The chart-topping, multi-Platinum selling Scouting For Girls recently released their new single ‘Don’t You Go Solo’ as they stride towards the release their new album ‘These Are The Good Days’ on March 27th 2026. It will be the follow-up to 2023’s ‘The Place We Used To Meet’ which became their highest-charting record in eight years. The trio behind mega-hits ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’ (#1), ‘She’s So Lovely’ (#7), ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ (#8) and ‘Heartbeat’ (#10) still command a huge, loyal following as evidenced by the majority of this year’s headline tour already being sold-out.
This is a record that offers an uplifting antidote at a time of an avalanche of downbeat news. First single, ‘These Are The Good Days’ is a joyous expression of appreciating everything that’s special in the here-and-now. With a luminous piano melody, sun kissed guitars and (for the first time in SFG history) some soulful gospel vocal harmonies, it feels like a modern take on classic Californian pop-rock – viewed, as ever, by Scouting For Girls’ distinctly British perspective. ‘Get What You Give’ an instant standout that can take its place amongst their many hits through to the playful, exuberant excess of the multi-layered orchestral closer ‘Alright In The End’. And that positivity still flourishes on other highlights too, such as the classic timeless ballad ‘Stars Never Fade’.
The album was entirely written and produced by Roy Stride, and recorded between studios in California, Dublin and the UK with fellow founding members and lifelong friends Greg Churchouse (bass) and Pete Ellard (drums). The album is lifted by the addition of touring guitarist Connor McDonald (James Morrison, George Ezra), whose Clapton-esque playing brings a new musical depth to the band. Most of the record was also mixed by Roy, with the remainder completed by Matt Bishop (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran).
We caught up with Roy as talked about the band’s upcoming album and more.
So how has your latest release “These Are The Good Days” gone down with fans so far?
Tough year to release an album with that title! But it’s gone down better than I expected, if I’m honest. You never really know if something that feels important to you is going to land with other people or if they’ll just politely scroll past it. But the reaction’s been lovely — loads of messages from people saying it’s made them stop for a second and go, “yeah… I needed that.” Which is basically why I wrote it. It’s not a miracle cure for modern life, but it’s a little reminder to look up from your phone and remember you’re actually in it.
This is the title track of your upcoming album released in March — how much are you looking forward to sharing this with fans?
I can’t wait. Also: I’m bricking it a bit. Title track feels like putting your name on the homework and handing it in — there’s nowhere to hide. But I’m proud of this record. It feels like us, but with a bit more perspective. I listened to the album again fresh when driving around Palm Springs shooting a video for one of the singles. It was the first time I had listened in months since it had been mastered. And I was actually shocked at how good it was!
What is your favourite song on the album? Are there any that mean more to you?
Honestly, my favourite changes depending on whether I’ve slept and whether I’ve had a coffee. But the ones that hit hardest are the ones where I can’t pretend I’m joking.“These Are The Good Days” means a lot because it’s basically me trying to talk myself into being present — I’m great at writing about gratitude and absolutely terrible at practising it.And “Don’t You Go Solo” is a big one too — it sounds sunny, but it’s coming from that real place of missing someone and feeling the world go a bit grey when they’re not there.
How long did it take you to write and produce this album?
Long enough for me to have several minor identity crises. Writing is never tidy — most songs turn up in ten minutes but then take months of going “incredible No.1 …. Amazing definite single…. almost amazing probably on the record… almost rubbish maybe a bonus track… nope, that’s rubbish.” It takes 50 songs to make a 10 track album. Production-wise we took our time because we wanted it to feel warm and human, like a band, not like everything’s been ironed flat. There’s a point where you can polish the life out of a song, and we tried not to do that. (Tried.)
So you recently posted that it was 18 years ago since your debut album hit number 1 — does that make you feel nostalgic when playing these songs live?
