Well, how about that? This brave New Year of 2026 will see the return of the much-missed Howling Bells, who will have it all – new music (like today’s track), a new album (the first for 12 years) and a tour. The album is called “Strange Life“, and it arrives on 13 February, so that’s the Valentine’s Day gift sorted.
Vocalist/guitarist for Howling Bells, Juanita Stein, explains that ‘Chimera‘ is “a strange word. It means a few different and curious things; in this context, however, I’m using it to mean something of an absurd nature, unattainable, a fantasy. Such is the relationship we have with music at times. This song speaks to my experience as a musician, surviving the perpetual ups and downs of the game. But if you’re lucky enough, you have someone who can cut through the noise and help you realise that the fantasy is half the joy. That the longing is part of the journey and that our achievements along the way are deeply meaningful. At its core, ‘Chimera’ is a song about hope and relinquishing control.”
Those tour dates are a mix of In-store appearances and full-on gigs, with these dates:
Howling Bells February 2026 In-Store Shows:
Friday 13 February – Rough Trade Denmark Street
Saturday 14 February – Crash, Leeds
Sunday 15 February – Jacaranda, Liverpool
Monday 16 February – Truck, Oxford
Tuesday 17 February – Banquet, Kingston
Wednesday 18 February – Pie & Vinyl, Southsea (daytime)
+ Vinilo, Southampton (evening)
Thursday 19 February – Gatefield Sounds, Whitstable
Howling Bells 2026 UK Dates:
Thursday 12 March – Think Tank – Newcastle
Friday 13 March – King Tuts – Glasgow
Saturday 14 March – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
Sunday 15 March – Deaf Institute – Manchester
Thursday 19 March – Bodega – Nottingham
Friday 20 March – Clwb Ifor Bach – Cardiff
Sunday 22 March – Wedgewood Rooms – Portsmouth
Tuesday 24 March – Oslo – London
Thursday 26 March – Fleece – Bristol
Friday 27 March – The Sugarmill – Stoke
Saturday 28 March – Hallamshire Hotel – Sheffield
Sunday 29 March – The Waterfront Studio – Norwich
Thursday 23 April – Alphabet – Brighton
Friday 24 April – Dead Wax – Birmingham
