A Yorkshire Playlist

Everybody knows that the best way to unwind is to listen to some music. So I wanted to take this opportunity to recommend some good music for you all to listen to. But for the purposes of this list, I will be solely recommending music from acts or musicians that were either born or formed in Yorkshire. So let’s get right into some proper nice music. Starting with:

Pop – Ed Sheeran

Anyone even a little bit in touch with modern music knows who Ed Sheeran is. But if by some chance you don’t know him, he is definitely worth a listen. Born in Halifax, Sheeran began his career around 2004 playing gigs in small venues. He soon gained attention from online videos of his performances, leading him to open for acts like Example. Eventually, he shot to mega-stardom with his albums Plus (2011), Multiply (2014) and Divide (2017). His engrossing lyrics and rhythmic beats earned him universal acclaim and even lead to him being named the “artist of the decade” (2010s) by the Official Charts Company.

Best song to begin with: Castle on the hill

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Folk – Swan Arcade

If you prefer music with more of a traditional aesthetic, that mostly consists of acapella singing and using simple acoustic guitar and harmonica instrumentals, then check out Swan Arcade. The group formed in 1970 in Yorkshire and was comprised of 3 members Jim Boyes (Bridlington), Dave Brady (Ilkley) and his wife Heather Brady (Dagenham). Their group had many shakeups and changes in their career, with Boyes leaving and the roster changing to include more instruments, but Boyes eventually returned and the group then continued as a trio. The group split up in 1978 but reformed in 1983 and continued to play at folk festivals before finally disbanding after the release of their sixth album.

Best song to begin with: Babylon is Fallen

Rock – Def Leppard

But sometimes you don’t want thoughtful lyrics or traditional tones, you just want to listen to good old-fashioned headbanging rock music and Def Leppard delivers that in abundance. Forming in 1977 in Sheffield with a four-person line-up, Rick Savage, Tony Kenning, Pete Willis, and Joe Elliott (all Sheffield locals), Def Leppard would go on to be considered one of the definitive hard rock groups of the 1980s. And despite several lineup changes and losses during their tenure, the band continues to tour to this day. They are inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and have a star on the Sheffield Legends walk of fame.

Best song to begin with: Pour some sugar on me

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Electro-Swing – Jamie Berry

A personal favorite genre, if you like music that infuses the energy of jazz and swing music with the bombastic production value of modern electronic dance music then you should seek out Jamie Berry. Originally hailing from Lincolnshire but beginning his music career in Leeds, Jamie started his career producing music in his bedroom but now his great mixture of 20s and 30s swing sound with house music has him listed alongside other greats of electro-swing like Caravan Palace.

Best song to begin with: Out of my mind

Indie – Arctic Monkeys

Even if, like me, you’ve grown a bit tired of how overplayed Arctic Monkeys can be, there is no denying the band’s impact. Like Def Leppard, Arctic Monkeys are a Sheffield band. Formed in 2002 by Sheffield natives Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O’Malley, Matt Helders, AM has arguably become the standard by which all modern British indie music is judged. With a sound that’s fast but skillful and energetic; universally appealing because of how individual it feels, thanks to the band’s accents and detailed lyrics.

Best song to begin with: The sun goes down

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Thus ends my list of five Yorkshire artists/bands you should add to your playlist. Please let us know what you think of our list, and if you have any Yorkshire music names you think we should listen to, then please let us know in the comments. We may include them in a future list of recommendations.