ATFK

ATFK play the Rymer Auditorium at Campus West, University of York, on Wednesday 16 December. It's the accordion-and-drums duo of Amy Thatcher and Francesca Knowles, and the name is just their initials put together.

On stage, the two instruments are the core, but the live show pulls in more than that: groove-led percussion, synths, keys and vocals. They describe the project as their "untethered brainchild", and the sound is built on the accordion and drums working together in ways you don't usually hear. They talk about breaking with tradition while using it as a playground for experimentation, and that's a good way to put it — they're taking two instruments with very set expectations and seeing what happens when you push them into new territory.

There's new material to hear, too. Their second release, REPEAT FOR JOY, is out, and the live set will draw from it. The critics have been on board: The Crack called it "brimming with invention and energy", and RnR described it as "a musically kinetic meeting of fragility and kick-ass strength". Between the two, you get a sense of the range they're working with — the quiet, fragile moments sitting alongside the louder, more driven ones.

It's a mid-week show, so it'll be a good one to slot in before the Christmas break properly kicks in. Tickets are £5 to £12, and you'll need to book in advance. The start time is 7.30pm at the Rymer Auditorium, Campus West, University of York.