The Kooks have announced a stripped-back tour of UK grassroots venues for next month. Find all the details below.
The Brighton band’s first live shows on these shores of 2025 will take place in support of their seventh studio album, ‘Never/Know’, which is out on May 9 (pre-order/pre-save here).
Luke Pritchard and co. are due to kick off the special trek at The Leadmill in Sheffield on May 2, before taking to the stage at Bury Met, The Wardobe in Leeds, Nottingham’s Saltbox, Liverpool’s Jacaranda Baltic, and The Fire Station in Bournemouth.
Further intimate performances are scheduled for The 1865 in Southampton and The Fleece in Bristol, ahead of a final stop at the HMV Empire in Coventry.
Speaking about The Kooks’ decision to focus on grassroots venues for the forthcoming tour, frontman Pritchard described such spaces as “the lifeblood of the British music scene”.
“Clubs like The Leadmill were vital for us when we started out and it breaks my heart to see these places closing down,” he continued. “It’ll be a sad day if we lose The Leadmill.”
Pritchard added: “The UK government has undervalued live music for too long. They need to do more to keep this industry alive, for the benefit of the country and all future artists that risk not being heard.”
The tour is being put on in partnership with the cities’ independent record stores. It’ll see Pritchard performing an acoustic live set with Kooks guitarist Hugh Harris. Tickets are on sale now – buy yours here.
The Kooks’ 2025 stripped-back UK tour dates are:
MAY
02 – The Leadmill, Sheffield
03 – Bury Met, Bury (afternoon)
03 – The Wardrobe, Leeds (evening)
04 – Saltbox, Nottingham
05 – Jacaranda Baltic, Liverpool
10 – The Fire Station, Bournemouth (afternoon)
10 – The 1865, Southampton (evening)
13 – The Fleece, Bristol
14 – HMV Empire, Coventry
In February, the tenants of the iconic Leadmill venue in Sheffield were ordered to move out of the premises within three months after losing a court battle with the landlord.
2025 looks set to be a game-changer when it comes to fundraising for grassroots music in the UK. Late last year, the government got behind a long overdue levy on tickets for gigs held in arenas and stadiums.
- READ MORE: UK grassroots venues suffering from “the complete collapse of touring” without help
This Premier League-style model – which is already in use in numerous European countries – had been recommended by MPs after a DCMS investigation last spring.
The likes of Mumford & Sons, Coldplay, Pulp, Sam Fender and Katy Perry have all donated a portion of their tour revenues to support the grassroots sector recently.
2024 saw the UK lose one grassroots music venue every two weeks. This year has already seen the closure of Sheffield’s Dorothy Pax, Boom Leeds, and The Old Red Bus Station in Leeds.
Last month saw The Kooks preview ‘Never/Know’ with the single ‘Sunny Baby’, which landed after the album’s title track. Produced entirely by Pritchard, the new record follows on from 2022’s ’10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark’.
During an interview with NME at the start of this year, the frontman explained how the band had come to make their new material. “I spent so little time writing. I was still going about life, doing the dishes!” Pritchard said.
“I didn’t overthink it. It wasn’t necessarily strictly a stream of consciousness, but there was this vibe I was getting when I played it to my wife or my friends. It felt like there was maybe a debut-ism to it… trying to get into a flow state and let it ride – let it roll.”
He told NME how trusting his “gut instinct” had allowed them to make ‘Never/Know’: “I have gone through phases of not trusting myself and my taste as well. Every artist has these songs that you’re convinced are the best thing you’ve done, and it maybe doesn’t connect the way you thought.”
He continued: “I’m in quite a peaceful state right now, and I think we’ve been very blessed, with this incredible support – especially from younger audiences – that has really kept us fresh. We’re trying to deliver a feeling, and on this album, it’s positive and romantic.”
The Kooks will return to the UK this summer for performances at TRNSMT and Reading & Leeds 2025. They’ll embark on a North American headline tour late next month.
In other news, Luke Pritchard recently revealed that he is “writing songs” with Cruz Beckham – the son of David and Victoria.
