The steady procession of regulars at the Crescent are outnumbered tonight. Outnumbered by a university crowd which handily fill the legendary venue, one of York’s last. I’d wager more than half of this lot are in local bands themselves, me included, here as friends and zealous supporters of the local scene.

Review and Photos by Jack Oatway

On this occasion the support means more than just for independent musicians and the venues that give them platform but also support for a charitable cause. Put together by All Should Eat, a York-based student-led initiative tackling food poverty and waste in the city, all the proceeds for the gig are going to SASH (Safe and Sound Homes). The funds raised from the music this evening will be put towards the prevention of youth homelessness.

The musicians on stage tonight are not waiting in the green room, but with the audience. They’ve all played on this stage before, or have dreamed to play it for some time, and are eagerly greeting all the familiar faces that have turned up for them tonight. For some of the performers, now alumni of the university, this gig will be the only reunion for some time to come. Before long, five of this young crowd disappear, and emerge minutes later to deliver what we all came here for.

The sound of The Expression lives somewhere misty and unfamiliar, even measured up against their clearest influences. Not quite shoegaze, not quite dream-pop, not quite slow-core, the pedal-laden guitar interplay of Dan, Noah, and Alex may remind one of Slowdive, MBV, Bluetile Lounge, or even Sonic Youth on a cursory listen. Yes, like these other bands, they’ve dialled in their delays and distortions to a science: never stepping on each other’s toes, never muddying the mix — stacking parts that inevitably crash onto you with the emotional weight of a pile of breezeblocks.

However, this five-piece won’t stick to convention. Drummer Artie attacks the songs with furious, calculated pace. Nothing drags, and each consecutive original they perform this evening only reasserts the immense control this band holds over their sound. Sitting perfectly within this mix are the vocals of Eloise, starting off restrained and gossamer thin. Her lyrics interrogate, their opening song “What Would You Say?” filled with verse after verse of questions, each more accusatory and revealing than the last, working in step with the guitars and drums to reach the soaring eponymous chorus.

With new originals tracked as recently this week, as announced on stage with a dedicated shout-out to the producer and long-time friend of the band in attendance, The Expression are a band to keep an eye out for, especially live if you get the chance. Although a new release may still be months away, they are playing with my band Suspicious Liquid on 20 March 2026 and are well worth the cost of admission on their own.

The following act, Blair Bitch Project, took the stage in stride. Sounding more coordinated and driven than ever, this four-woman alternative outfit have nailed their grungy, borderline post-punk sound. Fans of Le Tigre, The Last Dinner Party, Bikini Kill, and Metric will feel right at home in the angsty presence of this riot grrrl revival band.

The drummer Lily, also at times a vocalist for the band, death-stares each piece of her kit as she plays, fluidly moving between playing styles to suit the array of head-banging riffs laid down by Zoe, Hattie, Lucy, and Amelie. In a recent interview, the band mentions their folk-horror inspirations, clear throughout the set woven into Amelie’s lyrics on subjects of dissection, sacrifice, witchcraft and such. Ending with a spot-on cover of Le Tigre’s Decepticon, the band also announce a debut album on the way, with an accompanying album launch party on 14 February at The Fulford Arms, and another chance to catch them at the Love Punk Hate Racism gig on the 27th in the basement of the City Screen Picturehouse.

Local luminaries Ghostship, all having graduated and moved away from York not long ago, return with a brand-new member and a familiar brilliance. The prolific student band, two albums strong with more on the way, land a cut above with their magic-trick medley of easy-going tunes borne from precise, inventive playing. Their second album Hooked earns its title, though I don’t know if you could name one single element that makes it so catchy. Perhaps it’s the dynamic, fluid guitar work from Max, Joe, and Joel, akin to the genius of MJ Lenderman or prime Wilco. Perhaps it’s Dan’s perfect pocket playing and production, apparently mostly if not all recorded and mixed in his home ‘studio’ (garage).

Whatever it is that makes Ghostship an undeniable breakout talent from York, their time away from their city of origin has only sharpened their playing, the new addition of a keys player and backup vocals via George, thickening and brightening the sound of an already vividly realised band. Ending off the set with a cover of The Beatles’ Dear Prudence, only time will tell when York will be graced again by this prime-rate indie rock act. I will keep my eyes peeled, much like the poor fellow in the Hooked album cover.

Headlining and closing out the evening are Disappearer. For mathy post-rock bands, you rarely see such few musicians on stage. Despite this, the tight group create a massive sound with only a single guitar, bass, and kit. With clear inspirations from bands such as Pinback, Bark Psychosis, and Spiritualised, the band’s playing is neither overly technical nor lacking focus.

My highlight from the set was Holland, hopefully soon to see release, with bass player Oscar’s effortless harmonics offering the perfect counterpoint to frontman Will’s guitar and vocals. Although you’d be pressed to find any music under the Disappearer moniker online at present, many of the musicians from this act released a truly excellent folky ethereal alternative rock EP under Summer House Collective. It had crystal-clear musicianship from start to finish, as I expect any upcoming releases from this band to only build upon.

If there is a through-line that can be drawn between these four disparate acts, it’s that alternative, grass-roots music is only continuing to sprout in York, in all the countless colours that rock can come in. Post-punk is alive, shoegaze is alive, riot grrrl is alive, alternative folk is alive, math-rock is alive. It is all alive up here in the north.

The Expression, Blair Bitch Project, Ghostship, and Disappearer played at the Crescent on Thursday 12 February 2026.