The post-punk giants will kick things off in their homeland of Scotland, with a show at the LiveHouse venue in Dundee on February 24. From there, they’ll make way to the north of England, with stops confirmed in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle at the end of the month.

We are very excited to announce our 2026 UK/EU Headline Tour. We’re looking forward to visiting all of these incredible places next year. Artist presale will run via Seated on 17th June at 10am local time and general sale starts 20th June at 10AM local via https://t.co/2LouV5j9Jc pic.twitter.com/cPhvw5s1NR

— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) June 16, 2025

They’ll travel further south in March, with shows booked in Nottingham, Brighton, Birmingham and Bristol, as well as other cities. They’ll close out their UK dates at London’s Brixton Academy on March 11, before starting the European leg of their tour, with gigs scheduled in Vienna, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The announcement has come right before the band perform at Glastonbury 2025 next week, performing at The Other Stage on Friday, June 27. They’ll be sharing the stage with Rizzle Kicks, Wet Leg, Busta Rhymes, Gracie Abrams, and stage headliner Loyle Carner.

Franz Ferdinand will be performing at several other festivals this summer, such as Valley Of The Arts, Tramlines, Truck, Y Not, Boardmasters and AMA Music Festival. They have a busy touring schedule for the rest of 2025, with stops in Europe, the U.S., Australia and Japan.

The new tour announcement has come on the heels of the band’s seventh studio album, ‘The Human Fear’, which was released in January. The record was met with positive reception from critics. Giving a 7/10 review, Clash Magazine wrote: “Fun, lean, and concise, ‘The Human Fear’ finds Franz Ferdinand looking to the future without any need to panic.”

In an interview with NPR, frontman Alex Kapranos spoke on the feeling of fear, the central concept to their latest album. “People don’t like admitting to feeling fear,” said Kapranos. “Bob [Hardy] and I had this great conversation about how fear is often the most exciting element in life, or overcoming it.”

Bob Hardy, the band’s bassist, claimed that the songs on ‘The Human Fear’ are meant to motivate those who struggle with the emotion. “If you live your life without putting yourself in a situation where you ever feel afraid, then it’s gonna be a pretty boring life. Are you really living?”

You can find Franz Ferdinand’s full touring schedule on their official website here.

Banks, known for her enticing lyrical flow and club-worthy anthems, has always been outspoken when it comes to voicing her opinion on the music industry and acts within it. This time, Glastonbury’s lineup was in the firing line when the singer took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam a few names on the bill, even going to the extent to provide her own worthy choices for the event.

In what world are the 1975 billed higher than Franz Ferdinand & The libertines in England? In what world is charli xcx billed higher than the Deftones?? billed higher than Pink Pantheress? In the UK???? Where is FLO? WHY WOULD THEY BOOK THE KAISER CHIEFS AND NOT BOOK *KEANE* or… https://t.co/XKli7okIVC

— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) March 15, 2025

The iconic Somerset five-day festival will welcome the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, RAYE, Loyle Carner, Biffy Clyro and more onto their stages this year. Although many artists on the lineup remained unscathed, one act definitely didn’t: Friday night headliners and Alt-Indie group, The 1975.

Beginning her online rant, the ‘Liquorice’ artist shared: “In what world are the 1975 billed higher than Franz Ferdinand & The Libertines in England?”

Banks’ attention to the 1975’s headline slot comes at no surprise given a heated exchange between Banks and 1975 frontman, Matty Healy back in December of last year. The singer made comments on Charli xcx (1975 drummer, George Daniel’s fiancé) and Gabbriette (Matty’s fiancé) which saw the 1975 frontman run to their defence; “allegedly making violent threats and derogatory comments about Banks and her physical appearance” in retaliation. The online spat caused Healy to deactivate his X account and subsequently caused Banks to result to legal action against the ‘Somebody Else’ singer.

