In this project we see Gallagher going back to his past. He touches base with the life he had, back in the day when he was broke, a daydreamer and wondering what life could be like. It is a way of going back to the beginning for him. The songs that have been already released from the album are “Pretty Boy”, “Easy Now”, “Dead To The World” and, now, we are presented with “Council Skies”. Which is believed to be the last release before the final drop.

We can confirm it is an album close to his heart and has transmitted a different level to his sound. The rockstar himself admits that “Dead To The World” is the best song he has ever written.

Throughout the album expect to hear the likes of collaborators such as Paul “Strangeboy” Lacey, who’ve worked together for a long time running during their musical careers. The Smith’s co-songwriter, Johnny Marr, makes an appearance in three tracks including the already released “Pretty Boy”.  And last but not least ,The Cure frontman Robert Smith has also input towards remixes on a couple of the songs as well as live recordings.

Noel Gallagher explains “It’s going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be … that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ‘90s. When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that” on the making of Council Skies.

The name claimed itself when he was sat at his coffee table and saw a book by Pete McKee titled that same way; Council Skies. He rather liked the ring of it and thought it fit only too well into the significance of his album. It is said that the musician got in contact with McKee to request permission for using the same title on his release. A success, clearly.

The album release will be followed up by an arena UK tour. Starting on the 21st of July in Buckinghamshire he will make his way around the country until finishing in Liverpool on the 21st December.

Tickets are available here.

UK Tour dates:

21/07/23 – Pennfest – Buckinghamshire
23/07 – Wollaton Park – Nottingham
28/07 – Crystal Palace Bowl – London
30/07 – Brighton Beach – Brighton
05/08 – Audley End – Essex
19/08 – Caldicot Castle – Monmouthshire
20/08 – Hardwick Festival – Sedgefield
24/08 – Vivary Park – Taunton
26/08 – Wythenshawe Park – Manchester
27/08 – Royal Hospital – Dublin
30/08 – Bonus Arena – Hull
01/09 – Don Valley Bowl – Sheffield
14/12 – OVO Arena Wembley – London
15/12 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham
17/12 – International Arena – Cardiff
18/12 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
20/12 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow
21/12 – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Bird’s will also embark on a set of outdoor performances throughout the summer, including a number of festival appearances. The 55-year-old rock star and his band are set to headline big festivals in the summer, including PennFest, Splendour Festival, On The Beach Brighton Festival, Hardwick Festival and the Rock N Roll Circus. His upcoming shows will be among Gallagher’s first performances since his career-spanning set which he performed at Glastonbury festival in 2022, on the pyramid stage. The band also announced a USA tour, which consists of 26-dates.

The announcement of the tour came after the release of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Bird’s latest single, ‘’Dead to the world.’’ The single has been released prior to Noel Gallagher’s forthcoming album release, Council Skies, which is his fourth studio album release with his High Flying Birds. The album is set to debut Friday June 2. ‘’Easy Now’’ and ‘Pretty Boy’’ are the other two songs already released from the album.

Whilst speaking about his brand new song, ‘’Dead to the world’’, Gallagher said the single is ‘’by some distance my favourite tune on the album. It has this film noir vibe. It’s not like anything else I’ve ever done before. It’s very melancholic, but I like that. I’m a Gemini – I’m as up as I am down, and the trick is to meet somewhere in the middle and turn that into music.”

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ 2023 UK Arena Tour Dates

30/8/23 – Hull Bonas Arena – Hull

14/12/ – Wembley Ovo Arena – London

15/12 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham 

17/12 – International Arena – Cardiff

18/12 – First Direct Arena – Leeds

20/12 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow

21/12 – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Scheduled 2023 Outdoor Summer Shows

21/07/2023 – PennFest – Buckinghamshire 

23/07 – Splendour Festival – Nottingham 

28/07 – Crystal Palace Bowl – London

30/07 – On The Beach – Brighton

05/08 – Essex Audley End – Saffron Waldon

19/08 – Caldicot Castle – Monmouthshire

20/08 – Hardwick Festival – Sedgefield

24/08 – Vivary Park – Somerset 

26/08 – Wythenshawe Park – Manchester

27/08 – Kilmainham Royal Hospital – Dublin

01/09 – Rock N Roll Circus – Sheffield 

Deluxe Council Skies Album Track list

Disc 1

1. I’m Not Giving Up Tonight

2. Pretty Boy

3. Dead To The World

4. Open The Door, See What You Find

5. Trying To Find A World That’s Been And Gone

6. Easy Now

7. Council Skies

8. There She Blows!

9. Love Is A Rich Man

10. Think Of A Number

Disc 2

1. Don’t Stop… 

2. We’re Gonna Get There In The End

3. Mind Games

4. Pretty Boy (Instrumental)

5. Dead To The World (Instrumental)

6. Council Skies (Instrumental)

7. Think Of A Number (Instrumental) 

8. I’m Not Giving Up Tonight (David Holmes Remix)

9. Think Of A Number (Pet Shop Boys Magic Eye 12” Remix)

10. Pretty Boy (Robert Smith Remix)

11. Council Skies (The Reflex Revision)

12. Flying On The Ground (Radio 2 Session)

13. You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Radio 2 Session)

14. Live Forever (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday March 31. A special pre-sale will be available on Wednesday March 29, for fans who pre-order the forthcoming album, Council Skies, from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds official store. To access the tickets on the day of release, click here.