It’s been way too long… we are so excited to announce our tour of UK/Ireland this November and over the moon to have @Architects join us on what is going to be a very special tour. You will not want to miss it

…1/2 pic.twitter.com/7Lw1dIFkBw

— Biffy Clyro (@BiffyClyro) June 20, 2022

While the band did recently commit to their “Finger Crossed Tour” in 2021, these dates were more of a celebration that we were actually allowed to go outside again (remember that??), so the group took to a handful of venues generally about ¼ the size they’re used to, to play mostly songs from A Celebration Of Endings, and its companion album The Myth of the Happily Ever After. Any fans that were lucky enough to get tickets to the exclusive dates heard most of the, at the time, untouched albums. But now, with a little time to breathe, and a few larger festivals under their belt for the year, the band are swapping the O2 Forum Kentish Town for the O2 Arena. What a jump.

It has also been announced that Brighton’s own answer to metalcore Architects will be joining Biffy on tour. Fans and critics alike have almost exclusively praised the band for their recent output. Their 2018 LP Holy Hell in particular made some big waves throughout the community. But now, off the back of their tour in support of For Those That Wish To Exist, the group have grown more accustomed to their fame and seems far more comfortable on stages of this size. Their time with Biffy should bring along a hefty chunk of new fans.

Biffy headlined the infamous Download Festival for the 2^nd time last week. Their first soiréeat the festival in 2017 was met with a lot of confusion. Off the back of their, at the time, poppiest album yet, the band seemed like an odd choice for a festival known for its metal and hardcore sounds. But with a few choice dips into their back catalogue and a carefully curated list of new material, the band managed to maintain the agro-aesthetic whilst also covering their bases and banging out the hits. This year’s appearance then came as a breeze, with no confusion about whether or not they’ve got the chops. Just rock up and smash out the tunes. It definitely helps that the album tracks from the last few LPs are embracing the band’s older style. You can watch a clip the band put onto their socials below.  

This time last week… @DownloadFest : @joe_guppy #DL22 pic.twitter.com/AyTWKDE9sC — Biffy Clyro (@BiffyClyro) June 19, 2022

See the band’s full tour schedule below:

5/11/22 – Leeds  – First Direct Arena
6/22 – Glasgow – OVO Hydro
8/11 – Dublin – 3Arena
9/11 – Belfast – SSE Arena
11/11 – Birmingham – Resorts World Arena
12/11 – London – O2 Arena
14/11 – Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena
15/11 – Bournemouth – International Centre

Biffy Clyro will play a special acoustic show for @RadioX on 18th January 2022 at Hackney Church, London. Tickets on sale this Friday – more info at https://t.co/SDhf2kcWWx pic.twitter.com/EhOwtz2YH1

— Biffy Clyro (@BiffyClyro) December 13, 2021

The show will be paired with a performance in Kingston the following day, at Banquet Records venue Pryzm. See here for full details on Biffy Clyro’s tour dates. Both shows will take place before the band embark on their long-awaited European tour after it was postponed to February of 2022 due to COVID-19. In a statement regarding the delays, the band said they, “can’t wait to get out and see you all as soon as it is safe for everyone to be together again”.

Regarding their new album, The Myth of The Happily Ever After, lead singer Simon Neil explains, “The liberation of doing anything that you had any control over last year was a thrill in itself, we couldn’t leave the house, we couldn’t go shopping, no one could see anyone they cared about – so the only freedom we had was in these ideas and these songs.”. The album came only 13 months after their previous LP A Celebration of Endings, in a very welcome surprise to fans. Recorded mostly before lockdown, Celebration didn’t quite reflect the ideas the band were going for. So, in an interview with NME, Neil explains how the pandemic sent them straight back to the drawing board for another stab at just what they wanted to be released in today’s day and age.

This isn’t the first time the band have taken a more stripped back approach to their performances, in November 2017 they embarked on a string of acoustic shows, ending the tour at London’s iconic Roundhouse for their own MTV Unplugged session. The show was then released in May the following year and clearly scratched an itch the fans may not have even been aware of. The album topped the UK Vinyl Albums Chart that week, with a few special appearances like a cover of The Beach Boys’ Classic “God Only Knows” and particularly niche Puzzles B-side “Different Kind of Love”.

