Brittany Howard’s New Hardcore Band Kumite Plays First Show

Brittany Howard's New Hardcore Band Kumite Plays First Show

Brittany Howard debuted her new hardcore band, Kumite, at a benefit show in Nashville on Sunday night, topping a bill featuring Snõõper, Inner Peace, and Second Spirit. Watch the fan-shot footage below.

Fully embracing the hardcore spirit, Howard brought her voice to a gritty roar throughout the set and occasionally picked up the guitar. Notably, Kumite performed a cover of Boston hardcore punk band’s “AM/PM,” during which Howard handed the mic over to an unknown member of the group.

Taking place at Basement East, all proceeds from the concert went to local charities the Second Harvest Food Bank, Nashville Launch Pad, and Southern Movement Committee.

In a note posted to Instagram before the show, Howard sent her love to victims of the LA wildfires and emphasized the importance of communities coming together. “Sunday night is about bringing people together who support a message of peace, love, and inclusion,” she wrote. “To be honest, it is less about a concert or making a statement musically and more about uniting people in a safe place during these crazy times we are living in.”

Howard’s most recent studio album, What Now, was released in February 2024, and featured “Power to Undo,” one of the best songs of the year. Pick up your copy here.

Last month, her band Alabama Shakes reunited for their first concert in seven years at a benefit show.

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