Heritage + Mikoudi 03/02/23 @ Brudenell Social Club

Heritage are the young 9-piece future soul/jazz ensemble from Leeds who have been building up a strong following in the city over the last 15 months with their original music and impressive live performances. Now, after their debut EP "Dystopian Land" landed in October 2022 via local independent record label Moma Cat Discos), their reputation is spreading beyond their home city.

The EP had strong radio support from Totally Wired Radio, JazzFunkSoul Radio, Jazz FM, Steam Radio, Global Soul Radio, Pure Rhythm Radio, Worldwide FM as well as international plays on radio stations in Italy, Germany, Spain, USA, Palestine and Serbia. BBC Introducing West Yorkshire gave the band "single of the week" for their debut "The Suits" and they also made the Bandcamp Weekly radio show with another track "Sweet July".

Now they play their first home city show of 2023 and their first show ever at Hyde Park Book Club, linking up again with their longtime and original promoter DJ Lubi (Lubi Jovanovic). His autumn shows at Hyde Park Book Club were sold out and this one has the potential to do so too, especially with new Heritage video releases dropping from February onwards.

Having graduated from Leeds Conservatoire, Heritage have established a significant presence in the Leeds jazz/soul/global beats scene locally since their debut gig in August 2021. They've performed in multiple venues in the city and beyond (Sheffield, Bristol, Manchester), both as headliners but also supporting the likes of Secret Night Gang (Brownswood), K.O.G (Heavenly Sweetness) and TC & The Groove Family (Worm Discs).

Vocally, Heritage takes inspiration from the likes of Lianne La Havas, Erykah Badu and Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote). Instrumental influences are drawn from contemporary funk/soul/hip-hop artists they love, from Anderson .Paak to Carrtoons, as well as bands at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene, notably fellow Leeds Conservatoire alumni Nubiyan Twist. Their sound is a fusion of multiple subgenres that are relevant in the UK jazz scene today (afrobeat, UKG, hip-hop, neo-soul, drum & bass, broken beats). Lyrical concepts address shared experiences of personal struggles and triumphs and in the track "The Suits", tackle current political issues of social injustice and how those without privilege are neglected of opportunity and fairness in a capitalist society. Music with a message lives on with a new generation.

Their live shows are dynamite, with three vocalists harmonising over heavily syncopated beats and great guitar, keys and horn solos. If you haven't checked them live yet, get on it now as in 2023, they're taking off bigtime and they might not be able to play Leeds as often as before.

Support comes from another future soul/nujazz fusion band from Leeds, rising stars Mikoudi. Like Heritage, they came together at Leeds Conservatoire and started gigging around the city in 2022, releasing their debut single towards the end of November. They are a jazz/electronic/nusoul/hiphop collective with similar musical influences to Heritage - Nubiyan Twist, Hiatus Kaiyote - and will be releasing singles in the new year. Still relatively new, Mikoudi are definitely ones to watch out for in 2023 from the buzzing Leeds jazz/soul/global beats scene.