Yard Act
Landscapeyes
Backgroundgroup_or_band
OriginLeeds, West Yorkshire, England
GenrePost-punk · indie rock
Years active2019–present
LabelIsland, Zen F.C.
Websitewww.yardactors.com
Current members
  • James Smith
  • Ryan Needham
  • Sam Shipstone
  • Jay Russell
Past members
  • Sammy Robinson
  • George Townend

Yard Act are a British rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, composed of James Smith (vocals, lyrics), Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums).[1] Their debut album, The Overload, was released on 21 January 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.[2] They released their second album, Where's My Utopia?, on 1 March 2024.

History

Prior to forming the band, vocalist James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham had both been members of other Leeds-based bands. Smith was a member of Post War Glamour Girls and Needham played in Menace Beach, two bands that released a split EP together in 2016.[3] After the release of the EP, the pair began discussing forming a band together, a plan that eventually came to fruition in September 2019, when the pair moved into a house together in Meanwood. They soon recruited guitarist Sammy Robinson and drummer George Townend who played together in Treeboy & Arc.[4] During this period, Robinson departed from the group, leading to the recruitment of Sam Shipstone.[4] Prior to the announcement of their debut album, the band had only released a total of four singles independently. These singles were then compiled onto an EP, titled Dark Days, released in 2021.[5]

Their debut album, The Overload, was released on 21 January 2022.[6][7] The group was "one to watch" in the BBC's Sound of 2022 shortlist.[8] The group was also named one of Paste's "Best New Artists of 2021".[9] On 1 July 2022, a re-recorded version of "100% Endurance" was released featuring a collaboration with Elton John.[10]

Their second album, Where's My Utopia?, was released on 1 March 2024. The group released the single "Redeemer" in May 2026 as a single for their third album, You're Gonna Need A Little Music, set to release on 17 July 2026.[11]

Musical style

Critics have categorised the band's music as post-punk[12] and indie rock,[13] often making use of elements of 1970s Italo disco, '90s hip-hop and early 2000s indie rock.[4]

Their lyrics are often political, discussing opposition to topics including capitalism, gentrification and social class, told using "dark humour and cynical storytelling".[13] Their lyrics also take a surrealist style, such as on the song "Payday" from their first album.

Members

Current members

  • James Smith – lead vocals (2019–present)
  • Ryan Needham – bass, backing vocals (2019–present)
  • Sam Shipstone – guitar, backing vocals (2020–present)
  • Jay Russell – drums, percussion (2020–present)

Current touring musicians

  • Christopher Duffin – keyboards, percussion, saxophone, sampler (2022–present)
  • Daisy Smith – backing vocals, percussion, dancing (2024–present)
  • Lauren Fitzpatrick – backing vocals, percussion, dancing (2024–present)

Former members

  • Sammy Robinson – guitar (2019–2020)
  • George Townend – drums (2019–2020)

Discography

Yard Act
ArtistYard Act
Studio2
Ep2
Singles14

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
[3]		AUS
[14]		BEL
(FL)
[15]		SCO
[3]
The Overload2891481
Where's My Utopia?
  • Released: 1 March 2024
  • Label: Island, Zen F.C.
  • Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
4—1565
You're Gonna Need a Little Music
  • To be released: 17 July 2026
  • Label: Republic
  • Formats:LP, CD, digital download, streaming
colspan="4"

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Dark Days
  • Released: 19 January 2021
  • Label: Zen F.C.
  • Formats: 12-inch vinyl, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
100% Endurance (Elton John Version)
  • Released: 1 July 2022
  • Label: Universal Music Operations Limited
  • Formats: 7-inch vinyl, digital download, streaming

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"The Trapper's Pelts"[16]2020Dark Days EP
"Fixer Upper"[17]
"Peanuts"[18]
"Dark Days"[19]2021
"The Overload"[20]The Overload
"Land of the Blind"[21]
"Payday"[22]
"Rich"[23]2022
"Pour Another"[24]
"100% Endurance"[25]
"The Trench Coat Museum"[26]2023
"Dream Job"[27]Where's My Utopia?
"Petroleum"[28]
"We Make Hits"[29]2024
"When the Laughter Stops"[30]
(featuring Katy J Pearson)
"Redeemer"2026You're Gonna Need a Little Music

