The Scottish band will kick off a run of 13 shows next February as they celebrate their three-decade-long career. Fans can expect tracks from their extensive discography, which includes their 11th studio album, ‘The Bad Fire’, which arrived earlier this year.

Opening up in their home country of Scotland on February 12 at Paisley Town Hall, the alternative post-rock band will spend the following three weeks heading throughout the UK with dates in Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester and more.

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Tickets for the tour will go on sale this Friday (September 19) at 10am and will be available to purchase from here. The full list of dates can be found below.

February:

12 – Paisley Town Hall

13 – Aberdeen, Music Hall

14 – Birmingham, 02 Academy

15 – Nottingham, Rock City

17 – Cardiff, Depot

19 – Exeter, Great Hall

20 – Brighton Dome

21 – Portsmouth, Guildhall

22 – Bristol, Beacon

24 – Norwich, The LCR

25 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange

26 – Gateshead, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

27 – Manchester, 02 Apollo

Since their formation in Glasgow in 1995, Mogwai have been one of the most influential post-rock and electronic bands in the UK. The release of their debut album, ‘Mogwai Young Team’, in 1997 cemented them as cult heroes in the alternative world. After spending years building an impressive discography, they finally achieved the feat of topping the UK Album Chart with 2021’s ‘As The Love Continues’ 

Whether the announcement of this new tour leads to more new music being released by the band remains unseen, but their 30-year long discography is sure to be enough of a selling point either way.

Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday (September 19) and are available to purchase from here.

‘Fanzine Made of Flesh‘ opens with ambient synths that gradually build into a rich blend of guitars and percussion. The track’s intricate composition highlights Mogwai’s mastery of balancing tension and release. It seamlessly transitions from moments of quietness to bursts of powerful, textured sound and this has created something both unique and captivating.

Accompanying the single is a video that blends abstract visuals with storytelling. Directed by Agnes Haus, the video features a narrative based around two people forming a connection in the modern world. It has a dreamlike narrative, vibrant colour schemes, and fleeting moments of human interaction that convey both doom and hope. The video compliments Mogwai’s vibe perfectly, adding another layer to the immersive experience they are known for. 

Since their formation in Glasgow in 1995, Mogwai has cemented their status as one of the most influential bands in post-rock. The group, consisting of Stuart Braithwaite, Dominic Aitchison, Martin Bulloch, and Barry Burns, gained recognition with their debut album, ‘Mogwai Young Team’, released in 1997. The album consisted of tracks like ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ and ‘Like Herod’, which became instant classics. Over the years, the band has built an impressive discography that includes standout albums such as ‘Come On Die Young’, ‘Mr Beast’, and ‘Rave Tapes’. Their 2021 album, ‘As The Love Continues’, however, marked a career milestone, topping the UK Album Charts and highlighting their enduring relevance in the forever-changing music industry. 

As Mogwai gears up for the exciting release of The Bad Fire, fans have already gotten a taste of what is to be expected from the album. Singles like God Gets You Back and Lion Rumpus have set the tone for the release, and now the new record clearly continues Mogwai’s tradition of pushing creative boundaries. 

In support of the album, Mogwai will embark on a global tour in 2025, spanning Europe, Asia, and North America. Beginning in Amsterdam this February, the tour will feature performances in major cities like London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York, giving fans all over the world the opportunity to experience their music in a live setting. Known for their powerful and immersive performances, Mogwai’s concerts promise to be a highlight of the year for fans. 

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With ‘Fanzine Made of Flesh’ setting the stage, 2025 is shaping up to be a crazy year for Mogwai. Their continued ability to craft music that resonates across generations reaffirms their position as trailblazers in their field. As ‘The Bad Fire’ approaches, Mogwai’s new album promises to captivate listeners and further solidify their undefeated legacy in the music world. 

Ticket information can be found here.

