Captain Wilberforce

Captain Wilberforce is a Leeds-based power-pop / alt-pop band fronted by Si Bristoll, crafting "effortlessly memorable pop rock" that blends heartfelt songwriting with refined arrangements. Their sound often taps into a seam of timeless melodies and they create albums in the classic sense of the format: …songs that should be played in one sitting
Critics have picked up on the band’s rich influences: The Independent noted a “heavy Elvis Costello influence,” praising how the “acidic tone of critique sits well within deceptively cheery pop arrangements” and their songwriting has also drawn reviewers to make comparisons with other iconic artists like Radiohead, Squeeze, Elliott Smith, The Beatles and XTC. This in turn has led the band to be adopted by the power-pop community, and they often feature high up in the end-of-year best album polls: “the entire record feels as if it's been comfortably nestled among the top power-pop albums of the decade for years”. But beyond these comparisons, Si aims to write interesting, non-generic tunes, that may be more complex than a lot of contemporary tracks but avoid being deliberately obtuse.
No strangers to radio play, Captain Wilberforce have been supported by BBC Introducing in West Yorkshire, BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 2 and many other independent stations around the US and Europe. They have had songs placed in TV shows on ITV, HBO and the Fashion Channel and have played gigs across the UK to promote each of their 5 albums – with more to follow alongside album 6, “Another World. Another Life. Another Time.” due in early 2026.
The band has gone through many incarnations over the years, but the current line-up is Si Bristoll on vocals / guitar, Geoff Doig on bass, Rob Simpson on lead guitar and Carl Banks on drums.
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