Martial Arts

Four hundred enraptured Parisian eyes are transfixed as lead singer Jim Marson surveys the scene, set finale ‘Self Portrait’ teetering on the edge. White noise staccato flies over the audience below and reaches high up to expectant faces in the balcony. A pause, a breath. The musical juggernaut crashes into action - band and audience united as one sprawling, euphoric mass of unadulterated, visceral joy. This is Martial Arts.

Alongside Matthew Pearce (guitar & vocals), Tom Dunnell (drums), Jude Collins (bass) and Jack Brown (guitar), Martial Arts are an emergent movement as much as a band. A true northern powerhouse that grapple life’s expectations into lyrical chokeholds whilst frustration lives in their head rent free.

Blistering live outings lead to high profile shows (Speedy Wunderground / So Young / Paris Supersonic) whilst Martial Arts’ debut tracks ‘Warsaw’ then ‘Defector’ and Triumph were unleashed onto the wider unsuspecting public in 2024 via legendary underground label Akoustik Anarkhy.

The band closed out 2024 with a Sell Out Show at Manchester's Yes Pink Room and 2025 has already seen them on UK Tour with label mates Holly Head, an amazing Great Escape show and a huge summer dates with Bloc Party and Gurriers, things just keep hotting up. Championed amongst many others by BBC 6 Music, Radio X (John Kennedy X-posure playlist), BBC Introducing and So Young Magazine, Martial Arts are only getting started.

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Presented by SLUSH.

16+ with adult