Essex rockstars Nothing But Thieves have had a busy week for announcements – after dropping ‘Evolution’ last week, their first single in two years, they today unveiled their fifth album ‘Stray Dogs’ and a massive 2027 tour of Europe and North America supporting it.
Since forming in Southend-On-Sea in 2012, Nothing But Thieves have released 4 studio albums, all of which have landed in the top 10 of the Official UK Album Charts. The band’s last LP, 2023’s ‘Dead Club City’ was their first UK Number One, with energetic dance-pop lead single ‘Welcome to the DCC’ earning itself BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record of the Year. The band’s sound is a lively mix of indie rock with a heft of hard rock influence, often dipping into pop and electronic styles with ease.
After wiping their Instagram feed at the start of May, the band posted several teasingly ambiguous uploads and planted cryptic posters around UK cities before releasing ‘Evolution’ last Wednesday. The track is a bright, thumping indie rock anthem packed with themes of self-improvement and progression, sounding much in the same vein as the music of Sam Fender. Nothing But Thieves have said that Evolution is a “song that’s not too concerned about finality. I think imperfection and authenticity is becoming ever more valuable and it’s definitely something we’re drawn to. We’ve spent some time trying to work out what’s real and tangible about who we are and how we use our time. The people we travel the world with, the human moments on stage, the connection we make with those who come to our shows. That’s real… It’s a bit of a love letter to the people in our world in that way.”
The group played an intimate release set for ‘Evolution’ at The Dome in London last week, and then played it at Radio 1’s Big Weekend before a secret show at Newcastle’s Think Tank venue under the pseudonym ‘Stray Dogs’ last Saturday. The album ‘Stray Dogs’ was announced this morning alongside the tour, with the band reporting that they had returned to Angelic Studios in Oxfordshire where they recorded debut album ‘Nothing But Thieves’.
As for the tour, it kicks off in Paris next January, and following the European leg comes to the UK and Ireland in February. After arena shows in Dublin, Nottingham, London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham, it’s off to Canada and the US over March and April. The band have also let fans in South America and Australia know that dates for them will be out soon. Find all the info on the poster below:
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‘Stray Dogs’ is out on the 25th of September via RCA/Sony Music, with pre-orders granting access to the gig pre-sale. Tickets for the tour go on pre-sale at 10am on Tuesday the 2nd of June, before general sale opens at 10 am on Friday the 5th. You can catch Nothing But Thieves at their only scheduled gig for 2026 supporting Biffy Clyro, live in London’s Finsbury Park on Friday the 3rd of July.