In a separate post, Banks reiterated her dislike for Healy, stating: “Matty Healy is really just SO F***ING UGLY and that band as a unit has zero aesthetic.”

High key, every mother fucker who speaks ill of me unwarranted ultimately suffers the same fate lol. Matt Healy is really just SO FUCKING UGLY and that band as a unit has zero aesthetic. What is it with the uk that yall love yall an ugly crackhead? Pete Doherty now this? What is… https://t.co/vioTDl5QcJ

— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) March 15, 2025

The ‘Luxury’ singer continued with her thoughts: “In what would is charli xcx billed higher than the Deftones?? Billed higher than Pink Pantheress? In the UK????”

In her rant Banks provided suggestions with some acts that would’ve been in her personal lineup. The 33-year-old put a case forward for the following acts: Skunk Anansie, Central Cee (following the success of his debut LP), Shygirl, Basement Jaxx, Dido and MIKA. She even expressed some bewilderment towards Rod Stewart’s legend slot, expressing her desire for a (very unlikely) Smiths reunion with Morrissey and Johnny Marr.

Concluding: “Glastonbury is kinda cooked,” it seems Glastonbury have some making up to do with Banks especially within their second instalment of acts set to be announced soon.

The gig was hosted by Factory International’s Aviva Studios in Manchester, the city home to Marr, making his appearance alongside the ‘Take Me Out’ rockers even more legendary.

Marr has impressive credentials during his time in the industry, not only as the guitarist and co-songwriter in the angst-indie group The Smiths during the 1980s, but his contributions to Modest Mouse, The Pretenders, The The, The Cribs and his very own solo career.

The appearance of the now 61-year-old at the Amazon Music gig was marked with excitement as the iconic guitarist graced the stage.

“Do You Want To”

One of the best @Franz_Ferdinand singled … and tonight with @Johnny_Marr at Aviva Studios Manchester pic.twitter.com/wbs2DUZUPS

— Altrincham HQ – Social Media Marketing in Manc (@altrinchamhq) January 18, 2025

The gig placed Franz Ferdinand’s sixth studio album ‘The Human Fear’ at the forefront, which released January 10. The group teamed up with Marr for a total of three songs on the night. The first being ‘Build It Up’, the fifth track from their latest release. Marr’s contributions to the live rendition of the track were electrifying and captivating, seeming almost effortless to the guitarist.

‘Build It Up’ was followed by ‘Do You Want To’, a track with almost 100 million streams on Spotify, which stands as the second track on the band’s second album ‘You Could Have It So Much Better’.  

Wow@Franz_Ferdinand and @Johnny_Marr at Aviva Studios Manchester “Bigmouth Strikes Again” pic.twitter.com/8iV1HgrJBu — Altrincham HQ – Social Media Marketing in Manc (@altrinchamhq) January 18, 2025

Perhaps the most unforgettable of the three tracks was saved to last, as the indie rockers covered a Smiths classic, ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’, from their iconic but provocative third LP ‘The Queen Is Dead’, released in 1986. During the collaboration Marr looked at home, as Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos and Marr bonded over their desire to create an unforgettable experience for the audience.

After Marr’s appearance alongside the band, the guitarist reminisced on the collaboration, writing on Instagram: “Love and best to my friends @franz_ferdinand for a great time and great show”.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Johnny Marr (@johnnymarrgram)

As the exclusive on-stage collaboration came to an end, the Scottish rock band commenced with possibly one of their most notable tracks, ‘Take Me Out’ from their 2004 debut LP of the same name. With it’s infectious instrumentation, gripping melodies and memorable lyrics, the band provided gig-goers with a performance rife with energy, despite being over 20 years since the track’s initial release.

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Although the gig took place at Aviva Studios, fans unable to attend were able to witness the show from the comfort of their own homes through livestreams on both Prime Video and Twitch, as a result of the concert being the latest edition of Amazon Music’s City Sessions series.

