JAMES are proud to announce the release of their new four track EP, BETTER THAN THAT, produced by Mercury and Brit Award winner Charlie Andrew – who has previously worked with alt-J and Wolf Alice – and Beni Giles. The release will be the band’s first new music since the hugely successful 2016 album GIRL AT THE END OF THE WORLD, their highest debut entry in nearly 20 years, reaching number #2, second only to Adele.
The BETTER THAN THAT EP will be released on 18 May on limited edition 10” vinyl available from independents, HMV and the band’s own online store here!
The lead title track from the EP is now available to stream and download, and the remaining three EP tracks, BUSTED, HANK and BROKEN BY THE HURT will be released every second Wednesday from now, on 18 April, 2 May and 16 May.
The EP opener and first single BETTER THAN THAT is upbeat and fast-paced, an ode to improvement, urging the universe to do its worst with Tim singing, “You can do better than that”, kick starting the four tracks into gear. BUSTED is more mellow and dreamlike, with gentle guitars building in intensity as drums and brass join the fray. HANK, with its buzzing guitars and distorted vocals, is lyrically the most outspoken, warning of “White fascists in the white house” and encouraging listeners to, “Bend the knee and stand your ground”. The EP closes with the melancholic BROKEN BY THE HURT; slightly disturbing, dark with pop melodies, and a fitting end to a brand-new set of tracks from the ever eclectic, ever popular, one and only JAMES.
May also sees JAMES embark upon a seven-date UK tour, revisiting intimate venues throughout the country, and performing tracks from BETTER THAN THAT alongside a selection of well-known hits. The tour starts in Llandudno followed by Warrington, Blackburn, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Oban and ending in Scunthorpe.
The band are then set to play a string of shows throughout the summer, starting with Common People Festival, before going on to perform at a handful of festivals across the UK, as well as playing European festivals including Bilbao BBK Live in Spain.
Tickets available here: https://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/james
MAY TOUR [with support from LANTERNS ON THE LAKE]
Wed 16 LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru
Thu 17 WARRINGTON Parr Hall | SOLD OUT
Sat 19 BLACKBURN King Georges Hall | SOLD OUT
Sun 20 HALIFAX Victoria Theatre | SOLD OUT
Tue 22 MIDDLESBROUGH Town Hall | SOLD OUT
Wed 23 OBAN Corrans Hall | SOLD OUT
Fri 25 SCUNTHORPE Baths Hall | SOLD OUT
FESTIVALS
MAY
Sat 26 SOUTHAMPTON Common People | CO-HEADLINE
Sun 27 OXFORD Common People | HEADLINE
JUNE
Fri 29 LISBON Rock in Rio Festival
JULY
Fri 13 SOUTHWOLD Latitude Festival | HEADLINE 2nd Stage
Sat 14 BILBAO BBK Live Festival
Fri 27 KENDAL Kendal Calling
AUGUST
Sat 11 LITHLINGOW Party at The Palace | HEADLINE
Sat 18 SCARBOROUGH Open Air Theatre | HEADLINE
Thu 30 DUMFRIES Electric Fields | HEADLINE
JAMES are one of the UK’s most creatively restless and most loved artists. After signing to the iconic Factory Records in 1982, the band went on to release a series of hugely successful hit singles. From SIT DOWN to SHE’S A STAR, LAID, COME HOME, MOVING ON and NOTHING BUT LOVE, their uniquely diverse sound spans over 14 studio albums released over three decades, achieving both critical and commercial success whilst also curating a base of dedicated fans.
Having sold over 25 million albums worldwide, playing shows across the globe and cementing their status as one of the most iconic live British bands, 2016 saw the release of GIRL AT THE END OF THE WORLD, their most commercially and critically successful album for nearly twenty years.
WEBSITE: www.wearejames.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jamesisnotaperson
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/wearejames
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/WeAreJamesTV
