In The Round is back. After a successful pilot earlier this year, we’re proud to offer you the chance to see some of your favourite artists in an intimate, acoustic setting.

Artists will play on a small riser in the middle of the auditorium floor with the crowd seated around them. There’s a certain level of vulnerability when playing in this setup, which helps create a truly unique performance – you won’t want to miss it! 

Matthew C. Whitaker

Matthew C. Whitaker is a Manchester-based musician and composer best known for his work with cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE, with whom he has released four acclaimed albums and toured extensively across the UK and Europe. 

Alongside his high-energy work with the band, Whitaker pursues a more introspective solo practice. His debut, Man With the Anvil Hat (2016), introduced his flair for intricate harmony and richly textured soundscapes. His forthcoming release, Songs for the Weary (2026), continues this exploration with eight gentle pieces for classical guitar, lush string arrangements, and subtle electronics.

Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer from Leeds, UK.

In 2010 Ellen won Q Magazine’s Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition with her band Ellen & the Escapades and has since gone on to make main stage appearances at the festival a further two times.

Having spent the following years writing and touring, in 2018 Ellen signed a publishing deal with 13 Artists / Warner Chappell UK, after releasing music with dark-electro pop band Shadowlark, produced by Dan Austin (Massive Attack, Doves, Biffy Clyro.)

2020 saw Ellen release her first solo material, having been commissioned to write the eponymous soundtrack to ‘Take Us Home’, an Amazon Prime docu-series following Leeds United during their momentous 2019/2020 promotion winning season.

Ellen is currently writing and recording solo material among other projects, set for release in 2026.