Smith. “We spent about TWO hours trying to figure out that stupid keyboard part I’d put on it and couldn’t remember how to play.

SXSW Festival has announced the first music acts for their 2022 event.The annual music, film and media event is aiming to return to action in-person next year in Austin, Texas after its 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.SXSW’s music festival is set to run in multiple venues in Austin from March 14-20, with over 240 artists being announced so far.The likes of Horsegirl, Yard Act, Poppy Ajudha, Priya Ragu, Ezra Furman, Wargasm, Walt Disco, Maxo Kream, Aeon Station, Duma and more are all set to perform at SXSW 2022.A post shared by SXSW (@sxsw)“Our first round of Showcasing Artists is a taste of what you can expect to see at SXSW 2022; a diverse line-up full of adventurous talent that’s ripe for discovery,”

Yard Act have shared details of their debut album alongside its title track, ‘The Overload’.The album, which is released on January 7, 2022 via Zen F.C., precedes the band’s first headline tour (UK and Europe) early next year. The Leeds band also head out on the road autumn for previously announced dates.Title single ‘The Overload’ has arrived today (September 7) with a James Slater-directed music video, which you can watch below.Vocalist James Smith said of the new song: “‘The Overload’ serves as an overture to the album.

Yard Act has spoken out on the devastating impact that the post-Brexit touring mess is set to have on independent artists.Today sees the launch of the #LetTheMusicMove campaign, with the likes of Wolf Alice, IDLES, Poppy Ajudha, Radiohead among the 200 artists calling upon the UK government to urgently take action to resolve the ‘No Deal’ that has landed upon the British music when it comes to touring the continent after they to negotiate visa-free travel and Europe-wide work permits for musicians and crew.It is likely that musicians and crew will face huge costs to future live music tours of the continent – which could create a glass ceiling that prevents rising and developing talent from being able to afford to do so.“It’s just thrown