Alternative folk virtuosos The Homburgs have claimed Best Performance at the prestigious Primal Live Song Contest, held on Sunday 12th April, after delivering genre-defying music that captivated judges and audience alike.
The event, which raised more than £1,000 for Leeds homeless charity St George’s Crypt, showcased some incredible emerging original talent — but it was The Homburgs’ theatrical, unpredictable performance that stood out on the night.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
Performing as a trio, the band featured Jack Finnley-Allan on vocals, songwriting and guitar, Charlotte Rowan-Scott on operatic vocals and piano, and Ross Tennant on fiddle. Together, they delivered three original songs — PE Teacher’s Crimes, With Your Worry and Hurricanes In Winter — in a set that moved effortlessly between folk storytelling, gypsy ska energy, country blues swagger and unexpected bursts of operatic drama.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
The result was a performance as unconventional as it was unforgettable. Or, as the band themselves put it: “Think rodeo meets opera…then suddenly you’re in a line dance.” That description might sound improbable, but it captures exactly why The Homburgs are difficult to categorise — and impossible to ignore.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
Based across Leeds and Bradford, The Homburgs have built a reputation as a genuinely alternative act, blending traditions and styles in a way that feels both eccentric and completely original. Their line-up can shift and evolve, with alternating members contributing to the band’s fluid and eclectic identity, but their core spirit remains rooted in fearless experimentation and sharp songwriting.
At Primal Live, those qualities were on full display. From the darkly intriguing narrative of PE Teacher’s Crimes, to the emotional depth of With Your Worry, and the dramatic sweep of Hurricanes In Winter, the trio showcased a set full of character, musicianship and theatrical flair.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
Charlotte Rowan-Scott’s operatic vocals brought a striking dimension to the performance, contrasting and complementing Jack Finnley-Allan’s folk-inflected songwriting, while Ross Tennant’s fiddle added both raw energy and haunting texture. It was a performance that refused to sit still — veering from intimate to explosive, from melancholic to mischievous — and that unpredictability proved to be part of its magic.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
For Jack Finnley-Allen, there was a profoundly sentimental aspect behind the win. He explains: “I knew it was a song contest for charity when we entered but I didn’t realise it was for St. George’s Crypt. They helped my uncle who suffered from alcoholism but he sadly passed away. It was him who taught me how to play guitar so to win with our song With Your Worry that was written about him is quite emotional yet fitting.”
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
With more than £1,000 raised for St George’s Crypt, the evening was not only a celebration of grassroots music but also a contribution to a vital local cause. For The Homburgs, the win marks another step forward as they prepare for a busy year ahead. The band plan to release more music in the coming months and are building towards a full album, a prospect likely to excite those drawn to music that defies convention.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
If their live show is anything to go by, that record is unlikely to sound like anything else. In an era where originality can be hard to find, The Homburgs are embracing the strange, the theatrical and the beautifully unclassifiable — and audiences are responding. After their standout triumph in Leeds, one thing seems certain: this is a band making its own rules.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE HOMBURGS VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
Follow The Homburgs on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM
For more info on Primal Live visit the WEBSITE
