Antony Szmierek

Manchester-based musician and writer Antony Szmierek brings his blend of spoken word, indie pop and electronica to O2 Academy Leeds on 8 October 2026. Emerging from poetry nights and performance circles, he first shared tracks online in the early 2020s, sketching everyday scenes, city wanderings and intimate portraits. His delivery sits close to rap without tipping into it, conversational and rhythmic, with a focus on pacing and narrative detail.

His EP Poems To Dance To (2023) set the tone: spoken verses that lean into melodic choruses, carried by warm synths and grooves that nod to house and downtempo hip-hop. On stage, Szmierek keeps arrangements clear so the words breathe, then lets hooks rise when the pulse tightens. He moves between full-band energy and more stripped formats, playing with space and proximity to keep the room engaged. Expect a set where storytelling and beat work side by side, the cadence leading the way as the electronics hold the floor.