Bleak Squad

Bleak Squad is a Melbourne rock group whose four members come from several established Australian bands, including Magic Dirt, Dirty Three and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Jess Ribeiro provides support on this London date.

Bleak Squad is a Melbourne four-piece made up of Mick Turner, Mick Harvey, Adalita and Marty Brown. Turner's credits include Dirty Three and Mess Esque, Harvey has played with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey and The Birthday Party, and Adalita is a founding member of Magic Dirt. The group grew out of spontaneous jam sessions, and its members share instruments, songwriting and lead vocals, with Adalita and Harvey taking the singing between them.

Their debut album, Strange Love, is a noir-rock record of nine songs about love, loss and loneliness, built on fizzing guitars, slippery bass lines and Turner's distinctive, squawking guitar. It was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. A review in The Guardian praised the group's stage presence, the chemistry between its members and the strength of its songs.

The night brings Jess Ribeiro in support, and the band's set draws on the material from Strange Love. The Victoria hosts concerts and shows in London. The bill suits listeners who follow the members'earlier work with Dirty Three, Magic Dirt and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.