Polite Bureaux + The Arboretum
Thursday 19th March 2026
The Victoria, Birmingham
Doors: 7:30 pm
Tickets: enjoy an exclusive 2-4-1 offer with code PB241
Uncover Music and Yampy Promotions present a night of boundary‑breaking alt‑electronic punk and industrial tinged rock as Polite Bureaux headline The Victoria with special guest The Arboretum.
Bradford’s own Polite Bureaux is the creation of broken beat maker Joe Smith, joined on stage by his Blood Sister Maya Lili and raver‑in‑arms Viv Maher. Together, they bring a fierce yin‑yang energy to their live shows, resulting in a collision of sharp electronics, spoken‑word bite and genre‑mashing rhythms.
Influenced by the diabolical truths of John Cooper Clarke, the pulse of Underworld, the grit of Joy Division, and the ferocity of The Prodigy and Sleaford Mods, Polite Bureaux channel their multicultural roots and nomadic upbringing into something uniquely their own. Their performances are charged with brutal honesty, family‑fuelled unity and a lyrical backbone shaped by the poetry of Smith’s father, Rob, a voice woven into the band’s mission to break stigma and speak truth to the everyday.
Opening the night are The Arboretum, bringing dirty, driving basslines, searing guitars, and industrial rhythms, wrapped in cinematic visuals. Their blend of alt‑rock, post‑punk and psych‑rock creates a dark, immersive sonic world designed to jolt the senses and stir something deeper.
A night of raw energy, sharp edges and genre‑defying creativity. Perfect for fans of experimental punk, electronic grit and anything that hits with honesty and impact.