LUXURY STRANGER is an independent progressive post-punk / rock band. The project was started in August 2006 by frontman / singer-songwriter Simon York when, after coming away from a major record deal and taking a five-year period away from the music industry, he wrote and recorded the Desolation album. This album was followed by the Precious For Evermore  EP.

After Simon had put together the first live band line-up, Luxury Stranger played its first show on 5 September 2008, and then went on to record the 'Commitment and Discipline'  album. This was followed by the non-album releases Empty Men  EP, Nothing Holy  EP and the Face  EP. During these times, and various line-up changes, the band continued to tour extensively across the UK and in Europe, building a loyal and obsessive fan-base. A third album, Darkness Falls Upon The Light was recorded and promoted heavily through touring across the UK and Europe, and world-wide radio airplay.

In the studio, Luxury Stranger is a 'music scientist' whereas live on stage, Luxury Stranger is a wild animal putting out a raw and honest emotive energy that is rarely seen today... Luxury Stranger has been referred to as "one of the UK's stand-out dark alternative acts" who would be able to hold their own playing alongside the likes of U2 or The Stones! Simon York has been referred to as a diverse and 'universe-class' songwriter, and is considered "one of the finest voices in the UK". The band continues to grow and excite...

As well as gaining critical acclaim, Luxury Stranger music has featured in television and film, and is a melodic wall of sound that gives a majestically slick and regimented cushion for Simon's vocals. With comparisons to the quality and likes of David Bowie, Pearl Jam, Scott Walker, Rush, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, The Police, Editors and U2 – Luxury Stranger is a band with longevity, and a will to refuse to stay down when it falls... 

Between 2020 and 2025, the band has suffered some personal traumas but work hasn't stopped while on the road to recovery. Luxury Stranger is currently working on a new album, Above And Below, and Simon is also continuing to write new material – at last count, the number of songs could easily cover at least another ten albums! Simon has also continued to release a number of solo projects...

The band released its first Christmas single in December 2024 – Feeling Ill At Christmas – which touched on the band's 'dark' sort of humour. The band published the first issue of its official fanzine – STRANGEZINE – in early 2025.

Luxury Stranger went back out for long-awaited live shows in summer of 2025 to air new material and remind fans that the band will never leave them... 

"One of the UK's stand out dark alternative acts” 
(Sphere Magazine)

"...we have nothing against Editors, why should we, but these three Brits actually are at least as good as them." 
(Luminous Dash magazine)

"...they just do the song thing so well and create the sort of record you should, depending on age, be cranking up before going out for the night. It's one of those perfect life-affirming collections."
(Mick Mercer)

"Though the scene has had a feast or famine existence recently, the city[Nottingham]'s hard working Luxury Stranger has done more than most to keep the flag flying" 
(Neil Anderson, Vive Le Rock magazine, issue 46 July 2017) 

“Simon York is easily one of the finest vocalists in the UK right now." 
(Reflections of Darkness magazine)

"Think of early U2 when they were still good. This is of that calibre." 
(Penny Black Music magazine)

"It's about emotive immediacy, twice-underlined by the vocals, which apparently come not from a teaching book but straight from the bones..." 
(Reflections of Darkness magazine)

"...certainly a thing of beauty... a band that's hard to pigeon hole, and you know that their influences are as extensive as they are eclectic, and a whole range of influences can be heard throughout their music from the chameleonic Bowie to the anthemic Echo and the Bunnymen, and everything that’s cool inbetween – and they do this whilst retaining their own individuality and style. Quite an achievement." 
(Lyric Lounge Review magazine)

"...picking us all up in one mighty swoop and bludgeoning us all into oblivion with the powerhouse that is Luxury Stranger. Once again it is apparent that this is no ordinary band."
(live review, Penny Black Music magazine)

"Devoid of any pretension and heart breakingly sincere, “Take my hand, I can save you now” sings Simon, meaning every word. It feels like trespassing into a broken man’s psyche." 
(live review, Left Lion magazine)

"York's voice with its raucous timbre reminded more of the one of a rock singer. But it also gave the song a bolshie appearance... proof that York's voice could shine even brighter on atmospherically calm songs." 
(live review, Reflections of Darkness magazine)