Via White Rabbit Publishing, the book is due to hit the shelves on the 1^st of September 2022 and will cover Braithwaite’s life and upbringing in Scotland right through to his long and storied career as a pillar of the alternative music world. Braithwaite said of the new book; “I am immensely proud to be working with White Rabbit on my first book Spaceships Over Glasgow, the process of researching it and writing it has been challenging but one that I’ve really enjoyed. It’s incredibly exciting to be able to share it with the world.”

Founder of White Rabbit Publishing Lee Brackstone shared his excitement for the new book saying; “From his early years in thrall to the giants of alternative music like MBV, JAMC and Sonic Youth to improbable sonic misadventures on tour with one of the greatest psychedelic bands of the present day, Mogwai, Stuart Braithwaite’s memoir is a funny and righteous celebration of a life lived on the road and in the studio, dedicated to the pursuit of aural (and occasionally) psychic enlightenment and obliteration.”

“Spaceships Over Glasgow” is available in a range of formats which can be found here.

Mogwai are set to embark on the UK and European leg of their tour which follows their receipt of the Scottish Album Of The Year (SAY) award in October 2021- for As The Love Continues. However, many of the dates were rescheduled due to the rise of the Omicron variant that swept the world late last year. As The Love Continues was Mogwai’s 10^th studio album and afforded the band their first-ever UK number one. The only way to celebrate was to confirm a special homecoming show at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall in November 2021.

Tickets For Mogwai’s upcoming tour in the UK and Europe are located here, with dates and details for the UK shows listed below;

UK Tour Dates:

05/05/2022- Festival Marquee- Belfast, UK
27/05- Alexandra Palace- London, UK
21-24/07- Bluedot Festival 2022- Macclesfield, UK
26-28/08- Connect Festival 2022- Edinburgh, UK

Mogwai guitarist Stuart Braithwaite picked up the trophy and £20,000 prize at Usher Hall in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 23. He dedicated the award to the band’s long-time booking agent Mike Griffiths, who passed away earlier this month.

Braithwaite told magazine The Scotsman “I really was not expecting this. I have not thought of anything to say other than thank you and I wish I’d got steaming,” “This has been a really mental year for the band. Loads of things have happened that we didn’t think would happen and this is just another. This is nuts. I want to thank everyone who has bought the record, supported the record, played it on radio and all that stuff.”

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Other artists nominated for the SAY award this year include AiiTee, Joesef, Lizzie Reid, Rachel Newton and The Ninth Wave. The winner last year was Edinburgh-based rap star Nova, who opened last night’s ceremony. Other performances came from Hamish Hawk, Sacred Paws, Bemz and Alasdair Roberts.

Elsewhere during the night, Edinburgh singer Lvra was honoured with a new Sound of Young Scotland Award. Whilst Frightened Rabbit was crowned the inaugural winner of a new award that recognises a ‘Modern Scottish Classic’ album, with the group being recognised for their 2008 album The Midnight Organ Fight.

The honour for Mogwai comes three years after the death of frontman Scott Hutchison, who took his own life in 2018 after a battle with depression.

Scott’s brother and bandmate Grant Hutchinson said when accepting the award: “All of us can come at it from the same place that all of you can – this was and is Scott’s album. These are his words and they should be shared by all of us. It’s amazing to have an album that’s 13 years old and still inspires artists today, because it still inspires me everyday.”

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

The shortlist has been shared on social media and includes five debuts: Arlo Parks, Celeste, Black Country, Nubya Garcia and Berwyn.

The 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Shortlist has been announced!

Congratulations to:@arloparks@berwynberwyn_@BCNRband@celeste@floatingpoints@THEREALGHETTS@Hanpeel@lauramvula@mogwaiband@nubya_garcia@SaultGlobal@wolfalicemusic #HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/Z728zcSuXR

— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021

The list also includes Wolf Alice, who won the prestigious award back in 2018 for “Visions of A Life” and acknowledgement for their debut album “My Love Is Cool” in 2015. Mvula was nominated twice before, in 2013 for “Sing To The Moon” and in 2016 for “The Dreaming Room“.

