It’s been a little while since we heard from spoken-word-folk auteur Dan Smith, now one part of a three-piece band still known as Listener. Smith’s post-rap music shares some DNA with Yoni Wolf’s WHY? project, but his verbose, semi-violent delivery is more reminiscent of Mewithoutyou’s Aaron Weiss: and Listener has always sat on the edge of the hardcore scene in much the way Frank Turner has, ie. the folky brother to the punk bands, constantly on the road, but with way less gear to carry. The group’s album ‘Time Is a Machine’ was released in 2013, easily Listener’s most varied, convoluted and richly produced album to date; since then, there’s no knowing what Dan Smith has been up to, but chances are he’s got a few new stories under his belt, so we heartily recommend pulling up a chair and, ironically, listening in.

Thu 17 Aug, 7.30pm at The Flapper, Cambrian Wharf, Birmingham B1 2NU, £9.00 seetickets.com