After half a decade away from full-length albums since ‘Night Network’ (2020), ‘Selling a Vibe’  welcomes the return of the signature guitar-lead sound of Wakefield brothers: Gary, Ryan and Ross Jarman.

Since forming in the early 2000s, The Cribs have remained a steady presence in British indie music. Over the years, they have experienced changes in the music industry, shifts in popular taste, and long periods of touring and recording. After the release of ‘Night Network’ in 2020, the band took time away from releasing new material, but still played the odd show here and there after the tour – to mixed reviews. Some fans have said the band’s drunkenness took away from some live performances, but I suppose the Jarman brothers have never been the poster-boys for clean living.

The album was recorded with producer Patrick Wimberly (MGMT, Caroline Polachek, Beyonce). Working with an outside producer gave the band a fresh perspective while still allowing them to stay true to the sound that shaped the band’s early success.

The album has been well received by critics, many of whom have praised its honesty and consistency. Reviewers have noted that The Cribs are not trying to chase trends or repeat past successes. Instead, they are focusing on making music that reflects their current lives and experiences. The album also reached number five on the UK album charts, showing that the band still has a loyal and engaged audience.

To support the release of ‘Selling a Vibe’, The Cribs have announced a major worldwide tour that will run through 2026. The tour marks their most extensive run of live shows in several years. The tour begins in the UK, where The Cribs will play a full headline run across England, Scotland and Wales. These shows include performances in: London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff, alongside appearances in smaller regional venues.

Following the UK leg, the band will travel across mainland Europe, with dates planned in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain. These shows continue The Cribs’ long-standing relationship with European audiences and include a mix of club venues and festival appearances during the spring and summer months.

The tour will then extend to North America, where The Cribs are set to perform shows in both the United States and Canada. Cities expected on the itinerary include New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and Toronto.

Tickets for all tour dates are available here.

Ryan Jarman noted, ‘Summer Seizures’ was the first song we wrote in the new album sessions, setting the tone for everything that followed.”  The track channels deep introspection, touching on themes of love, tragedy, and the journey toward self-acceptance, framed against a vivid summer backdrop. The song received its first play on Radio 6 by Steve Lamacq.

Gary Jarman has emphasised the personal nature of Selling A Vibe, expressing a desire for the record to transcend genre labels like “indie rock” or “punk.” Instead, the hope is that listeners connect with the songs as honest reflections of the trio’s experiences and emotions.

Sonically, Selling A Vibe is set to mark a turning point, combining their raw indie roots with a polished, pop-infused sensibility that reflects their growth and the current musical climate. The music video for ‘Summer Seizures’  was directed by Andy Knowles and shot on 16mm film, embraces this vision with a raw, authentic feel.

Selling A Vibe is scheduled for release on January 9, 2026, their first studio album since Night Network in 2020. To celebrate the release, The Cribs will embark on a UK headline tour in March 2026, with stops in cities including Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Brighton.

Before the tour begins, fans in London have a special opportunity: on August 23, 2025, the band will headline an intimate War Child benefit show at the Shacklewell Arms, followed the next day by a performance at All Points East, and then on to a stretch in North American.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Cribs (@thecribs)

In short, ‘Summer Seizures’ isn’t just a comeback, it’s a declaration of The Cribs’ renewed purpose and their place in contemporary music, in a time where it has been disputed.

The band recently released re-issues of their three earliest albums, their debut LP The Cribs, The New Fellas and third studio album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever; all three releases have made it to the UK album top ten. Placing at number eight is the group’s self-titled debut album, The Cribs was self-produced by the group and was recorded in the span of a week. The album was released in 2004 via London-based independent label Wichita Recordings and marked the band’s first entry into the era’s blossoming indie rock scene.

The group’s follow-up to their debut release has placed at number seven, The New Fellas was released in 2005 and sired the brother’s great critical acclaim. The album was included within NME’s Album Of The Year list of 2005 where it placed at eleven, The New Fellas also placed within Q Magazine’s list of Albums of the Century. The album’s first single “Hey Scenesters!” was quickly adapted as the indie scene’s anthem and remains a key part of the genre’s cannon.

The Cribs’ third studio album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever has charted at number four. Often regarded as the band’s breakthrough album it was released in 2007 to critical and commercial acclaim, the album charted at number thirteen through its original release. The LP included one of the group’s biggest and most well-known single, “Men’s Needs” initially charted at number seventeen on the UK singles charts giving the group their highest chart position to date within the singles chart.

