Dark Arts Festival at Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, 2nd March 2024
Took a trip to Leeds for the latest instalment of Dark Arts, the biannual showcase curated by Super Friendz for ‘punk, left-field electronica and outsider indie music’. Leeds has a host of great venues set up to perfectly showcase emerging artists, and arts hub Belgrave Music Hall is no exception. Saturday saw 10 acts lined up to play across the day, and kudos to the bookers in putting together a line-up that never waned.
Highlights included an early set from Velkro – those of you wondering what happened to Priestgate can find most of them here with new vocalist Rosie Donoghue, all the energy of their past incarnation with more focus on the sound and a nod to the heady days of goth and shoegaze.
Mini supergroup Miss Tiny are formed of the multi-talented Ben Romans-Hopcraft (Childhood, Warmduscher) and all things Speedy Wunderground Dan Carey. The project sees Ben on vocals behind the drumkit and Dan on guitar, the wealth of experience from both parties culminating in something quite captivating.
Two bands on the bill both taking electronica to a different level were The Itch and Ebbb. Interestingly, again both are made up from other well respected bands (The Itch – Lazarus Kane, Yassassin, Opus Kink, Regressive Left, and Ebbb – Butch Cassidy, Enter Laughing, Kyoto Kyoto). Collaboration seems to be the vehicle for musical creativity as each push further forward in amalgamating their respective sounds.
The room got considerably busier for the arrival of VLURE’s first outing of the year. With people travelling from Europe to catch them, it’s clear that the buzz around this band is going nowhere. I’ve seen them play on many stages and have to say the Leeds crowds are up there in terms of displaying pure enjoyment at their sets. It’s a privilege to see them in places this size, surely it won’t be possible for much longer but be assured they can upscale and hold a bigger venue with ease. The perfect melting pot of pounding electro-dance tracks, astute production, and a connection with the audience that bigger names can only dream of.
Headliners Bo Ningen have remained a constant on the psych scene for many years now and still offer up as animated and intense a show as ever. A fitting end to the day, and a showcase from the promoters to be proud of.
Full line-up: The 113, Velkro, Miss Tiny, The Itch, Mui Zyu, Maria Uzor, (SUEP had to pull out), Ebbb, VLURE, Bo Ningen
Belgrave Music Hall | Super Friendz
Words and photos by Siobhan
Published 5th March 2024
Breaking Glass Magazine 