Franz Ferdinand setlist:

‘The Doctor’

‘No You Girls’

‘Night Or Day’

‘Walk Away’

‘Audacious’

‘Stand On The Horizon’

‘The Dark Of The Matinee’

‘Bar Lonely’

‘Love Illumination’

‘Build It Up’ (with Johnny Marr)

‘Do You Want To’ (with Johnny Marr)

‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ (with Johnny Marr)

‘Take Me Out’

‘Hooked’

‘The Birds’

Amazon’s City Sessions have hosted a number of intimate events across the United States and Latin America, giving viewers an intimate and unique experience to witness exclusive sets from some of music’s biggest and greatest artists. Amazon Music has welcomed performances from Kings of Leon, Glass Animals, Wallows, Nelly Furtado, Andra Day and The Black Crowes, prior to the announcement of Franz Ferdinand’s performance.

The upcoming event follows the recent release of Franz Ferdinand’s newest album, ‘The Human Fear’ which released last week (January 10). Hailing from Scotland in 2002, the Scottish rock band have become renowned for their stylish and catchy rock tracks with infectious beats. Their biggest and most notable hit ‘Take Me Out’, released on a LP of the same name in 2004, placed their name on the map as ones to watch. With their reputation in modern rock, it is no surprise Amazon Music will be featuring an exclusive set from the band given the recent experimentation present in ‘The Human Fear’.

Aviva Studios will host the event alongside their ongoing partnership with Factory International. Factory International are the prominent organisation behind Manchester International Festival (MIF) since 2007, a biennial programme which showcases work within the arts from creatives that are from diverse backgrounds and experiences. The upcoming event at Aviva Studios aims to develop dynamic venues and creative spaces across Greater Manchester, to establish the prominent presence of arts in future culture.

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Franz Ferdinand’s exclusive one-off performance at Aviva Studios for Amazon Music’s UK City Sessions will be streamed on Prime Video, providing viewers with an unmatched experience from the comfort of their own homes. The ‘No You Girls’ performers will no doubt treat fans to lots of well-loved tracks alongside new tracks from their latest release, ‘The Human Fear’.

The band dropped their highly anticipated sixth studio album yesterday. It marks a bold new chapter for the rockers, blending their signature indie rock sound with deep, introspective themes and a fresh, experimental approach. This marks their first studio project in seven years and their first album featuring drummer Audrey Tait, who joined the band in 2021.

Our sixth studio album ‘The Human Fear’ is OUT NOW. Thanks for all of your support, we’ve worked hard on this album and we’re excited for you to finally be able to hear it in full. Give it a listen and let us know what you think. pic.twitter.com/wDZ3ycwxur

— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) January 10, 2025

Recorded at AYR Studios in Scotland and produced by Mark Ralph, the album delves into themes of fear and human experience. The album comprises 11 tracks, including the lead single ‘Audacious’, which has already made waves with its infectious groove and angular guitar riffs, a nod to the band’s early work while pushing into new musical territory. Other standout tracks like ‘Hooked’ and ‘Night or Day’ contribute to the album’s exploration of overcoming fear.

Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish rock band that formed in Glasgow in 2002. Known for their catchy, danceable indie rock sound, the band quickly rose to fame with their hit single ‘Take Me Out’, released on January 12, 2004, as the second single from their debut album ‘Take Me Out’. The song achieved significant success on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number three. The band is often associated with the post-punk revival of the early 2000s. Their music combines angular guitar riffs, punchy rhythms, and clever, sometimes ironic lyrics. They have described their goal as creating music that “girls can dance to”.

The setlist for this intimate show is unknown but their recent shows included songs such as ‘Bar Lonely’, ‘Night or Day’, and ‘Take Me Out’, a combination of older tracks and songs from the new album. In addition to this intimate performance, Franz Ferdinand has scheduled other shows in Glasgow for 2025, including a sold-out gig at the Barrowland Ballroom on March 5 and a performance at SWG3’s Galvanizers Yard on August 13. The band will also embark on a UK and European tour, starting February 14 in Lisbon, where they’ll bring ‘The Human Fear’ to stages across the continent, culminating with a final show in Glasgow on March 7, 2025.

