The March Violets

The March Violets play Komedia on Wednesday 11 November, with the set drawn from their post-punk back catalogue. It's an intimate one: they're in the Studio rather than the main room, and Simon Price (Spellbound) is on DJ support before they take the stage.

If you're not familiar with them, they're an English post-punk and gothic rock band formed in Leeds in 1981. Back then they were one of the city's four 'drum machine bands', alongside Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and The Three Johns. The sound is built on male and female vocals over drum machine rhythms and echo-laden electric guitar, in the same vein as fellow Leeds band the Sisters of Mercy.

Seven of their singles reached the UK Indie Chart, and the Natural History collection hit number three in 1984. Their legacy runs from 1980s BBC John Peel sessions and indie favourites like the Radiant Boys EP, 'Grooving In Green', 'Snake Dance' and 'Turn To The Sky' — which featured in the John Hughes film Some Kind Of Wonderful — to a 21st-century reunion that has seen them headline festivals across Europe and the USA. They also marked Record Store Day 2021 and 2022 with the double albums Big Soul Kiss and Made Glorious. Founder-members Rosie Garland and Tom Ashton are now joined by Mat Thorpe.

Doors open at 19:00, and the show starts at 19:30. Tickets are from £23.75.