KOOKS has announced a shortened tour of major UK venues for next month. Check out the details below.
Upcoming Tour Details
The Brighton group’s first live performances of 2025 will support their seventh studio album, Never/Know, set to be released on May 9 (Pre-order here).
- Read more: The Kooks discuss their “positive” and “romantic” new album “Never/Know”: “This is such a guitar-driven record, but it also has a modern twist.”
Tour Schedule
Luke Pritchard and the band will kick off a special tour at Leadmill in Sheffield on May 2, followed by performances at Bury Met, Wardrobe in Leeds, Nottingham’s Malt Box, Liverpool’s Jacaranda Baltika, and the Fire Station in Bournemouth.
More intimate shows are planned for 1865 in Southampton and Fleece in Bristol, culminating in the final stop at HMV Empire in Coventry.
Discussing Kooks’ focus on larger venues for the upcoming tour, frontman Pritchard referred to these locations as “vital to the British music scene.” He stated, “Clubs like Leadmill were crucial for us when we started, and it breaks my heart to see these places close. Losing Leadmill would be a tragic day.”
Pritchard further commented, “The British government has underestimated live music for far too long. More efforts are needed to keep this industry alive for the good of the country and the future artists who might go unheard.”
The tour will be in collaboration with independent sound recordings from various cities. It will feature an acoustic live set with Kooks guitarist Hugh Harris. Tickets are available now – Buy here.
Kooks ‘The Cooks’ Lit Back Tour Dates:
MAY
02 – Leadmill, Sheffield
03 – Bury Met (Afternoon)
03 – Wardrobe, Leeds (Evening)
04 – SaltBox, Nottingham
05 – Jacaranda Baltika, Liverpool
10 – Fire Station, Bournemouth (Day)
10 – 1865, Southampton (Evening)
13 – Fleece, Bristol
14 – HMV Empire, Coventry
In February, the tenants of the iconic Leadmill venue in Sheffield received notice to vacate the premises within three months after losing a legal battle with the landlord.
2025 appears to be a pivotal year for the landscape of live music in the UK. Later last year, the government announced a long-awaited set of policies for concert ticketing in arenas and stadiums.
This Premier League-style model, already in use in several European countries, has been recommended by MPs following a DCMS inquiry last spring.
Artists such as Mumford & Sons, Coldplay, Pulp, Sam Fender, and Katy Perry have all recently sacrificed portions of their tours to support the live music sector.
In 2024, the UK lost one major music venue every two weeks, with the recent closures of Dorothy Pax in Sheffield, Boom Leeds, and the Old Red Bus Station in Leeds.
Last month, there was a preliminary preview of Kooks’ track “Never/Know” featuring the single “Sunny Child”, which debuted as the album’s lead track. Produced entirely by the band, the new record follows their 2022 release, Echo in the Dark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1JWMCXPMRK
During an NME interview earlier this year, the frontman explained the evolution of their new material: “I spent very little time writing. I still did the dishes and went about daily life!” Pritchard said.
“I wasn’t overthinking it. It wasn’t strictly a stream of consciousness, but there was a certain atmosphere I tapped into while playing with my wife or friends. It felt like a debut state… trying to get into that flow and let it roll.”
He mentioned to NME that trusting his “instinct” played a key role in the creation of “Never/Know”: “I went through phases where I doubted myself and my taste. Every artist faces songs that you think are the best you’ve done, but they may not connect as you expected.”
He concluded: “I’m in a much more peaceful state now and feel very fortunate for the incredible support – especially from our younger audience – who keeps us feeling fresh. We aim to convey a feeling, and this album is definitely positive and romantic.”
This summer, Kooks will return to the UK for performances at TRNSMT and Reading & Leeds 2025. They will embark on a North American tour at the end of next month.
In other news, Luke Pritchard recently mentioned he is “writing songs” with Cruz Beckham, son of David and Victoria.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-kooks-announce-2025-stripped-back-uk-tour-of-grassroots-venues-the-uk-government-has-undervalued-live-music-for-too-long-3853937?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-kooks-announce-2025-stripped-back-uk-tour-of-grassroots-venues-the-uk-government-has-undervalued-live-music-for-too-long
