Future Yard are excited to welcome Smoove & Turrell to the Live Room. The story of Smoove & Turrell began in the post millennium North East of England with a group of working class lads and a shared passion for soul. Smoove had met keyboardist Mike Porter through the local music scene in Newcastle and recruited him for his ‘Smoove Live’ project for the label Acid Jazz. Around Mike’s house one day they overheard a neighbour singing sublime melodies in his garage with friends which turned out to be none other than a young John Turrell practicing in a band called ‘The Stevies’. After a couple of further sessions ‘scouting’ him they finally knocked on the door and had a chat and hit it off straight away.
Their debut single I Can’t Give You Up became an underground Northern Soul classic, selling out instantly and cementing their reputation, leading to the formation of a full live band and the release of their debut album Antique Soul on Jalapeño Records. Heavy early support from Craig Charles propelled the band onto national radio, earning BBC Radio 2 Record of the Week accolades, multiple playlists and strong BBC 6 Music backing.
Since then, Smoove & Turrell have built a fiercely loyal fanbase through relentless touring and a run of critically acclaimed albums blending soul, funk, disco, electronica and socially conscious songwriting rooted in working-class Northern life. Their sixth album Stratos Bleu topped the UK Dance Album Chart and broke the UK Top 40, while 2023’s Red Ellen continued their dancefloor-focused, hopeful yet hard-hitting sound.