Yeah. But it’s not just nostalgia like “aww, 2008.” It’s more like… how has time moved that fast and why does my back hurt?! Getting onstage though does feel a bit like a time machine. I love it. The mad thing is playing those older songs now and realising they’ve had a whole life without you. People have got married to them, cried to them, had kids to them… which I try not to think about too much.(we will be playing 1+1 though) It makes you feel lucky, but it also makes you want to keep earning it — keep making songs that mean something now, not just living off the past.
Speaking of playing songs live, you have a packed UK tour coming up — what venue are you most looking forward to playing?
The ones where the crowd are basically on top of you and singing like it’s their job. That’s the best feeling in the world — when you can stop singing for a second and the room just takes over. We’ve always called the audience the fifth member of our band. The louder they sing the better we play (or the less they notice any mistakes) Its the 15th anniversary of This Aint A Love Song – I love playing the old hits but I’m buzzing to play the new songs properly. You don’t really know what you’ve got until you play it live.
You also have plenty of festivals and live dates after this tour including The Netherlands — are you looking forward to going to new places?
Yeah, definitely. Festivals are brilliant because they’re not polite — you’ve got 45 minutes to win people over and half of them didn’t come specifically for you. That keeps you honest. And The Netherlands will be amazing. It’s been over ten years since we played there. Any time you go somewhere new(ish), it feels like you’re building something again, not just turning up. New crowds, new cities, new chances to prove we’re still worth a shout.
| ‘These Are The Good Days’ is now available to pre-order HERE. In addition to digital, CD and turquoise vinyl formats, the band’s official store offers an exclusive limited edition range of ‘band member’ CDs, and with bonus tracks. Roy’s adds five alternate acoustic-and-strings versions of songs from the album; Greg’s is extended with four more songs from the recording sessions and an alternate vocal version of ‘Counting Down The Days’; while Pete’s adds band commentary for each song on the record. The official store also stocks a cassette. Amazon’s exclusive CD adds a signed sleeve with different artwork. Scouting For Girls’ 2007 self-titled debut album spent two weeks at #1 and was certified 3 x Platinum in recognition of 900,000+ domestic sales. 2010’s ‘Everybody Wants To Be On TV’ was similarly successful, reaching #2 and Platinum status. The band also returned to the Top 10 with ‘The Light Between Us’ and ‘Greatest Hits’. Scouting For Girls will head out on tour early in 2026 with a set that celebrates the 15th anniversary of ‘Everybody Wants To Be On TV’. Limited tickets for select dates for the tour, listed below, are available HERE. FEBRUARY 2026 26th – Belfast, Telegraph Building (LOW TICKETS) 27th – Dublin, The Academy (LOW TICKETS) MARCH 2026 2nd – Brighton, Dome (LOW TICKETS) 3rd – Bournemouth, O2 Academy (LOW TICKETS) 5th – Bristol, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT) 6th – Cardiff, Great Hall 7th – Margate, Dreamland 9th – Southend, Cliffs Pavilion (LOW TICKETS) 10th – Norwich, UEA (SOLD OUT) 12th – Cambridge, Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT) 13rd – Nottingham, Rock City (SOLD OUT) 14th – Birmingham, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT) 16th – Glasgow, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT) 17th – York, Barbican (LOW TICKETS) 19th – Sheffield, City Hall (LOW TICKETS) 20th – Newcastle, City Hall (SOLD OUT) 21st – Manchester, Apollo (SOLD OUT) 23rd – Liverpool, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT) 24th – Leeds, O2 Academy (LOW TICKETS) 26th – Oxford, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT) 27th – Portsmouth, Guildhall (SOLD OUT) 28th – London, Roundhouse (SOLD OUT) ‘These Are The Good Days’ tracklist: ‘These Are the Good Days’ ‘Get What You Give’ ‘Waiting for your Love’ ‘Stars Never Fade’ ‘Don’t You Go Solo’ ‘As Bad As You Are Beautiful’ ‘Love Gone Bad’ ‘Counting Down the Days’ ‘Still Feel the Love’ ‘Alright in the End’ |
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