See below an acoustic version of their 2013 single “Black Chandelier” Live from The Roundhouse.

What a pleasure, Laura xxx https://t.co/CeOIjcCok6

— Biffy Clyro (@BiffyClyro) June 17, 2021

Mvula’s forthcoming album is a combination of uplifting disco-inspired pop. She said in a statement: “This is the album I always wanted to make. Every corner is made warm with sunset tones of the 80s. I was born in 1986. I came out of the womb wearing shoulder pads. I absorbed the dynamism of the 80s aesthetic right from my first moments on this planet”.
“Making ‘Pink Noise’ felt like the most violent of emotional wrestling matches. It took three years of waiting and waiting and fighting and dying and nothingness, and then finally an explosion of sound. As if it was always here, this record is my most honest and unapologetic flying of the freedom flag. I can’t wait to play this album live” – she continues.
Recently the singer admitted she felt extremely hurt after her former label dropped her in 2017. In an interview with MusicWeek she said: “I was very much aware that I wasn’t charting. It’s not like my albums were hitting the Top 10 and staying there. It was pretty intense. It was a very brief note saying that they were so grateful, but this was the end of the road. It’s a hard thing to make sense of and to come back from“.
Laura Mvula will perform in London on 2nd September at Village Underground, purchase tickets from here.

You can pre-order the album here and the new single is available to buys and stream here.

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Neil has spoken to the BBC regarding his new show and expresses his passion for the medium of radio.

“It’s a pleasure to be doing The Simon Neil Experience with BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sounds and I’m proud to present six shows that each explore a different style of music that I love. Radio has been a big part of my life as a musician and music fan, and whilst we were not able to travel and share our music with the world, I wanted to share the songs, and artists, that have helped me through the last year, and more, alongside some very special guests that I am incredibly excited about.”

The show will provide an intimate insight into the Scottish singer’s relationship with music through a wide variety of genres and styles, which will also chart Neil’s personal and professional life through the tracks chosen. Each instalment will concentrate on an individual genre and style of music thus providing the listener with a clear, concise and comprehensive education and story behind the chosen songs. Neil will not be alone in his new musical journey; the singer will be joined by a special guest with which he will discuss the music and will conduct interviews with concerning their own personal relationship with music.

The series was commissioned by Gareth Hydes, commissioning editor who is responsible for commissions and scheduling for BBC Radio Scotland. Hydes has also spoken to the BBC regarding the network’s new show.

“It’s fantastic to welcome Simon to Radio Scotland’s presenter stable with this new series. We are excited to be working with him and looking forward to hearing the music that has inspired him through the decades and the stories behind them. It promises to be a must-listen for all Biffy Clyro fans but also for anyone interested in getting more insight in to what influences the front man of one of Scotland’s most successful musical exports.”

Neil’s band Biffy Clyro, which consists of fellow members and brothers, bassist James Johnston and drummer Ben Johnston, have remained a favourite for many music fans since their debut album ‘Blackened Sky’, released 10th March 2002 via Beggars Banquet Records. The band recently celebrated their third number one album with the release of their eighth studio album ‘A Celebrations of Endings’. The album was released on 14th August 2020 and debuted at the number one spot and has sired six singles, with the most recent single entitled ‘North of No South’ released 10th January 2021.

Since their inception, the Scottish rockers have been delighting fans at festivals as well as collecting substantial accolades. Their most recent award saw the band nominated in 2021’s Brit Awards, the group were nominated for British Group which was snagged by popular girl group Little Mix.  The band, famed for big festival performances, will be playing at Glasgow Green set to be held on 9th September 2021 as well as a headline spot at next year’s Download Festival.

