Kumite, Brittany Howard’s new hardcore band, played their first show in Nashville

Brittany Howard‘s new hardcore band, Kumite, have played their first show in Nashville on Sunday (January 12) night. Watch fan-captured footage below.

Howard, best known for being the frontperson of Alabama Shakes, was joined on stage at East Nashville’s Basement East by members of Nashville hardcore band Second Spirit. Together, they became Kumite and played live for the first ever time.

News of a Howard-fronted hardcore band came as no surprise though, as back in November she announced she would be hosting a  “hardcore benefit show” to raise funds and collect food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Launch Pad, and the Southern Movement Committee. Sharing the bill at the charity benefit show were Snooper, Inner Peace, and Second Spirit.

Fan-captured footage from the gig shows Howard powerfully singing into a mic against a backdrop of heavy drums and angsty guitar riffs.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEwDoHLMo-4/?utm_source=ig_embed

Grammy Winner Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) new band Kumite covering “AM/PM” by American Nightmare. pic.twitter.com/eB1VPIZrwZ

— PJ Kinzer (@CivilWarSyndrom) January 13, 2025

Last year Howard released her solo album ‘What Now‘. In a four-star review of the LP, NME shared: “[The album] is informed by emotional malaise and confusion, but if anyone has the answers on how to navigate our own journeys, you’d do well to turn to Howard.”

She also joined Hozier as opening support on his UK tour last  summer and embarked on her own North American solo tour in 2024.

In other Alabama Shakes-related news, last month the band reunited for the first time in over seven years at a surprise show. The band surprised attendees during the Tuscaloosa Get Up 3 benefit concert at the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Howard was actually slated to perform at the gig as a solo act but decided to surprise guests by inviting bandmates Zac Cockrell, Heath Fogg, and Ben Tanner to the stage. The last time the band played together was in August 2017 at the Osheaga Festival before going on an indefinite hiatus.