Du Blonde
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

BETH Jeans Houghton — aka Du Blonde — is giving every impression of being a disorganised performer.

The Newcastle musician shrugs off her fake fur coat after one song because of the heat. She holds up the set list written by touring bassist Neil to illustrate that it’s illegible. And she turns her back to the audience to wipe her nose on her scruffy black Coors T-shirt, “not because I’ve taken cocaine but because I’ve got allergies,” she insists of her sniffle.

It’s a shambolic quality that’s at odds with her work ethic. In addition to releasing three albums since 2012, initially under her own name but latterly as Du Blonde, she’s directed and animated music videos for numerous artists and has published a comic series that deals with her anxiety.