After their appearance at Glasgow Green the group will be hitting the road in October until November with their sold-out tour, ‘The Fingers Crossed Tour’.  The tour will begin on 21st October 2021 with the group performing at University Mountford Hall located in Liverpool and will end on 4th November 2021 with a performance at 02 Academy in Bristol.

Biffy Clyro UK tour dates

09/09/2021 – Glasgow Green – Glasgow
29/10 – University (Mountford Hall) – Liverpool
30/10 – Corn Exchange – Cambridge
31/10 – O2 Academy – Sheffield
02/11 – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London
03/11 – O2 Guildhall – Southampton
04/11 – O2 Academy – Bristol

The official tracklist officially confirms the rumours of vocal collaborations with Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro on the song ‘Nervous‘ as well as Deryck Whibley from Canadian punk rock veterans Sum 41 for ‘No Defeat For The Brave‘. Alongside the already released ‘Sleeps Society‘ and recent banger ‘You Are All You Need‘, the album will include the track ‘Call Of The Void‘ revealed to feature members of the Sleeps Society, teasing involvement from While She Sleeps’ hardcore fan base.

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The band revealed the second promo single ‘You Are All You Need‘ last Sunday during Daniel P. Carter’s ‘Rock Show‘ on BBC1. An undeniable masters of their craft and confidently moving to a league of their own, While She Sleeps deliver some of the most exciting arrangement and guitar work in modern metal, backed by rich bass sections, restless drums and singer Loz Taylor’s versatile vocal performance. Lead guitarist Sean Long talks about their new single and video, giving some insight on the direction of their explosive recent track and video:

“We are always trying to express a certain kind of emotion or internal insight and sometimes you really hit the nail on the head, expressing it how you imagined, and other times you miss it completely. Well, this time we hit it dead on with no room for speculation. The song says it how it is and reminds us to stop looking outwards for approval & validation. The video is a colour explosion from start to finish and, with the current state of this dull bleak world, we think it’s going to be the colour everyone needs to illuminate their spirits, even if it’s only for three minutes.”

While She Sleeps shared the psychedelic video for ‘You Are All You Need‘ at 6pm on Monday with a premiere that coincided with Architects’ latest track ‘Meteor‘ reveal on BBC Radio 1 and immediately sent ripples across the music media. In a seemingly coincidental yet powerfully unified action at both fronts, for a brief moment all eyes and ears were focused on two of the leading contemporary metal exports from the country, continuing the recently reinvigorated surge across the entire scene.

YOU ARE ALL YOU NEED MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW! https://t.co/4bEHAZ3eFS pic.twitter.com/aYb3hcsJFN

— WHILE SHE SLEEPS (@whileshesleeps) February 8, 2021

2021 is already shaping to be a truly exciting time for modern metal fans and professionals across the UK, making the most of these troubled times. With established bands morphing into genre-defining global heavyweights and talented new acts confidently rising to fill the ranks, main albums charts are increasingly seeing more guitar-driven and louder music across the spots. Only recently Bring Me The Horizon confidently grabbed the top spot with the physical release of their seminal EP Post Human: Survival Horror, while Enter Shikari and Bury Tomorrow seamlessly broke into Top 10 in 2020, just to name a few without pinpointing specific genres.

Building on the momentum with the likes of While She Sleeps and Architects demanding the attention of primetime national radio shows and making press headlines with their highly anticipated new albums Sleeps Society and For Those That Wish To Exist, now is as exciting time as any to follow the new trends. Curiously, Biffy Clyro’s frontman Simon Neil is set to feature on both bands’ upcoming records, further expanding their shared creative field and strengthening the guitar-focused community across the country.

Check out While She Sleeps’ latest video in full below, and pre-order Sleeps Society from their official website. Album out 16 April 2021 via Spinefarm Records.

Neil spoke to Music Week about the urgency of protecting them, saying, “If venues disappear, we’re losing a generation, if not more, of talent.” He continued, “The music that comes from this small island is, across the board, astounding. There’s generations of kids that are going to lose opportunities from study to job opportunities, we cannot fucking rip the culture away from them as well. All they have is this expression.”

