Spirit of John

Spirit of John

Spirit of John is a two-piece band formed in Leeds, UK in 2008. The group features Joshua Sheard on vocals and guitar, and Adam Richards on double bass.

Their music draws on pre-war American styles, especially bluegrass and rockabilly, and also takes influence from songwriters and performers including Tom Waits, Jeff Mangum and Johnny Cash. The band’s sound is built around the contrast between Sheard’s picked guitar melodies and Richards’ heavy bass lines.

The act begins as a partnership in Leeds and develops within the city’s indie scene. It is associated with the tags Leeds, the grain division, LMS Artist and Skiffle Prog pOP.