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

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