The Kooks have announced a string of stripped-back acoustic gigs ahead of their eagerly anticipated seventh album, Never/Know, with frontman Luke Pritchard and guitarist Hugh Harris set to deliver a series of intimate performances across the country. Stops include Liverpool, Edinburgh, Bristol and beyond, all with a warm indie record store tie-in for that added homespun feel.
“[Independent venues are] the lifeblood of the British music scene,” Pritchard explains. “Clubs like The Leadmill were vital for us when we started out, and it breaks my heart to see these places closing down. It’ll be a sad day if we lose The Leadmill.” The Kooks will take to its stage on May 2nd—one last serenade before the iconic club is forced to close its doors following a brutal eviction battle earlier this year. “The UK government has undervalued live music for too long. They need to do more to keep this industry alive, for the benefit of the country and all future artists who risk not being heard,” adds Pritchard.
Elsewhere on the tour, the Brighton boys will grace characterful haunts like Bury Met, Nottingham’s Saltbox, and the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool.
This back-to-basics tour dovetails with the recent release of their breezy new single “Sunny Baby” – a sun-soaked ode to domestic bliss that’s already soundtracking spring picnics nationwide. The track will soon be followed by Never/Know, the full album, which drops on May 9th via Virgin Music Group. Lead single “Never Know” was an instant hit, scoring Radio X’s coveted ‘Record of the Week’ and earning heavy rotation across BBC Radio 1, 6Music, and Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show.
Tickets for The Kooks’ acoustic run go on sale Friday 11th April at 10am—so don’t be naive! Act fast before they completely sell out.
Grab your tickets here.
Pre-order the album here.
