Leeds Best New Bands
We explore the sound of exciting emerging music talent in Leeds...
The music scene of Leeds is humming with great new bands and artists.
The city was put firmly in the public consciousness in 2024 thanks to English Teacher and their Mercury Prize win. But the group are at the tip of an iceberg of great new talent that could break out in 2025.
As ICMP looks to launch its undergraduate music courses in Leeds in September of this year, we explore some of the city's most exciting new artists...
Hang Linton
Hang Linton (pictured above) is a Leeds-based artist bringing together disparate musical shards to inform his sound. Musically, there are traces of hip hop, indie guitars and breakbeats, put together much in the same way as fellow musical magpies such as Damon Albarn or Ghostpoet.
For fans of new wave, post punk and spoken word, Hang Linton's music takes sonic pointers from all corners of our creative compass.
'Made in Grey Britain' was recently named track of the week via BBC Introducing for Leeds and Sheffield and he's been a regular live performer in Leeds venues, including the Brudenell Social Club where he soon supports the Big Special.
Gladboy
Anyone who arrived early to catch Mercury Prize winners English Teacher on tour towards the end of 2024 will have borne witness to the music of fellow Leeds band Gladboy.
Describing themselves as a group of "groovy, plunderphonic, Junkedelic misfits, a flop group for hire," Gladboy plunder various musical moments to make their own DIY indie sound.
Stalwarts of the Leeds' local scene, the band are an exciting outfit to watch out for in 2025.
Shaene
If dreamy, melancholic guitar music is your bag, then Leeds artist Shaene is a must-hear.
The artist has been catching the eyes and ears of tastemakers, particularly since the release of her debut album, 'time lost/time regained'.
The album explores how childhood experiences can have a long lasting impact on relationships amid themes of mental health and the trans experience.
Shaene was among the artists featured on the fourth edition of Come Play With Me's compilation album, 'Side By Side'. This was released in 2024 to support women, marginalised genders, LGBTQ+ artists and people of colour with ties to the North of England.
Lucky Iris
Lucky Iris are electronic pop duo Maeve and Jasper who make what they describe as "music to dance or cry to".
The pair have been fixtures on the local Leeds scene over the last 18 months, having performed at Live at Leeds and been supported by BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music with a sync on reality show, 'Love Island'. They recently performed at the Youth Music Awards and played a well-received Leeds show at the Wax Bar.
Pop stardom potentially beckons for their music which delves into self-discovery, friendship, and finding hope in challenging times.
Listen to 'Give me something to believe in' below:
Spielmann
Ben Lewis is Spielmann, a local Leeds artist who has tried his hand at promoting, producing alongside being a guitarist in Menace Beach (a band launched by Ryan Needham of Yard Act fame).
Ben's latest venture as Spielmann was unveiled in 2024 with his debut EP, 'Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann'.
A release similar in sound to the Killers or War on Drugs, he played, recorded, produced and mixed all aspects of the EP, along with creating the artwork and lyric videos. Definitely an artist to keep close tabs on in 2025.
Adult DVD
Initially born out of Covid lockdown boredom, Adult DVD are a multi-limbed musical outfit straddling the worlds of indie and dance. Their sound is one that is hard to resist with Louder than War describing them as offering a "uniquely Yorkshire-flavoured brand of LCD Soundsystem indebted bangers".
Alongside the musicianship and armoury of synths, there is also a sense of fun that features in their music as part of a brilliant live show.
The group are one of Leeds' brightest stars, having finished 2024 with a sold out show at London's 100 Club and starting 2025 with a gig at the Lexington as part of the Line of Best Fit's Five Day Forecast.
Draags
Queer punk group Draags bring the energy to their local Leeds scene, performing DIY shows full of raw guitar music.
They take their name from the blue aliens in the seventies animated film 'Fantastic Planet' and have a sound that slurps from many different genres including hardcore, prog and jazz alongside their punk leanings.
Draags are regulars at experimental hub Wharf Chambers and also feature a classically trained Neapolitan opera singer as their lead singer.
Thank
Thank are another Leeds-based guitar band with the king of indie, Steve Lamacq describing them as "mischievous agit-rock philosophers".
Heavy drums and synths skirmish with guitars in their sound while frontman Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe is adored in Leeds and beyond for his lyrical dexterity. The band first met in local community space Chunk and have since taken their sound all over the UK.
Dates for 2025 so far include a small tour alongside some bigger festival sets at events including Truck Festival, 2000 Trees and the Manchester Punk Festival.
Take the first steps in your music career with ICMP
We've been developing and delivering contemporary music education for over 30 years – longer than any other music school in the UK. With a proven track-record, countless music industry connections and unrivalled access to facilities, it's easy to see why hundreds of students choose ICMP each year.
To completely immerse yourself in your music career, chat with our friendly Admissions Team via email enquiries@icmp.ac.uk or give them a call on 020 7328 0222.
Find your course
We've been developing and delivering contemporary music education for over 30 years – longer than any other music school in the UK. With a proven track-record, countless music industry connections and unrivalled access to facilities, it's easy to see why hundreds of students choose ICMP each year.
To completely immerse yourself in your music career, chat with our friendly Admissions Team via email enquiries@icmp.ac.uk or give them a call on 020 7328 0222.