Sleaford Mods formed in 2007 in Nottingham, England, initially as a project by vocalist Jason Williamson, who had previously worked in the UK indie scene. After releasing early recordings with collaborator Simon Parfrement, Andrew Fearn joined in 2011-2012 to handle production, shifting the sound from sampled loops to minimalist electronic beats paired with Williamson's spoken-word rants. Their music blends post-punk, electronic, and hip-hop elements, addressing working-class life, unemployment, capitalism, and British austerity. Key releases include Austerity Dogs (2013) on Harbinger Sound, Divide and Exit (2014), English Tapas (2017, Mercury Prize nominee), Eton Alive (2019), Spare Ribs (2021), and UK Grim (2023) on Rough Trade. The duo built a following through relentless UK and European touring, with their first US shows in 2014. They are known for energetic live performances featuring Williamson's intense, physical delivery over Fearn's backing tracks.