SKINNY LISTER - Spring Back With New Album 'Songs From The Yonder'
SKINNY LISTER
SPRING BACK WITH NEW ALBUM:
‘SONGS FROM THE YONDER’
OUT 9 MAY 2025, VIA XTRA MILE RECORDINGS
LISTEN TO NEW SINGLE: "PLOUGH ON" STREAM HERE
PLUS A UK TOUR AND SUMMER FESTIVALS WITH MORE SHOWS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Relentless folk/punk powerhouses - SKINNY LISTER - are ecstatic to announce their new album ‘Songs FromThe Yonder’ - due for release on 9 May 2025, via Xtra Mile Recordings.
A band who’ve never been afraid to plough their own furrow, they herald in their next era with the joyous new single "Plough On".
An insurgent anthem with shades of classic Billy Bragg or Elvis Costello, "Plough On" is a rousing rallying cry that urgesus to roar in the face of adversity. Propelled by the punchy vocal performance of frontman Dan Heptinstall, he says of the track:
“"Plough On" is about overcoming those unwelcome obstacles that inevitably get thrown our way now and then. But most of all–it’s an optimistic song about successfully weathering the storm and the hope of reaching ‘good times again’.”
Rooted in the influences that inspired the band’s earliest works, eagle-eared listeners will detect references to the melody of the traditional tune "Speed The Plough", which the band would perform together in their very earliest days. “It’s always fun to revisit uplifting traditional melodies like this, and stay connected to what we feel is the folk soul of the band” adds Dan.
The track arrives complete with a hilarious official video that finds the band tackling all terrain and taking on a bunch of less metaphoric, very real physical obstacles - some members more successfully than others... Watch it in full here: https://youtu.be/U2skzoDgO4Q
"Plough On" follows the swaggering drinking song "Set Us Straight" (revealed at the end of last year), with both tracks due to appear on the highly anticipated new album ‘Songs From The Yonder’. Picking up where the acclaimed ‘Shanty Punk’ left off, the seventh studio album from this folk/punk rabble finds them revelling in their nostalgic touchstones, while facing the future with a wide-eyed sense of optimism and a warming reverence for what has been.
Teasing what listeners can expect from ‘Songs From The Yonder’, Dan says:
“‘Songs From The Yonder’ carries on where our last album - ‘Shanty Punk’ - left off. But as well as the upbeat drinking songs and shanty style sing-alongs, which are as up front and prominent as ever, this time we’ve allowed ourselves a few more tender moments."
While the band’s shanty calling cards are clear and present on classic accordion driven tracks like "Yorkshire Belle", "Bristol Bound" and lead single "Set Us Straight"; these rambunctious moments are balanced out by the reflective highlights such as the Lorna led "Tumbling Into Something" and the sumptuous Dan and Lorna duet "Everything".
“It’s always nice to connect with that more contemplative side of our sound, which has been a major part of what we’ve done since our first album.” says Dan.
With plenty of harks back to their folk roots too, longstanding fans will also be enamoured to hear that those classic Skinny themes of drinking, travelling, the sea and ploughing on in the face of adversity, are still hoisted high on the band’s flagpole throughout this latest outing. Written and recorded by Skinny Lister, the record was mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Frank Arkwright. Produced and mixed by Dan Heptinstall, its core tracks were recorded live, and left unedited, in an attempt to capture the live energy the band are so well known for.
A glorious, riotous mix of chest-thumping anthems, shanty sing-a-longs and folk/punk classics, tempered by some of the most tender and reflective songs the band have penned yet; ‘Songs From The Yonder’ will be released on 9th May 2025, via Xtra Mile Recordings, on coloured vinyl, CD and digital.
Coinciding with the release, the Skinnies will be hitting the road for a run of instores and shows throughout release week. Expect further touring of the UK and Europe to come later in the year. The confirmed dates so far are as follows:
MAY
7 - Rough Trade Bristol - instore
9 - Yorkshire Belle, Bridlington - album/ticket bundle
10 - Jacaranda, Liverpool - instore
11 - Stowmarket, John Peel Centre - album/ticket bundle
12 - Brighton Resident - instore
13 - Banquet, Kingston - outstore at Fighting Cocks
14 - Rough Trade, Nottingham - instore
16 - Holmfirth, Picturedrome - album/ticket bundle
17 - Bedford, Esquires - album/ticket bundle
23 - Lyme Regis, Marine Theatre
24 - Monmouth DeVauden Festival
SUMMER FESTIVALS
JUNE
1 - Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham
14 - Beardy Folk Festival
20 - Sign Of The Times, Herts.
JULY
6 - The Gate To Southwell, Southwell
AUGUST
2 - Northern Kin Festival
3 - Doune The Rabbit Hole
9 - Doncaster, GIAF7
23 - Volk Im Schloss Festival, Germany
Since 2009, Skinny Lister have been at the forefront of first-rate folk/punk in the UK. Making waves with the irrepressible energy of their debut album ‘Forge and Flagon’ in 2012, the London-formed crew went on to sign with Xtra Mile Recordings for the release of their classic second album ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’ (2014) and so beginning a partnership that has birthed a further four records with the label including ‘The Devil, The Heart, The Fight’ (2016), ‘The Story Is…’ (2019), ‘A Matter Of Life & Love’ (2021), and most recently ‘Shanty Punk’.
Given its mastering polish at the iconic Abbey Road Studios by Frank Arkwright, their last effort ‘Shanty Punk’ saw the band delivering their most autobiographical and arguably most definitive Skinny Lister album yet. A concept album all about the myths and madness that have defined Skinny Lister themselves, it was warmly received by The Morning Star who praised in a 5* review “If you’re feeling out of sorts and in need of festive cheering up, the exuberant Deptford sextet Skinny Lister are the remedy, the balm that no festive season can do without. Ever.”, whilst RNR Magazine hailed the record as “very good…raucous!” (4*).
As the band’s career continues to see them passing the growing flagon of their experiences with every album and tour. They’ve led an endless parade gathering fans old and new, from the respected folk circuit to the riotous Download Festival, igniting pogoing mosh-pits at each. Over the past ten years they’ve travelled from rain-soaked London to the vast arteries of the USA, upgrading from narrow boat to Salty Dog Cruise, played huge tours across Europe and North America and headlined themselves across festivals, sweatboxes and ever-larger venues. Performing with some of music’s most tenacious live acts from Dropkick Murphys to Frank Turner, Boy George to Beans on Toast to The Bouncing Souls, not to mention reigniting their US fanbase with an epic tour across America with Flogging Molly in 2023; Skinny Lister’s formidable live rep more than proceeds them.
And now with the tantalising promise of some potential new material on the horizon, catch Skinny Lister touring the tunes of new album ‘Songs From The Yonder’ at a venue near you this year.
SKINNY LISTER - NEW ALBUM: ‘SONGS FROM THE YONDER’ - OUT 9 MAY 2025
FOR MORE INFORMATION
