Manchester rock band Pale Waves have announced their UK and Ireland ‘Still Smitten’ tour.
The tour begins this October. Last year, they released their fourth studio album ‘Smitten’, with lyrics largely drawn from lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie’s teenage diary, offering an intimate look into her emotions surrounding her queer identity. The album’s soundscape takes inspiration from artists like Kacey Musgraves and Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries.
In an interview with MXDWN, Heather Baron-Gracie discussed in further detail the inspirations and creative processes behind the album. She reflects on how she’s evolved from her younger self when discussing the track ‘Miss America’, saying: “Miss America, it was kind of how my past behaviours weren’t great, I had not been the best partner to someone and I think in the moment I would justify that and give it reasoning. But I think being older and being able to reflect and now I can hold my hands up high and be like, no, I definitely was in the wrong and I should have done better, but I think in the moment I wouldn’t have admitted that. So, I think it’s all about reflection and being able to kind of admit when you are wrong and when you’ve not done right.”
Discussing the sound of the record, Baron-Gracie says: “It has those ’80s dreamy and anthemic guitars and the twinkly synths and the big choruses, and I think that’s just what we do best. So it was just naturally the kind of music that we wanted to write and what we write best.”
For the 2025 ‘Still Smitten’ tour, the band expressed a desire to perform in spots across the UK and Ireland that often go unnoticed. They said in a statement to the press: “We’re so excited to announce our new tour—this time, we’re heading to places across the UK and Ireland that often get overlooked. These aren’t your typical tour stops, but that’s exactly why we chose them. We wanted to bring the show to places that deserve more love, those underrated spots that are full of character and loyal fans we’ve been dying to play for.
“This tour isn’t about the biggest venues. It’s about the biggest feelings.”
Check out the tour dates below:
PALE WAVES’ ‘STILL SMITTEN’ TOUR
OCTOBER
13th – Sunderland – The Old Fire Station
14th – Stoke-On-Trent – The Sugarmill
16th – Manchester – O2 Ritz
17th – Cardiff – The Tramshed
18th – Wrexham – The Rocking Chair
20th – Brighton – CHALK
21st – Southampton – Engine Rooms
22nd – Norwich – The Waterfront
23rd – Bournemouth – The Old Fire Station
25th – Oxford – O2 Academy
28th – Dublin – The Academy
29th – Belfast – Limelight
30th – Cork – Cyprus Avenue
Tickets go on sale today, 26 June, and are available here.