The band of brothers are currently performing a string of intimate gigs in the UK, Ryan spoke with NME concerning their recent album chart success, “We’ve been so busy playing multiple shows a day and haven’t really had any days off, so we haven’t really had chance to process it yet – but it’s certainly not what we were expecting when we did these reissues,”

The frontman continues, “The fundamental reason for doing these reissues was because the vinyl had been out of print for such a long time. We didn’t expect anything like this, but it’s amazing. We really appreciate it because it means that people still care about the records. That’s not always going to be a given, all this time down the line. It’s been a pretty crazy last couple of days. We’re so psyched.”

Ryan proceeds to discuss the band’s early work charting higher now than when originally released, “The first albums came out right in the heart of the whole file-sharing era so they didn’t really chart at all, It means a lot to see the first album in the Top 10, because that album was recorded before we had a record deal or anything. That feels really special because I never thought I’d see that record in the charts.“

He concludes, “That’s the only record in the Top 10 that cost £900 to record and was funded by working in a factory. The perversity of going up against Beyoncé and those big-hitters with a record that was made in that way is what means the most to us. It’s surreal.”

The band will next perform in Leeds on Thursday 4^th August 2022, the date was added to the tour schedule as an extra date due to popular demand and will mark the final performance of their UK shows. On Tuesday 30^thAugust 2022, The Cribs will embark on a string of US performances where they will support fellow indie rockers Modest Mouse for nine dates.

The Cribs UK tour date

04/08/2022 – The Cribs Outstore Shows/Brudenell Social Club – Leeds

Click here to purchase tickets.

COMING SOON…#sonicblewclassics pic.twitter.com/nWfhQJaV2f

— The Cribs (@thecribs) May 23, 2022

If you had to make an educated guess, one could assume that the teaser is alluding to a limited-edition re-issue of their self-titled debut, and maybe even more. As the images pop up during the snippet, it’s pretty clear to any big fan of the band’s early work that we’re getting some extra content regarding the band’s first LP. Then as the album’s artwork fades out, and the Sonic Blew Classics logo comes in with the colour palette of the debut… are we due a couple of reissues from the band’s back catalogue? Maybe a collectors club releasing more limited releases from back in the day? Think along the same lines as Third Man Records’ member’s Vault Package. The perfect place to bag any Third Man-based records, posters, and pretty much any other memorabilia. None of this is confirmed might I add. But the name Sonic Blew ClassicS (with an S) really implied some longevity to this reissue.

Last August when the singles club was first announced, Jarman explained the reasoning behind the situation as such, “Back in the day, we were always a band that were known for our B-sides – a concept that is pretty much irrelevant nowadays…we know that the fans miss this, so setting up the Sonic Blew Singles Club seemed like the ideal solution – we get to clear the vaults, and people get a guaranteed new single plus B-side every month.” While we may no longer be talking specifically about unheard B-sides from their most recent project, I see no reason why the same principle cannot be applied to a new, revamped version of their debut, but now with all the fan favourite B-sides and rarities as a part of a standalone package. Seems like every record collector’s dream if you ask me.

Located in Derbyshire’s Crich Tramway Village, the event promises ticketholders a day full of music, culture and the arts. The one-day festival offers a wide variety of activities for everyone ranging from a woodland diner to a film marquee and bars located within the surrounding forest. Signals Festival is advertised as a family-friendly event which offers a range of activities for kids including an adventure play area with a specialist programme organised.

Also included with a festival ticket is the unique opportunity to stroll the historical village and enjoy a retro pub, old fashioned style sweet shop, Victorian Tramway Museum plus entry to the three acres of picturesque woods which surround the village and festival site. Ticketholders will also have the chance to hop on an original tram which will transport guests to the main festival site after an adventure into the quaint village.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Signals Festival (@signalsfestivaluk)

Speaking on the upcoming event, the festival’s directors Gareth Murfin and Anthony Clements have provided further details, “We’ve been planning this for three years now and the result is something really unique that we’re proud of. Where else can you get a vintage tram ride across the Festival site?! Now we just can’t wait for everyone to come and enjoy what we’ve been planning. We fell in love with this charming venue as soon as we saw it, so to be able to programme some of our favourite established artists, alongside some incredible emerging talent that we’ve unearthed locally in the regions, is something very special for us. Expect a beautiful and relaxed setting, where you can take time to explore the Victorian village, before hopping on a tram up to the music stages.”

Along with a traditional stage appearance, Tim Burgess’ brainchild Tim Peaks will perform an in-person version of his Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties. The Charlatans frontman launched the show in lockdown to entertain the public during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial Livestream was held in 2020 and featured the group’s 1990 album Some Friendly. The veteran rockers’ performance will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of their fifth studio album Tellin’ Stories and Burgess will perform as a solo artist.

The recently announced acts will join the already confirmed line-up including The Cribs, This Is the Kit, Liz Lawrence, Peaness, Fiona Bevan, Cucamaras, Deja Vega, Rising The Low, Claire Welles, Dirty Laces, The Red Stains, Dean McMullen, Young Decades, The Rosadocs, CatMilk, Shadows Of A Silhouette, King Blonde, Ami Sharpe, Melonade, Alt Blk Era, Estella, Isaac Neilson, Crich Brass, Fellow Braves and a Q and A with filmmaker Mat Whitecross.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Click here to listen to Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties.

Killer. https://t.co/eeq3OtTG68

— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) February 15, 2022

As Marr explains in an interview with Stereogum, “I stayed in the band, and I loved being in the band, there was a brotherhood that is there to this day. Probably the best time of my life.” He also goes on to say that his time with The Cribs creating Ignore The Ignorant created an album that s just as good as anything in his constantly expanding discography.

The Cribs recently announced the cancellation of their planned US tour but assured fans that the rescheduled dates would be on the way soon. After the announcement of their dates with Modest Mouse, they went on to say, “After the disappointment of having our own N. American dates fall through, we can’t wait for this.” The band also announced the dates for their rescheduled UK tour after it was postponed at the same time as the US dates. You can find full ticket information here.

Hitting 25 dates across 3 months, starting this April; the tour will see the pair play all over North America. Starting in Baltimore, Maryland on April 18^th, and concluding almost 2 full months later on June 8^th, fans will probably be able to catch some of The Cribs more recent output from their Sonic Blew Singles Club bundle. The bundle system started in September 2021, and allowed fans to subscribe to a monthly service allowing them access to deluxe releases of tracks recorded during their Night Network sessions recorded the year before. While the service has now come to a close, all of the tracks remain quite valuable to any collectors. Check Discogs for a chance to find a second-hand collection for a reasonable price, but as with any 2^nd hand market… it’s pretty much a random grab bag.

According to a press release, The Cribs’ bassist and singer Gary Jarman talked at length about “Things Could Be Better” saying: “This song is a true full-band effort – it required all 3 of the brothers to make it happen. I originally started work on the track back in 2011, whilst we were writing “In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull”. It was supposed to be an anniversary present for my wife (who was away on tour at the time). Unfortunately, around that time a friend of ours was involved in an accident and ended up in the ICU, and so I shelved the song indefinitely due to the sad memories that became attached to it.

Later, on the last day of the “Night Network” sessions in LA, Ross insisted that we bring the song back and try recording it last minute before leaving the studio. I was pretty reluctant, but he eventually talked me around.

Then, Ryan stepped in and took responsibility for writing the lyrics and singing the lead – and turned it into something way better than I ever could’ve imagined. So, despite spending over a decade gathering dust, I am really proud of how this song eventually came into being. It’s pretty special.”

The new single, along with the rest of the band’s musical catalogue, is available via all streaming services.

Prior to the band’s contributions to Sonic Blew Singles Club, the band released their eighth studio album Night Network last year, which received universal acclaim from both fans and critics, with NME calling it “Their best album in a decade”,

The Cribs will be embarking on a rescheduled tour of the UK in March 2022. The band has stated that any tickets purchases for the tour prior to the rescheduling will still be valid. Tickets are available here, and the dates are listed down below.

01/02/2022– O2 Institute – Birmingham
02/02– Waterfront – Norwich
04/02 – O2 Academy – Sheffield
06/02– Academy 1 – Manchester
08/02 – Boiler Shop – Newcastle
09/02– SWG3 – Glasgow
11/02 – Roundhouse – London
12/02– Chalk – Brighton
13/02 – The Marble Factory – Bristol

Photo Credit: Press Release

Bassist Gary Jarman explained the singles club: “Basically, after three years away from the road we just ended up with SO many songs built up in the vaults that we wanted to try doing something different and interesting with them!”

“We had a bunch of extra tracks from the ‘Night Network’ sessions which we finished and mixed over lockdown… and then the extra downtime led to us coming up with several new songs also. Of course we could have just put them all to one side and held them back for a new album or whatever, but that doesn’t seem like much fun…” he continues.

The band previously released “Swinging at Shadows” which was recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606in LA. The track was accompanied by a video filmed at the band’s first gig after the pandemic.

The new song “The Day I Got Lost Again” has been explained by the band as a song about ” us guys returning to our embryonic form, trying to rip-off “Hard Days Night” era Beatles…which is to say, it’s probably the closest we’ve sounded to our debut album since around 2004“. 

“It’s also the first (and almost certainly last) time you will hear a harmonica in a Cribs song. It follows the classic rock n roll formula of verse/chorus/verse/bad solo/chorus/corny ending – all done and dusted in way under 3 minutes. Just the way we like it – hope you like it too!” they continue. 

Speaking about “Opaline and Evergreen” the band said: “Another basement recording, we decided to pair this song with “The Day I Got Lost Again” because they are thematically coming from a similar place, lyrics wise – it’s inspired by all of those places that you encounter in your day to day existence, the ones occupied by the ghosts of the memories you made there (for better or worse) – and how simultaneously haunting and wonderful that can be, no matter how outwardly mundane they may appear. And how we miss being able to get lost”.

Meanwhile, The Music who hasn’t performed live since 2011 announced their return to the stage next year 31st of May 2022. The gig that will be supported by The Cribs, The Coral, The Snuts and The Skinner Brothers has been previously cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. More info and tickets can be found here.

The Cribs will head on to their re-scheduled UK tour next year spring, starting off in March in Birmingham. You can get tickets to the tour here.

1/03/22 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
2/03 – Waterfront – Norwich
4/03 – O2 Academy – Sheffield
5/03 – SWX – Bristol
6/03 – Academy – Manchester
8/03 – Boiler Shop – Newcastle
9/03 – SWG3 – Glasgow
11/03 – Roundhouse – London
12/03 – Chalk – Brighton
02/06 – Temple Newsam – Leeds

The ‘Swinging At Shadows’ 7″, will also feature the B-side ‘Taken To Tualatin’ and is set for release physically on September 24. You can access more information about The Cribs ‘Sonic Blew Singles Club’ by heading here.

Those who subscribe to The Cribs’ new singles club will also receive four two-track 7″ vinyl records between September and December, which will feature previously unheard songs from the sessions of their last album ‘Night Network’.

Bassist Gary Jarman explained the band’s latest venture in a statement “Basically, after three years away from the road we just ended up with SO many songs built up in the vaults that we wanted to try doing something different and interesting with them!”

“We had a bunch of extra tracks from the ‘Night Network’ sessions which we finished and mixed over lockdown… and then the extra downtime led to us coming up with several new songs also. Of course we could have just put them all to one side and held them back for a new album or whatever, but that doesn’t seem like much fun…”

Jarman continued “Back in the day, we were always a band that were known for our B-sides – a concept that is pretty much irrelevant nowadays… we know that the fans miss this, so setting up the ‘Sonic Blew Singles Club’ seemed like the ideal solution – we get to clear the vaults, and people get a guaranteed new single plus B-side every month.”

Additionally The Cribs are also set to play a small number of UK shows in the coming weeks which includes a date at The Piece Hall in Halifax. Following this they will then embark on a longer UK tour in March 2022.

BRAND NEW SINGLE, FIRST PLAY TOMORROW – premiering on the @shaunwkeaveny, @BBC6Music from 1:45pm!

Plus more news to come tomorrow…TUNE IN! pic.twitter.com/lhe49nkDhx

— The Cribs (@thecribs) August 11, 2021

The title of the new release remains a mystery. The single follows up the Jarman brothers album from 2020 “Night Network“. The album, an eighth since the band formed in 2001 could not be done at all. The band went through 18 months of legal battles over the rights to their back catalogue. Even though the release came out after a difficult time for the cribs, “they sound just as energised here as they did in their ‘Men’s Needs’ heyday“. The album received great reviews with Indiependent calls it “the sound of a passionate group back on their feet after a long period of uncertainty and ready to shut their detractors up as ever“.
NME gave it 5 stars and calls it The Cribs’ “best album in a decade“. Adding: “‘Night Network’ isn’t the sound of a run-down band staggering towards the finish line. Far from it – The Cribs have just embarked on a victory lap“.
Mxdwn praised the album saying that it “present fans with an extremely fun, peppy and punk-informed record capable of putting anyone in a great mood. The trio of brothers have stepped up, and let their brightest musicality shine in every drum fill, high gain guitar lick and mesmerizingly catchy vocal line“.
With today’s single release, The Cribs has promised more news alongside.
Recently the band rescheduled their UK tour to 2022. Originally they suppose to perform past June, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the dates have been changed.
See The Cribs updated tour Dates below. Tickets are available here.

20/08/21 – Crystal Palace Bowl – London
20/08 – South Facing Festival – London
3/09 – The Piece Hall – Halifax

1/03/22 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
2/03 – Waterfront – Norwich
4/03 – O2 Academy – Sheffield
5/03 – SWX – Bristol
6/03 – Academy – Manchester
8/03 – Boiler Shop – Newcastle
9/03 – SWG3 – Glasgow
11/03 – Roundhouse – London
12/03 – Chalk – Brighton
02/06 – Temple Newsam – Leeds