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The group came together at Cardiff University in 2006, originally consisting of Neil on guitar, Ellen on bass guitar, and Ollie on drums. In March 2006, Tom joined the band, assuming the role of lead guitarist and songwriter, later followed by Gareth on vocals and glockenspiel, Harriet on violin and keyboard, and finally Aleksandra on vocals, keyboards, and melody horn. According to Tom, he met Neil after overhearing him discussing Sufjan Stevens at a club. The band's earliest compositions were long pieces in the style of "post-rock," though no recordings from this era are known to circulate publicly.The word campesino in Spanish translates to "peasant" or "country person."

The band performed their first gig on 8 May 2006 at a student union club night; they went on to play a number of increasingly well-received gigs around Cardiff. An early demo was recorded featuring the songs "Death To Los Campesinos!", "It Started With A Mixx", "Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks", and live favourite "You! Me! Dancing!". The songs were posted on the Internet, bolstering the popularity established by their energetic live shows and earning them airplay on Beth & Huw's evening show on BBC Radio 1 Wales. The band's reputation continued to grow, and in August 2006 landed them a slot supporting Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene.

Debut singles and Sticking Fingers Into Sockets: 2007

In November 2006, the band were signed by Wichita Recordings, who put out their first single on 26 February 2007, a double A-side featuring new songs "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives" and "Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s)". In April the band signed to Canadian label Arts & Crafts for Canadian and North American releases. In June 2007 the band released "You! Me! Dancing!" on limited edition 7" coloured vinyl, accompanied by a handful of dates playing Bath, Newport, Cardiff and London. Both singles (produced by Broken Social Scene collaborator Dave Newfeld) were compiled for North American release as Sticking Fingers Into Sockets, which was released on 3 July on Arts & Crafts. The band embarked on their first full UK tour in October, preceded by the "The International Tweexcore Underground" single (released October 15, 2007).

Hold on Now, Youngster... and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed: 2008

Their debut album, titled Hold on Now, Youngster... was released in the UK on February 25, 2008 and in the US on April 1, 2008. They also embarked on a European and North American tour in support of the album. The NME rated the album 6/10, praising its musicality but criticising its cohesiveness, but other sources, such as Pitchfork Media and Drowned in Sound, lauded it. They made their TV debut on Tubridy Tonight on February 9, 2008.

On August 1, 2008, the band announced that a record titled We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed would be released before the end of the year, and the date later confirmed for this was October 13, although that was later pushed back to October 27, 2008. The band explained: "This is no post-album cash in. It's no B-Sides and rarities or 'songs that weren't good enough to be on the album cobbled together with some remixes and field recordings of Cardiff's indie scene'; it's ten all-new tracks that none of you have ever heard before." There are no singles to be released from the record, and its distribution is limited.

The band also announced tour dates of the UK for October 2008 with support from No Age and Times New Viking.

In April 2009, the band played in Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, in their first South American gig.

New Album 2009

Los Campesinos! recorded their as of yet untitled third album in Stamford, Connecticut with John Goodmanson. The album was completed in June 2009. It was recorded in multiple sessions, with the second half of their current North America tour in between[6] In May 2009 it was announced on their blog that they had almost finished recording the album and that the album was to be mixed in Wales in June. Two song titles were announced "This Is a Flag. There Is No Wind" and "Straight in at 101" On the morning of June 2 2009 it was announced via their website that Aleks is to leave the band, and go back to her studies, after a US tour in August. On June 24, 2009, LC! announced on their blog that the album was complete. The album and its songs have titles (except for one) but the band will be unable to talk about at the moment saying, "I cannot wait until we can properly TALK ABOUT IT and stuff." A U.K. tour was announced on 6 July 2009. This will be their first tour without Aleksandra and with new member Kim. In December 2009 the band will support The Cribs on four dates of their current U.K. tour. On the 9th September 2009 the band released a song called "The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future". As a free download, a video was also made for the song which was directed by Ellen Campesinos!.This song will be included on the next album. On 21 September 2009 Los Campesinos! announced their new member Kim Campesinos!, who was later revealed to be vocalist Gareth's sister. The band also announced a new single called "There Are Listed Buildings" which will be sold on their October U.K. tour.