Jools: The Voice of Modern UK Punk Steps Into the Spotlight with Violent Delights
Origin stories in punk often come tangled in chaos, and Jools’ is no different. Though billed from Leicester, their roots stretch further afield—vocalists Mitch Gordon and Kate Price for example first crossed paths on a flight to Budapest. Whilst the rest of the band come from various towns across the UK. Since forming in 2019, the six-piece have emerged as one of the UK’s most electrifying and uncompromising new acts, carving out a sound that is as emotionally charged as it is sonically ferocious.
Consisting of Gordon and Price on dual lead vocals, Joe Dodd (bass), Chris Johnston (guitar), Chelsea Wrones (drums), and Callum Connachie (guitar), Jools take their name from the iconic Later… with Jools Holland—a nod to the formative influence that show had on their musical DNA. But any sentimentality stops there. Their music fuses post-punk abrasion with shoegaze textures, metal heft, and moments of rap and pop clarity, creating a restless sonic collage that bristles with defiance.
Influences range from The Cure and Pixies to The Streets and the Beat Generation, but comparisons to IDLES, Fontaines D.C., or Shame only scratch the surface. Jools offer something more introspective: a poetic, socially conscious punch that doesn’t just rage—it reveals.
Their 2019 debut single “Hysterical Starving Naked” arrived snarling, setting the tone for a run of bold, politically driven releases like “Spineless,” “Cross-Dressing in a Freudian Slip,” and the provocatively titled “How Can Some Experience What Pride Is Without Liberation for All?” Each one served as a manifesto—unapologetically pro-socialist, richly lyrical, and unafraid to confront inequality, identity, and unrest.
By 2022, Jools had joined Raw Power Management and toured with the likes of Black Foxxes, Boston Manor, and Hot Milk, quickly earning a reputation for their volatile, high-impact live sets. The momentum carried them into 2024, where a new chapter began with their signing to Hassle Records. The release of “97%,” championed by BBC Radio 1’s Daniel P. Carter, and the blistering double A-side “FKA,” marked the band’s most confident step yet.
Now, 2025 brings a watershed moment. Jools’ debut album, Violent Delights—due June 6 via Hassle Records—stands as a raw and fearless statement. Exploring themes of grief, addiction, sexual violence, religious repression, and self-discovery, it’s a record that does not flinch. The latest single “Mother Monica” is a visceral exorcism of Catholic guilt and childhood trauma, channelling these tensions into a cathartic, slow-burning anthem. “Guts,” meanwhile, is the album’s emotional and sonic apex—a furious rallying cry forged in the fire of personal turmoil. It’s as pained as it is powerful, a distillation of the band’s ethos: bruised, but never broken.
While Violent Delights sets the standard on record, Jools’ true firepower is revealed on stage. Their recent show at Bristol’s Exchange was a masterclass in modern punk performance—raw, vital, and physically overwhelming.
From the opening note, the band exploded across every inch of the stage. Gordon, a magnetic and unpredictable frontman, leaned over the lip of the stage like a preacher at the pulpit, hurling lyrics like Molotovs. Price matched him beat for beat—ferocious, impassioned, and utterly captivating. Their interplay is thrilling: a volatile chemistry that elevates every moment.
Behind them, the band don’t simply hold the line—they propel it. The set was dominated by unreleased material from the forthcoming album, with tracks like “Cardinal,” “Knee Injury,” and “Dunoon” offering a tantalising preview of what’s to come.
Jools understand the art of punk showmanship: balancing unfiltered rage with poetic reflection. Nowhere was this clearer than in the delivery of “97%,” which opened with Price’s impassioned plea for solidarity and social justice, sending shivers through the room. But it was “Guts” that detonated the night’s most frenzied reaction. A ready made mosh pit anthem, the track’s sheer physicality left the crowd reeling.
The night closed with “FKA,” a final, searing reminder of Jools’ arrival as not just a band to watch—but one that demands to be heard.
In a landscape where punk is once again finding its voice, Jools are unmistakably leading the charge. Their message is urgent, their sound is unrelenting, and their debut album will be one of the most essential releases to come out of the UK punk scene this year.
Catch them live while you can—this band won’t be playing small rooms for long.
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
