“It’s now my great pleasure to introduce to you // The greatest voice of the entire century”
This cheeky quote is how the second album from Leeds’ exports, Yard Act, opens. Where’s My Utopia? further cements the credentials of a band that was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for their debut, The Overload and played festivals around the world.
This included coming to Australia to play the return of the Laneway Festival in 2023. Their tour included an intimate show at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory, which Dylan Marshall described as being, “…great fun and worth your hard earned.”
They went huge on their debut, so have they followed up up sufficiently? You bet they have. The album is playful, witty and keeps you on your toes. It’s hard to know which direction they’ll go next, but you can be sure it’s cock-sure and entertaining.
Where The Overload grabbed our ears, Where’s My Utopia? really makes us listen to where lead singer James Smith is coming from. It’s that mix of sardonic and cheek on stage that makes Yard Act a must-see on stage.
So, it’s time to get around them once more. Once they’re finished their run of European Festivals (including a smashing Glastonbury set), and tripping around the US and Mexico they do the long haul to Australia for just four shows over six days. You don’t want to miss them this time.
Tuesday 12 November – Factory Theatre, Gadigal Land, Sydney
Wednesday 13 November – Croxton Bandroom, Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Land, Melbourne
Thursday 14 November – The Triffid, Jagera Turrbal Land, Brisbane
Sunday 17 November – Freo.Social, Whadjuk Noongar Land, Perth
Tickets on sale now via Handsome Tours.