Arctic Monkeys, PJ Harvey and Laura Marling are the only ones with three nods each, and Harvey is the only artist with two wins.

“The Mercury Prize is known for championing a wide range of musical genres, with Primal Scream winning the first award in 1992 and artists including Ms Dynamite, Pulp, Dave, Roni Size, Skepta, Elbow, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and The XX among the acts who went on to claim the prize“. 

The records will be judged by a panel of music critics and industry professionals. This year it will be three-time nominee Anna Calvi, Dj and radio presenter Annie Mac, Musician Jamie Cullum and last year winner Michael Kiwanuka.

The 2021 eligibility period for best album ran from 18th July 2020 to 16th July 2021. David Wilkinson, A mercury Price chairman said that even though last year has been challenging, “creatively, this is shaping up to be an exceptional year for British music – with so many outstanding albums“.

The gala will take place on 9th September at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. More info about it can be found on the official website.

See the shortlist for Hyundai Mercury Prize 2021:
Arlo Parks: “Collapsed in Sunbeams”
Berwyn: “Demotape/Vega”
Black Country, New Road: “For the First Time…”
Celeste: “Not Your Muse”
Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / The London Symphony Orchestra: “Promises”
Ghetts: “Conflict of Interest”
Hannah Peel: “Fir Wave”
Laura Mvula: “Pink Noise”
Mogwai: “As the Love Continues”
Nubya Garcia: “Source”
Sault: “Untitled (Rise)”
Wolf Alice: “Blue Weekend”

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

The pressing plant in Middlesbrough is set to press 100,000 units a month, with priority given to smaller, independent artists and labels. Press On Vinyl currently have a workforce of ten, which they are looking to triple – this is great news for the area, with Covid having an impact on employment nationwide. The prospect of getting hands on with vinyl is a thrilling prospect for music fans and a start up gaining this much traction is a great sign for the industry in the UK.

Press On Vinyl’s website is showing a countdown to the official launch of the business, due to commence on May 28th. There is a great local scene that will continue to explode with the locality of Press On Vinyl.

Vinyl consumption is on the rise, with the ‘vinyl boom’ showing no signs of stopping: fans of all genres are flocking to their local independent record stores to pick up LPs and singles from their favorite artists. The last twelve months have seen bands like Fontaines DC, Sports Team and Mogwai challenge international megastars such as Bieber and Gaga for the number one spot in the album chart. This is driven by vinyl sales, fans are putting their money where their mouth is and fiercely supporting independent artists as a lack of live gigs has slashed revenue streams throughout lockdown.

Bandcamp is key to this vinyl explosion, offering artists the chance to keep 100% of revenue on the first Friday of each month. This has prompted a number of artists to produce new and exclusive vinyl pressings to improve their income. Statistics  released earlier this year showed that vinyl sales overtook CD sales for the first time in the UK since the 80’s.

It’s a truly exciting time to be a record collector, with two jam packed Record Store Day drops due, as well as exciting start ups like Press On Vinyl popping up, what more could an audiophile ask for?

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Upon the news of the bands first UK number one album, Mogwai stated, “We’re unbelievably happy to have the number one album in the UK. We want to thank everyone at Rock Action Records – both of you – and mostly to thank everyone who has bought, downloaded and streamed the album, and supported us over the last week, and the last 25 years. It’s something we’re amazed by. We’re taken aback by everyone’s support, kindness and generosity.”

The band beat off competitor Ghetts’ ‘Conflict of Interest’ by 2,900 sales. ‘As the Love Continues’ also won in vinyl and independent record store sales this week. Ghetts said of the battle to the top ‘Big congrats to @mogwaiband 25 years in a game where longevity isn’t easily achieved. Salute’

Big congrats to @mogwaiband 25 years in a game where longevity isn’t easily achieved. Salute

— GHETTS (@THEREALGHETTS) February 26, 2021

Mogwai themselves showed their humble attitude toward the news, stating “We didn’t start the band or the label to get into the charts. None of us ever envisaged either the band or the label being in a position where having a number one record would be a possibility.”

