Wigan indie-rock quartet The Lilacs have announced details of their debut album, Keeping Up With The Joneses, which is slated for an October 2 release via Scruff of the Neck.
The news follows a series of milestones for the band, including a sold-out 2,700-capacity headline show in Manchester, a Top 10 breakthrough on the Independent Albums Chart with their The 395 (To Forever) EP, and a growing live reputation across festivals, including Isle of Wight Festival and Truck Festival. The band has also shared stages with artists such as Lottery Winners and The Lathums.
Their rise has coincided with personal challenges, most notably for guitarist Sam Birchall, who was recently given the all-clear following a year of cancer treatment. His recovery was documented by ITV and BBC.
Produced by Joe Cross (Courteeners, The Slow Readers Club, Hurts), Keeping Up With The Joneses introduces eight new tracks alongside updated recordings of “Vicarage Road” and “Grace.”
Frontman Ollie Anglesea describes it as a “coming-of-age” record – written between sessions in Cross’ Manchester and Paris studios – that tracks the band’s growth “in a world obsessed with comparison” without straying from the themes and roots that shaped them.
Birchall said the album represents a step forward in maturity, citing attention to detail in the lyrics, instrumentation, and production. “It’s our first real shot at aiming for the stars and putting The Lilacs up in the charts with all the big names, and no matter where it finishes, I’m proud of how it sounds and what we have achieved!” he says.
Originally formed in October 2018, the band settled into its current lineup with the addition of bassist Matt Johnson and drummer Dave Gomersall. Ollie Anglesea and Sam Birchall had previously played together in an earlier project. Their debut single, “Vicarage Road”, was released in 2019, followed by “Grace” in 2023 and “The 395 (To Forever)” in 2025.
Keeping Up With The Joneses is now available to pre-order HERE in multiple formats, including CD, cream vinyl and signed editions, with additional retailer-exclusive variants also set for release.
The announcement comes as The Lilacs prepare to return to live touring with a headline run next month. Additional appearances include a headline slot at This Feeling By The Sea and festival performances at Leeds Festival and Latitude Festival, alongside further dates supporting Red Rum Club, The Fratellis, Scouting For Girls and Ocean Colour Scene.
Tour dates are listed below; remaining tickets are available HERE.
APRIL
3rd – Leicester, O2 Academy 2 LOW TICKETS
4th – Stoke, The Sugarmill LOW TICKETS
9th – Lincoln, Southside SOLD OUT
10th – Norwich, The Waterfront SOLD OUT
11th – Southampton, The Joiners SOLD OUT
17th – Bridlington Spa, This Feeling By The Sea HEADLINERS
18th – Glasgow, King Tut’s LOW TICKETS
25th – Dublin, Whelan’s – upstairs LOW TICKETS
MAY
1st – Plymouth, The Junction SOLD OUT
2nd – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach LOW TICKETS
3rd – Liverpool, Sound City
30th – Leigh, Sports Village (with Lottery Winners)
JUNE
19th – Liverpool, On The Waterfront (with Red Rum Club)
24th – Sheffield, Tramlines Festival (main stage) Festival
30th – Lake District, Kendal Calling Festival
JULY
23rd – Cheshire, In It Together Festival Festival
23rd–26th – Oxfordshire, Truck Festival Festival
25th – Suffolk, Latitude Festival Festival
30th–Aug 2nd – Derbyshire, Y NOT? Festival Festival
AUGUST
16th – Isle of Wight, Robin Hood Adventure Park (with Scouting For Girls)
21st – Blackpool, Winter Gardens (with The Fratellis)
27th–30th – Leeds Festival Festival
29th – Wakefield, Tileyard North (with Ocean Colour Scene)
