Formed in 2019, this young indie rock band named themselves after a dual carriageway in the West Midlands. Their experimental style pays little attention to genres, blending violin and saxophone with guitar and keyboard for a muscular, energetic sound, which has been compared to Slint or Dirty Projectors. Many fans fell for their sardonic, zeitgeist-capturing storytelling style after hearing their first single Athens, France about dating a confident, younger girlfriend who was into Ariana Grande, followed up by Sunglasses, full of references to modern life, including NutriBullets and Danish crime dramas.

Earlier this year they brought out their much-anticipated debut album For the First Time on Ninja Tune. It featured more poetic, kitchen-sink vignettes, with their idiosyncratic blur of Balkan klezmer melodies, 90s American guitar bands and post-punk angst. But they are capable of curveballs too; they’ve been known to cover Mariah Carey and Wham! hits at live shows.

In association with 432 Presents