In a three-star review of the album, NME stated of the album, ’As The Love Continues’ is an album that opens beautifully but falls short at times during its second half. Then again, the whole record works so much better in a live setting – and will continue to do so when Mogwai finally hit the road again.’

In the campaign for the top, fellow fans such as Elijah Wood and Tim Burgess rallied for the rock bands victory, taking to Twitter and social media. At the news of Mogwai claiming number 1, Wood stated ‘shit yes! Congratulations! So deserved.’

shit yes! congratulations! so deserved.

— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) February 26, 2021

The band played a live streamed concert of the number 1 album on the 13th February which NME gave 4 stars. The concert was held in Glasgow’s Tramway, allowing them some form of live shows after having to sadly cancel their 2021 tour.

Over the past 25 years, the band have been on quite a journey and score number 1 album during a pandemic is beyond impressive. “It’s been an incredible journey making music together over the last quarter century, taking us to places we never dreamed of and getting to play our music to more people than we ever imagined.”

Tonight the band will celebrate on a Zoom call with everyone involved on the record. The bands guitar player, Stuart Braithwaite, said ‘We’ll have a few drinks and talk about how unbelievable it is!’ TGIF!

In a special social-media announcing the worldwide live performance, Mogwai announced the show will be directed by Antony Crook, who has collaborated with the band a few times during previous records. The social-distanced concert will be filmed live at Glasgow’s Tramway venue at corresponding times internationally, detailed air-times can be found below. Tickets are now on pre-sale for £15.

‘As The Love Continues’ worldwide live performance premiere.

Saturday 13 February, 8pm GMT.

Directed by our long term collaborator @MrACrook
Filmed and recorded at @GlasgowTramway

Your first opportunity to hear our new album in full.

On sale now: https://t.co/bdvOD6WeVq pic.twitter.com/5bYpvXctxW

— Mogwai (@mogwaiband) December 17, 2020

Originally the band had planned to record As The Love Continues in the States during the early months of 2020, however it was decided that it would be done closer to home in Worcestershire due to safety concerns surrounding the impending Covid-19 pandemic. Mogwai cancelled their 2021 tour and all 2020 shows because of the ongoing virus and today was the first fans have gotten of what the future of the Scottish group has to offer in regards to promotion and celebration of their upcoming album.

The first single off the forthcoming record As The Love Continues was released in October after the group announced the release date of the coming full-length album. The single, Dry Fantasy was met quickly with fan and critic acclaim and preceded 5 other singles that were released shortly thereafter. Here We, Here We, Here We Go Forever, Pat Stains, Fuck Off Money and Supposedly, We Were Nightmares are the singles released in 2020 and the full track list was released by Mogwai as well, of which can be found of their website and in the Apple Music/Spotify previews.

Worldwide Livestream Showtimes:

UK and Europe- Saturday 13th February – 8pm GMT/9pm CET

North America, Central American and South America – Saturday 13th February – 6pm PST/8pm CST/9pm EST

Asia, Australia and New Zealand – Sunday 14th February – 6pm JST/8pm AEDT/10pm NZDT

The public have been able to vote for the songs they want to hear on the record; which will be performed by the original artists and their road crew. The latest tranche of tracks was unveiled on the Whole Lotta Roadies social media channels today.