9 shows on our upcoming UK/European tour are now sold out. Tickets for the remaining dates are available here: https://t.co/4PWvrJckUK pic.twitter.com/vshAm0elTD
— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) September 21, 2024

‘The Human Fear’ is available now for streaming on major platforms such as Spotify. For more information on the album and to catch a glimpse of the band’s upcoming performances, head to their official website and social media pages.

The book, first announced in 2021, is set to be released in 2024. “After Daft” will provide fans an insight into Daft Punk’s influence on the electronic music scene, giving a deep dive into their legacy and their process as a duo.

“After Daft” is set to include over 100 guest contributors, with Disclosure, Franz Ferdinand, Annie Mac and Porter Robinson named amongst the first 50 revealed this week. The book is said to encompass “250+ hours of new conversations with some of the 21st century’s most successful and groundbreaking artists” making it “an unparalleled resource for fans of dance & electronic music.”

Written by Gabriel Szatan, the book is set to be published by John Murray Press / Hachette UK.

Speaking on the upcoming publication, Szatan said, “Daft Punk sit in the pantheon of pop alongside Prince, Talking Heads, Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, Missy Elliott, David Bowie or any visionary you’d care to name.”

He continued, “Beyond making joyous records, there are countless compelling sub-narratives which flow in and out of their career: Alive 2006-07 was as consequential for dance music as The Beatles’ 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was for rock ’n’ roll — what changed about the way we respond to concerts in the aftermath? Were the Teachers sufficiently recognised for their contributions? And how did Daft Punk retain anonymity at a time when the internet erased privacy for everyone else?”

“I’m excited to bring it all to light — as well as making the case for how, over 28 years, music really did sound better with them.”

The book will also give fans the insight of industry experts including producers such as Oneohtrix Point Never and Rostam Batmanglij.

Szatan said, “After Daft is artist-led, [telling] an authentic story through the eyes of those
who shaped it. [It reflects] musicians from different backgrounds and disciplines whose lives interacted in fascinating ways, undersung creatives who oil the industry machine, as well as countless artists that thrived as the ceiling was raised on dance & electronic music’s creative possibilities and immense global popularity.”

“After Daft” will also honour the Latin and Black roots of club culture that are inextricably linked with Daft Punk’s 28 year career as a duo.

The hardback edition of “After Daft: The Rewiring of 21st Century Culture” is set to be released in spring of 2024 and can be preordered here.

Daft Punk have also announced a 10th anniversary expanded edition of their final album, Random Access Memories, to be released 12th May 2023.

Random Access Memories 10th Anniversary Edition, May 12th 2023

pre-order now, https://t.co/5NbYQEMnHA pic.twitter.com/qf8xe3u2zn

— Daft Punk (@daftpunk) February 22, 2023

Stream Daft Punk’s expansive works here.

Introducing our National Album Day 2022 Ambassadors!@SamRyderMusic @KSI @thestaves @Franz_Ferdinand @TheMysterines

Discover more about this year’s #NationalAlbumDay on our site: https://t.co/1lcrg78uvU pic.twitter.com/MZ6vG4T9Yj

— National Album Day (@AlbumDayUK) August 16, 2022

The annual event is held in celebration of the album format and the configuration’s over  70 years of history and critical influence across the music industry. This year the event will mark National Album Day’s fifth year and will be held on 15th October 2022, each year is allocated a theme. In previous years National Album Day has taken on the theme of Women in Music and the 80s, this year the annual celebration will hold the theme of Debuts. By adopting this theme, the event aims to honour a wide range of initial album releases from many variants of genres and eras.

