British rock act IDLES formed in Bristol in 2009. Known for their intense live performances and politically charged, thought-provoking lyrics - the band released their debut album, Brutalism, in 2017 to critical acclaim. Emerging as a prominent voice in modern punk, addressing social and political issues with raw energy and authenticity -
The line-up consists of Joe Talbot (lead vocals), Adam Devonshire (bass), Mark Bowen (lead guitar), Lee Kiernan (rhythm guitar), and Jon Beavis (drums).
In 2018, they followed up with Joy as an Act of Resistance in 2018, a name which took inspiration from the similarly titled 2008 poem by Toi Derricotte. The album is semi-autobiographical and tells stories from lead singer Joe Talbots past and features lyrics that tackle themes of Brexit, class, self-love, toxic masculinity, immigration. Their third album, Ultra Mono (2020), became their first UK number one album. In 2021, they released Crawler, which received critical acclaim. Their fifth studio album, Tangk, was released in February 2024 and became the band's second to reach number one in the UK.
IDLES consistently address themes including toxic masculinity, nationalism, and class inequality in their lyrics. In June 2024, they brought their intense live energy to The Other Stage when they headlined Glastonbury for one of the most revered performances of the festival, and were joined on stage by American rapper Danny Brown. In December 2024, the band released a new remix of their song Pop Pop Pop, featuring Brown, check it out below.
They are also nominated for Best Rock Album for Tangk and Best Rock Song for Gift Horse at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.
Tour dates:
Last year, IDLES announced they'd be performing hometown shows in Bristol. Join the Block party this summer…
Listen to your favourite IDLES tracks here:
