The band told NME about next year's celebratory shows, how their schedule could extend into 2027, still wanting to "keep busy together", their place in the '90s Britpop scene, and future solo work
The London trio, who formed in 1990, are set to bid farewell to fans on these shores with a series of live shows next autumn. They’ll be showcasing their last-ever studio album, ‘International’, released earlier this year, among other favourites.
Saint Etienne’s UK and Ireland ‘The Long Goodbye’ tour dates are:
SEPTEMBER
15 – New Century Hall, Manchester
16 – Beacon Theatre, Bristol
18 – Roundhouse, London
19 – Electric, Sheffield
20 – SWG3, Glasgow
22 – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
24 – Glasshouse, Gateshead
25 – Brighton Dome, Brighton
26 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Their 13th LP will feature collaborations with Confidence Man’s Janet Planet, Erol Alkan, Vince Clarke, Nick Heyward, Paul Hartnoll of Orbital and more
Co-produced with Tim Powell (formerly of Xenomania), the record will be released via Heavenly Recordings on September 5 , NME reports.
The uplifting, pop-imbued ‘Glad’, which was co-written and produced with Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers, was released earlier this May , and features Doves‘ Jez Williams on guitar.
Speaking about the track, Sarah Cracknell said: “We asked Tom if he had any songs in progress that might suit Saint Etienne and he sent a backing track that he’d been working on with Jez from Doves. We fell in love with it straight away and the top line melody and words for ‘Glad’ came easy.”
Pete Wiggs added: “The song is about taking pleasure in everyday things like nature and the outdoors when life is otherwise getting you down.” Check it out below.
Though ‘International’ marks their final album, according to a press release, the band “remain the best of friends after 35 years recording together – but they don’t feel like they want to go on forever and wanted to go out with a bang.”