The final track listing for the album has yet to be determined, but confirmed numbers include:

• Edinburgh acoustic folk-rocker KT Tunstall performing her 2005 hit single Black Horse and the Cherry Tree;
• Glaswegians Twin Atlantic performing Heart and Soul, which topped the official UK Rock chart in 2014;
• Honeyblood (aka Stina Tweeddale) performing 2014 single Biro;
• Belle and Sebastian and their crew performing their 2004 hit I’m A Cuckoo;
• Edinburgh punk veterans The Rezillos performing Top Of The Pops, a top 20 hit in 1978;
• Aberdeen alt-rockers The XCerts performing Shaking In The Water, the lead single from their 2014 album There Is Only You;

Further tracks are set to be unveiled later this week, with numbers from from Leith icons the The Proclaimers; indie rockers Idlewild; space rock merchants Mogwai; Falkirk outifit Arab Strap; Kilmarnock’s Fatherson; former Delgados singer-songwriter Emma Pollock and Inverness musician Kathryn Joseph all set to feature. On Monday the Whole Lotta Roadies Twitter account promised that “each tune is a nailed on beauty.”

The new LP has been put together by The Fruit Tree Foundation, a project originally formed in 2010 by Emma Pollock and Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones to create the multi-artist compilation album First Edition based around the themes of mental health and wellbeing. Jones told NME that the ongoing pandemic had given the organisation a new sense of purpose.

He said “The devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the music industry is well documented and few are far more affected than live crew. On speaking to members of our touring crew I realised how they were falling through the cracks in government funding and with no gigs and tours upcoming the outlook for them was bleak. I wanted to try and find a way to support them and the wider Scottish Live Crew industry.”

Jones added “Knowing how many crew members are also very talented musicians in their own right I thought it would be fitting for them to showcase this by covering songs of the bands they have been working with over the years, and releasing an album of this to create a hardship fund and also awareness of their situation.”

Beginning on the 17th of July and running through until mid September, each event will be welcoming up to 300 vehicles, with concert-goers welcome to stand in allocated spaces or sit in their own fold-out chairs as well as their cars. Pets, umbrellas, and externally brought food will however not be permitted. Events are set to be staged across twelve UK cities that include Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Bristol, and though London is also billed to be hosting several gigs, a venue has yet to be confirmed.

ON SALE: #UtilitaLiveFromTheDriveIn heads across the UK this summer feat. The Streets, Kaiser Chiefs, Gary Numan, Cream Classical Ibiza, Dizzee Rascal, Beverley Knight & more!

See the full line-up & get your tickets now https://t.co/BJnoovcZcd @UtilitaEnergy pic.twitter.com/vrOXsHWr64

— Live Nation UK (@LiveNationUK) June 22, 2020

In contrast to the numerous virtual music events that have taken place during lockdown, Live Nation promoted their tour dates by stating that “there is nothing that compares to you seeing your favourite musician or band on that stage”, though there are plenty in the industry who disagree. When The Guardian’s Kitty Empire recently spoke with a variety of artists, agents, labels, and venues, she noted that “no one … had anything positive to say about physically distanced gigs. At all”. Stuart Braithwaite of Scottish post-rock band Mogwai said: “with record sales dropping and streaming being so weighted in favour of the streaming companies, it’s going to be hard for a lot of musicians to live off their work”.  

Braithwaite also warned that artists fees could change drastically over the next few years, something that Live Nation has already received criticism for when it reduced artists’ fees to 20% last week. With live music tours grinding completely to a halt as a result of the pandemic-enforced lockdown, the company underwent a share price drop from £60 to £23 in March, meaning that these drive-in shows will surely be vital to prevent them from going under.

Unlike the other listed artists, tickets to see The Streets perform will be made available for general sale on Friday. But if you were hoping to see Kaiser Chiefs from behind the wheel this summer then I’m afraid you’re out of luck; their two shows in Lincoln and Milton Keynes have already sold out. The cities and venues taking part in the drive-in gigs are listed below, whilst you can buy your tickets here.

Utilita Live From The Drive-In Participating Venues

Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

Bolton, University of Bolton Stadium

Bristol, Filton Airfield

Cheltenham, Cheltenham Racecourse

Edinburgh, The Royal Highland Centre

Leeds, Leeds East Airport

Lincoln , Lincolnshire Showground

Liverpool, Central Docks Liverpool Waters

London, *TBA*

Milton Keynes, The National Bowl

Newmarket, Newmarket Racecourse

Teesside, Teesside International Airport