Bloc Party

Reared on a diet of pop culture and good music, Bloc Party met through the small ads of the music press to create a band who went on to make the headlines. After a short hiatus in 2013, Kele Okereke returned refreshed in 2015 with a new line-up: original guitarist Russell Lissack joined by new recruits Justin Harris (bass) and Louise Bartle (drums) Ask them their influences, and they say they've been influenced by it all. Live, Bloc Party '...rip through new classics...like they've written them 20 minutes before the gig - the ferocity and adrenaline of youth shines through the angular rhythms and layers of effects.' (bbc.co.uk). They also play regular DJ slots up and down the country.

From their initial somewhat shambolic goth-garage-punk beginnings, covering Screaming Lord Sutch's 'Jack The Ripper' and having an admiration for The Sonics, Faris Badwan and friends have matured considerably over the course of their career, becoming a respected name and stadium-level stars. Their dark gothic sounds now lean more towards Nick Cave and Joy Division than their original garage-rock roots.