Accolades

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
2021AnchorReeperbahn Festival International Music Awardrowspan="4"[31]
2022NME AwardsBest New Act in the Worldrowspan="2" [32]
Best New Act from the UK
2022SXSWGrulke Prize 'Developing Non-U.S. Act'[33]
2022Mercury PrizeAlbum of the YearThe Overload[34]

References

  1. ^ "Yard Act's carefully woven reality deftly picks apart our own in the search for something bigger". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. ^ Savage, Mark (28 January 2022). "Meat Loaf albums return to the UK charts after his death". BBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Yard Act | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ Williams, Jenessa. "Yard Act: Creating punk beyond what we already know – that the Tories are bad". Loudandquiet.com. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  5. ^ Skinner, Tom (19 January 2021). "Listen to Yard Act's post-apocalyptic new single 'Dark Days'". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  6. ^ Krol, Charlotte (7 September 2021). "Yard Act announce debut album 'The Overload' and share title track". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  7. ^ DeVille, Chris (8 September 2021). "Yard Act – "The Overload"". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  8. ^ Maclure, Abbey (18 December 2021). "Yard Act interview: Meet the Leeds rock band tipped as one to watch in the BBC Sounds of 2022 longlist". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  9. ^ "The 40 Best New Artists of 2021". Paste. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  10. ^ Krol, Charlotte (July 2022). "Elton John collaborates with Yard Act for new version of their song '100% Endurance'". NME. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Yard Act Announce New Album 'You're Gonna Need A Little Music': Hear "Redeemer"". stereogum.com. 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  12. ^ Empire, Kitty (2 October 2021). "Yard Act review – spiky chroniclers of sour times". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  13. ^ Fleischer, Norman. "Yard Act Are The Hottest New Indie Rock Band In Town And "Rich" Proves It". Nothing but Hope and Passion. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1702. Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 October 2022. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Yard Act – The Overload" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  16. ^ "The Trapper's Pelts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  17. ^ "Fixer Upper / The Trapper's Pelts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  18. ^ "Peanuts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  19. ^ "Dark Days / Peanuts, by Yard Act". Yard Act. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  20. ^ Krol, Charlotte (7 September 2021). "Yard Act announce debut album 'The Overload' and share title track". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  21. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (28 October 2021). "Yard Act – "Land Of The Blind"". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  22. ^ Skinner, Tom (23 November 2021). "Listen to Yard Act's new "anti-capitalist anthem" 'Payday'". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  23. ^ Doria, Matt (7 January 2022). "Listen to Yard Act's tongue-in-cheek new single 'Rich'". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Yard Act share new single 'Pour Another'". DIY. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  25. ^ Reilly, Nick (18 May 2022). "Yard Act enlist David Thewlis for '100% Endurance' music video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  26. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (13 July 2023). "Listen to Yard Act's self-referential new single 'The Trench Coat Museum'". NME. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  27. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (25 October 2023). "Yard Act Announce New Album 'Where's My Utopia?' and Share 'Dream Job'". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  28. ^ Carter, Daisy (1 December 2023). "Yard Act share new album preview 'Petroleum'". DIY. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  29. ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler (15 January 2024). "Yard Act return with the self-fulfilling prophecy, "We Make Hits"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  30. ^ Skinner, Tom (2024-02-09). "Watch Yard Act play the clowns in new video for 'When The Laughter Stops' featuring Katy J Pearson". NME. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  31. ^ "Yard Act wins Anchor 2021 | ANCHOR - Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award". Anchor-award.com. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
  32. ^ Trendell, Andrew (27 January 2022). "BandLab NME Awards 2022: Full list of nominations revealed". NME. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Yard Act Take Home SXSW Prize For 'Developing Non-U.S. Act' | ANCHOR - Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award". 21 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  34. ^ "Shortlist". Mercuryprize.com. Retrieved 2022-10-25.