The Altered Hours have announced details of a new EP, On My Tongue, set for release in early 2018 on Art for Blind/Penske Recordings. 'Open Wide', the first single taken from the EP, opens with a bare tambourine and synth drone, before the band’s full force kicks in to introduce the guitar’s enchanting riff.

Cathal MacGabhann's relaxed vocal is alluring; Elaine Howley’s whisper echoes; while the keys swell to solidify the song as beautifully crafted. While the lyrics explore the fragmentation of morality, musically 'Open Wide' exemplifies the band’s elementary approach to instrumentation, producing a sonic texture that is at once simple and potent.

After a year’s worth of touring in support of their debut album, In Heat Not Sorry, the band headed for Dublin’s Bow Lane Studios, where over the course of three days they produced a fast-paced and grittier recording to their debut. Clocking in at just 15 minutes, On My Tongue is a window into the rock and roll heart of the group; a side they plan on delving into even deeper with their second album.

The band have now announced a string of dates in Europe and the UK starting in March, with more to be added soon.

01 February - Roisin Dubh - Galway, Ireland

10 February - Seoda Shows 5th Birthday, Kasbah Social - Limerick, Ireland

10 March - Night & Day Cafe - Manchester, UK

13 March - The Shacklewell Arms - London, UK

16 March - Supersonic - Paris, France

29 March - DBD Vevue - Dublin, Ireland

30 March - Regional Cultural Centre - Letterkenny, Ireland

31 March - Menagerie - Belfast, UK

13 April - It Takes A Village Festival - Trabolgan, Co. Cork, Ireland

Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2018, Brighton folk-punk band Levellers will be releasing We The Collective on March 9 via the band’s own label, On The Fiddle Recordings. Wanting to do something a bit different with their back catalogue, they brought in a string section and enlisted legendary producer John Leckie (Radiohead, Stone Roses) to help develop new acoustic arrangements for eight of their previous singles including ‘Liberty’, ‘Hope Street’ and ‘One Way’ which they recorded straight to tape at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios.

They also recorded two brand new songs ‘Shame’ and ‘Drug Bust McGee’ and the result is the 10 track album We The Collective. Lead singer Mark Chadwick says “The different musicians, producer and the studio combined to make something really special”. The newly released video for ‘Shame’ is a hard-hitting piece showing the plight of refugees in Europe and beyond, in the face of geo-political manoeuvrings from our world leaders. You can watch that here.

As part of the celebrations, Levellers will head out on a full acoustic tour in the Spring, where they will be playing the new arrangements with guest musicians, starting at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival. They will play at the Roundhouse in London as part of the In The Round festival as well as a number of theatres and concert halls around the country. Despite only just being announced, the tickets for Preston, Milton Keynes and Winchester have already sold out. Support on the tour comes from Ginger Wildheart on all dates except Glasgow & London.

Acoustic Tour 2018

Support from Ginger Wildheart (all dates except Glasgow & London)

FEBRUARY

Thurs 1st – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow (Celtic Connections)

Fri 2nd – Wrexham, William Aston Hall

Sat 3rd – Preston, Charter Theatre SOLD OUT

Sun 4th – London, Roundhouse (In The Round Festival)

MARCH

Tue 13th – Buxton, Opera House

Wed 14th – Cheltenham, Town Hall

Thurs 15th – Yeovil, Westlands

Fri 16th – York, Barbican

Sat 17th – Milton Keynes, The Stables SOLD OUT

Sun 18th – Liverpool, Philharmonic

Tue 20th – Basingstoke, The Anvil

Wed 21st – Cambridge, Corn Exchange

Thurs 22nd – Leicester, De Montfort Hall

Fri 23rd – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion

Sat 24th – Winchester, Cathedral SOLD OUT