Glasgow indie-pop royalty The Spook School are elated to announce a new surprise live album, with The Farewell Show Live at The Moon (Glasgow Art School) 2019 set for release on 8th November 2023 via Alcopop! Records.
Bootlegged by Alan Laing at the band’s farewell show way back in 2019, commenting on the release drummer Niall McCamley says: “After finding out we had been lovingly bootlegged over the years there was something very cathartic listening back to that final show. The ability to be able to share that with people beyond those walls really tickled us. The laughter, the voices cracking, the love we have for each other and the continued surprise people would turn up and sing along with us. These December shows are one offs (two offs?) but who knows what will happen next. We have loved being back playing together and sometimes the Moon can be a lonely place to be. The future is a scary place. For now let’s stick to the present and enjoy these shows together!”
“I love this band,” adds Alcopop! Records label boss Jack Clothier. “Everything about them. From the glorious explosions of indie pop brilliance live, to the vital, vital tracks which explore gender, sexuality, abusive relationships and living in the modern world. We are truly blessed as a community to have them return from the moon for two final shows in December. In the meantime, thank you The Spook School (and Alan Laing) for giving us this to get excited with…”
The news comes ahead of the band’s very special Glasgow and London reunion shows this December 2023 to celebrate 10 years of their Fortuna POP! debut album Dress Up, with remaining tickets for both dates on sale now (see below for listings), with the shows recently upgraded due to exceptional demand.
Support will come from new label mates Problem Patterns in Glasgow, with friends cheerbleederz and Get Wrong joining the London bill.
Commenting on the shows, the band said: “Ten years ago four silly sausages went to Soup Recording Studio in London to haphazardly play their semi-tuned instruments. The result was a debut album called ‘Dress Up’ released by Fortuna POP! To celebrate this anniversary we would like to invite you to two live shows. In Glasgow on Dec 8th, and London on Dec 16th, The Spook School will briefly return from the Moon to play for the inhabitants of Earth. Tickets are on sale now. We can’t wait to see you again. xxx”
The Spook School’s genre-defining and critically acclaimed third and final studio album, Could It Be Different?, was released in 2018 on Alcopop! Records (UK) and Slumberland Records (US), hailed by many as one of the most important indie records of the year and seeing the band championed as leading lights of the UK queerpop scene.
With support from international press, radio spins from BBC Radio One, BBC6 Music and Amazing Radio, not to mention a bundle of Spotify playlist additions, Could It Be Different? was a storming continuation of the band’s knack for noisy, tuneful and triumphant queer pop songs about identity, sexuality, and the self, citing influence from the likes of The Buzzcocks, T-Rex and the noisier end of C86.
The band’s vocal support for trans rights and inclusivity were years ahead of the public discourse, and cemented their place as one of the most beloved queer acts of their time.
Live Dates:
08.12.23 – Warehouse SW3G, Glasgow (tickets)
16.12.23 – The Dome, London (tickets)
 |
The Farewell Show Live From The Moon (Glasgow Art School) 2019 Tracklisting: 1. Still Alive 2. I’ll Be Honest 3. Less Than Perfect 4. Burn Masculinity 5. Body 6. History 7. The Cameraman 8. I Only Dance When I Want To 9. Speak When You’re Spoken To 10. Keep In Touch 11. Gone Home 12. Binary 13. Are You Who You Think You Are? 14. Try To Be Hopeful 15. Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac cover) 16. I Want To Kiss You |