This year im going to be an @AlbumDayUK ambassador, which means i’ll be looking at and discussing one of my favourite debut albums from an artist I love. What’s your favourite debut album? https://t.co/DHkP7Jd6VD — ksi (@KSI) August 16, 2022

Speaking on the event, Chief Executive BPI Geoff Taylor and Chief Executive ER Kim Bayley have issued a joint statement, “Artists love telling their stories through the artform of the album and fans love to listen, but in a world where there is more streaming of individual songs, we take the appeal of the album format for granted. National Album Day is about celebrating the continuing vitality and cultural relevance of the long player, in particular with the next generation of fans, and we invite everyone who loves the format to join in and enjoy this year’s National Album Day.“

Since its inception in 2018, National Album Day has put on and participated in a wide range of events. The long list of activities include The Record Club, Tim’s Twitter Listening Party, two exhibitions held with Network Rail and Classic Album Sundays. The annually held celebration of the beloved format is co-arranged with BPI, otherwise known as British Phonographic Industry, BPI is the trade association for British recorded music and is known for putting on the BRIT awards. National Album Day is also organised by ERA, The Digital Entertainment and Retail Association, ERA is a UK trade organisation known for its involvement in record store day.

Alex Kapranos, Franz Ferdinand frontman has also given a statement concerning the band’s ambassador status, “What a glorious medium the album is, On the most basic level it’s a bunch of songs that sound good together, but what I love is that it is a moment in time for the artist and the listener, a way to define a period of a lifetime. It’s the long form: a novel rather than a short story, a film rather than a trailer. Sure, you can get a panel of writers to construct a song to meet the criteria of the algorithm, and that’s a distinct skill, but it will never have the complexity or richness and deep reward of a good album.”

This year’s National Album Day will be conducted in association with Bowers and Wilkins, the event’s official audio partner. National Album Day is also presented alongside its official broadcast partner BBC Sounds. This year’s celebration will also include special broadcasts and exclusive releases, further details concerning these forthcoming events will be confirmed in due course.

Don’t forget the best bits. https://t.co/np0RxRQ5rJ pic.twitter.com/O2KWcS7x53

— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) October 29, 2021

The video posts show Spotify stream and if you search for an artist ‘The New Scottish Gentry’, you’ll find a song called “Don’t Forget The Best Bits”. If you listen to it below, you can definitely recognise the vocal of Franz Ferdinand’s frontman Alex Kapranos. Last night, 31st October the band posted another video teaser with a background sound of a ticking clock and the caption “November 2nd“. The eight-second clip is another monochromatic video showing a man’s face losing his eyeball and staring at a cracked mirror. It also shows a stomping boot, the same as in the first teaser.

November 2nd. https://t.co/np0RxRQ5rJ pic.twitter.com/rn3Qjghu16 — Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) October 31, 2021

Last week Franz Ferdinand announced the departure of their drummer Paul Thomson. “Hello world. Paul is leaving the band. It was a bit of a shocker for us when we found out, so it probably will be for some of you too” the band shared on social media. 

They have chosen Audrey Tait as a replacement: “we’re happy to say that one of the other best drummers in the world is joining us. Many of you in Glasgow will already know what an incredible musician Audrey Tait is and we’re thrilled to have her join us. It feels totally natural playing with her and she’s a great laugh. It has been electrifying being in the studio together and we can’t wait to play live for you all“. 

Last summer frontman Alex Kapranos said in an interview with NME: “I made a rule with myself after our third album that I would never say too much about it beforehand“.

“What happens is that when you write and develop songs, it’s not a straight path. I did an interview before our third album [2009’s ‘Tonight’] where I described it as ‘extremely pop’ – but then we totally veered away from that. All I’ll say is that we have songs and I really enjoy playing them!”.

If the new single “Don’t Forget The Best Bits” is released tomorrow it will be the band’s first one without the latest drummer Thomson. The last album from Franz Ferdinand was Always Ascending from 2018 that peaked at No 6 in the UK Charts.