Neil, like so many bands and artists, began his career playing in small music venues with Biffy Clyro, and is not only saddened, but angry to think that future musicians could be deprived of that opportunity. There is also something to be said about the cultural effects of this; “One of the few things to admire about our country is the culture and most of these fuckers in the government won’t have been to a gig or a show ever.”

Biffy Clyro are on the cover of this week’s @MusicWeek magazine – read the full interview here: https://t.co/ReWERnovPX pic.twitter.com/Oi2oe3vqKl

— Biffy Clyro (@BiffyClyro) July 23, 2020

While the government finally announced that they would be putting £1.57 billion into all arts industries, this offer comes too late for many. However, thanks to the charity of owners and artists, some have struggled through. Just yesterday, it was announced that Manchester venues Gorilla and The Deaf Institute have been saved from closure.

Numerous other artists have also spoken out about this issue – most recently, James Bay and Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett discussed it via video chat and offered fans links to donate to #SaveOurVenues.

Biffy Clyro is made up of members Simon Neil (guitar and lead vocals), James Johnston (bass), and Ben Johnston (drums). The band has released numerous albums, with four reaching the top 5 in the UK Albums Chart and one album, ‘Opposites’, claiming number 1. Formed in 1995, they are currently signed to 14th Floor Records and have headlined many big UK Festivals including Reading & Leeds in 2013. Biffy Clyro have won four NME Awards and received nominations for two Brit Awards. Their hit song ‘Many of Horror’ was covered by X Factor winner Matt Cardle in 2010, gaining it much success.

The band’s new album ‘A Celebration Of Endings’ will be released on 14th August and they are planning to tour later this year, depending on Covid-19 safety advice. Check out the full dates below and find tickets on their website.

25/09/2020 – P&J Arena – Aberdeen, UK
26/09 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow, UK
27/09 – Motorpoint Arena – Nottingham, UK
29/09 – Utilita Arena – Newcastle, UK
30/09 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham, UK
01/10 – O2 Arena – London, UK
03/10 – Manchester Arena – Manchester, UK
04/10 – First Direct Arena – Leeds, UK}
06/10 – SSE Arena – Belfast, UK
07/10 – 3Arena – Dublin, Ireland
09/10 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff, UK
11/10 – BIC – Bournemouth, UK

With support from Brand New, the tour will see the Scottish rockers play a number of arenas around the UK in support of their seventh album Ellipsis, which was released in July.

Starting off in Glasgow, the Kilmarnock trio will be travelling to Aberdeen, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff and Birmingham. The tour will come to an end at London’s O2 Arena on the 8 December. The new dates follow Biffy’s current European tour, which has just seen them play Reading and Leeds festivals this weekend.

Tickets for the shows go on general sale from 9am GMT on September 2 and are available to buy from the band’s official website. Vocalist and guitarist Simon Neil has said “We would like to let you know that we’re doing a UK tour with Brand New, which is unbelievably exciting. It’s going to be one hell of a show – we can’t wait.”

The band have been together for 21 years and released their first album Blackened Sky in 2002. The last time Biffy Clyro toured the UK was in 2013, off the back of Opposites which was another arena tour. Ellipsis reached number one on the Official Charts, making it their second album to do so, following Opposites back in 2013. The album features songs Wolves of Winter, Howl and Medicine.

Earlier this year, front man Simon Neil admitted to NME that he was in a “terrible headspace” during the early process of making the album.

Brand New, a rock band from Long Island, New York, have had hits with The boy who blocked his own shot and Seventy times 7. The band are expected to split in 2018, with hints that their upcoming record Daisy may be their last, according to NME.

Biffy Clyro’s latest single, Howl was released on 4 August, listen and watch the video below.

Biffy Clyro’s tour dates are below:

29/11 – Glasgow SSE Hydro
3o/11 – Aberdeen GE Oil & Gas Arena
2/12 – Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
3/12 – Manchester Arena
4/12 – Leeds First Direct Arena
6/12 – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
7/12 – Birmingham Barclaycard Arena
8/12 – London O2 Arena