Yard Act

Yard Act take over O2 Academy Leeds on 6 November 2026, a home date for the quartet that has reshaped the UK’s post-punk landscape since 2020. Formed around vocalist James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham, the band built its identity on sharp, observational writing and a dry sense of humour, mixing spoken-sung narratives with taut rhythms. Their debut album The Overload (2022) crystallised that approach: lean grooves, wiry guitars and lyrics that sketch everyday characters with irony and bite. On stage, the pieces snap into focus. Smith’s deadpan flow rides Needham’s basslines, guitars dart in and out, and the drums drive without fuss, leaving space for the words to hit. It’s storytelling set to a pulse, swinging between disillusion and sideways grins, rooted in Leeds and looking straight at the present. For this Leeds show, expect a set that traces their path from early singles to The Overload, keeping the spotlight on narrative, rhythm and that distinctive, no-frills energy.