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On a statement shared to the bands social media recently on October 21, the Scottish band wrote: “Hello world. Paul is leaving the band. It was a bit of a shocker for us when we found out, so it probably will be for some of you too.”

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Thomson originally joined Franz Ferdinand when they first formed back in 2002, and has been friends with his former bandmates for over 25 years. The statement then continued “We’re glad we shared those adventures and experiences together and look forward to hearing what he gets up to next”. The band of course had to find a replacement and they chose Audrey Tait, who made her debut appearance with the band at a Balmain fashion show in France last month (September 29). You can see footage of that gig below.

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Franz Ferdinand said of the drummers replacement and new band member “After having played with Paul for so long, it’s obvious that not just anyone could sit behind the kit in FF, so we’re happy to say that one of the other best drummers in the world is joining us,”

“It feels totally natural playing with her and she’s a great laugh. It has been electrifying being in the studio together and we can’t wait to play live for you all. Here’s a photo of Paul literally handing his sticks over to her in a windowless rehearsal room.”

Thomson, meanwhile, wrote that the close two-decade run in Franz Ferdinand has “been like a dream, I want to thank each of you that bought a record, came to a concert and shared all these experiences with me, I will never forget it.”

He then finished “Franz Ferdinand was, is, and always will be family and a huge part of me. My words and smile are so easy now.”

Franz Ferdinand released their fifth and latest album, Always Ascending, in 2018. Their most recent release and the final recording that will include the drummer was the single “Black Tuesday” that came out in 2019.

Board masters 2019 attended by a huge 50,000 party-goers, will run from Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th of August. Tickets are available via the website. The music and surfing festival is held across Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, within walking distance of the popular tourist town of Newquay.

Other acts confirmed for the sun, sea, surf and music festival include; Brit and NME award winning Glaswegian indie rock legends Franz Ferdinand – British Grime super stars Dizzee Rascal and Giggs, UK Garage Legend DJ EZ, as well as  2018’s Brits’ Critics Choice award, Mercury Prize nomination and critically acclaimed debut album ‘Lost and Found’ artist; Jorja Smith. Joining them are – IDLES – Michael Franti & Spearhead – Lewis Capaldi – Lady Leshurr – Self Esteem – Boy Azooga – Pete Murray, and many more.

All music and camping activities will be held at the Watergate Bay site, whilst any surfing, skate, BMX and shopping will be at the Fistral Beach site near the town centre. Saturday nights headline act has been confirmed, with Florence + The Machine taking the main stage. Fresh from their critically acclaimed fourth album release ‘High As Hope’, alongside some of the worlds most eclectic and diverse acts. 

Florence and The Machine is fronted by vocalist Florence Welch and keyboardist Isabella Summers. They are usually joined by a varied array of other musicians, that form ‘The Machine’. The band have achieved huge success since 2007 with hits such as ‘Kiss with a fist’, ‘Rabbit Heart’ and a cover version of Candi Staton’s 1986 hit ‘You’ve got the love’.

The musical powerhouse is currently on tour with their ‘High As Hope’ album tour. After a brilliantly successful 2018, including the release of their second album, ‘Joy As An Act Of Resistance’, which was also named as BBC 6 Music’s album of the year, the fantastic IDLES will also be joining Florence + The Machine to play at Boardmasters 2019.

Last year’s event was popularised by headline performances by The Chemical Brothers, George Ezra, Rag ’N’ Bone Man, Years & Years as well as Catfish and the Bottlemen. Boardmasters organisers said they will continue their work to keep the festival environmentally conscious, organising a working partnership by teaming up with the Surfers against Sewage charity, with beach cleans throughout the year, as well as during the festival.

This year’s successful reusable cup scheme, as well as incentivising festival-goers to clean up after themselves. Beyond the music, Boardmasters returns with its surf competition, which is part of the World Surf League Qualifying Series, with the biggest names on the International surf scene battling it out for supremacy on the water.