The Lathums have returned with a vengeance, unleashing their first new music of the year in the form of the electrifying single “No Direction.” A three-minute sonic blitz, the new track is a raw, unrestrained display of the indie rock quintet’s sheer musical prowess featuring buzzsaw guitars, speaker-bursting rhythms and a fervent, from-the-heart-and-soul vocal display from singer, Alex Moore. This new offering arrives ahead of the band’s biggest show to date, a SOLD-OUT performance at Robin Park in Wigan, where they will take to the stage in front of 12,000 adoring fans in their home town, building on the rain-soaked glory of last summer’s 8,000-strong showing at Manchester’s Castlefield Arena.
Despite the band’s recent streak of consistent hits, and their new single ‘No Direction’ depicting a young band revitalized, Moore’s lyrics remain firmly in touch with the hyper-real experiences of navigating life as a twenty-something in search of meaning in a bewildering environment. Commenting on the single, Moore says, “There is no direction now but up. With time and experience I’ve learned that a bit of common sense and a clear mind is all it takes to accept my insecurities and not let them lead or consume me. What’s done is done, let the past go and spend time on becoming better. Fear and pain have no place in moving forward, they exist only as a lesson when you reach your final destination.”
The Lathums performed a string of warm-up gigs throughout the northern United Kingdom in the run-up to Robin Park’s big night out. The band are also looking forward to the rest of the summer which will see them play Liam Gallagher’s “and friends” festival in Malta in September and accompany Keane for two arena dates (OVO Hydro, Glasgow – Fri. 18 Oct and Co-Op Live, Manchester – Sat. 19 Oct).
More than just a band, the summer’s reasons to celebrate are piling up as it has been announced that the fundraising total to date for The Lathums’ Chance To See Fund, a charitable initiative to provide creative opportunities for young people in and around Wigan, has now crossed the £20,000 mark. In partnership with participatory arts charity Curious Minds, the funds have been raised via a mix of donations including direct contributions from fans, guest list contributions and profits raised from band merchandise.
The band’s own charitable initiative was started during the hectic campaign that culminated in their second UK Official Album Chart No. 1 with From Nothing To A Little Bit More in March 2023 (after their debut album, How Beautiful Life Can Be, peaked at No. 1 in 2021). Local projects that provide access to art, music, and theater for those who have no other means have already benefited from funding from this initiative.
Subject to specific funding criteria, local organisations are invited to apply for grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 to support activities that promote joy, positivity, and hope with individual young people aged 11 to 18, who can also apply for grants ranging from £50 to £500 to bring their own ideas to life. Individual donations to the Chance To See Fund are welcome via the Just Giving page here.
For up-to-date information on all upcoming The Lathums live dates and future releases, connect with the band online: WEBSITE / X / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM.
