WOLF ALICE, Britain’s best band, have released their uncompromising new single SMILE. The track was inspired by lead singer ELLIE ROWSELL’s desire to fight back against those who try to define her, and is the second single from their highly anticipated third album, BLUE WEEKEND, the follow up to the Mercury Prize winning VISIONS OF A LIFE.
SMILE is carried along on a tide of visceral energy, and is a song destined to be a live favourite. The band envisaged this during their time recording BLUE WEEKEND in Brussels during lockdown. “This is one of the songs we wrote thinking that we would play it live,” says Rowsell. “I miss that feeling of singing on www. It’s like screaming into a pillow or something – you can get away with being more nasty. There’s a whole other part of me missing.”
SMILE is accompanied by a video directed by Jordan Hemingway (Gucci, Raf Simons, Comme Des Garcons), the band’s second collaboration with Hemingway following the video for the previous single THE LAST MAN ON EARTH. The saturated visuals of the band in full flow, combined with the casting of riotous punk extras and pub locals, provide the ideal hedonistic backdrop to the track.
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH spent seven weeks on the BBC Radio 1 A-list. It was premiered by Annie Mac as her Hottest Record in The World, further cementing a long-standing relationship between the band and Annie. The band recently released a live version of THE LAST MAN ON EARTH here:
The release of SMILE follows the announcement of a 2022 UK and Ireland tour, their first headline shows since 2018. Dates below. Before then, on Saturday 22 May, WOLF ALICE will play GLASTONBURY PRESENTS LIVE at Worthy Farm alongside Coldplay, Michael Kiwanuka, IDLES, Haim and many more.
JANUARY 2022
Wed 05 GLASGOW Barrowland (Extra Date)
Fri 07 GLASGOW Barrowland (Sold Out)
Sat 08 GLASGOW Barrowland (Sold Out)
Sun 09 NEWCASTLE O2 City Hall
Mon 10 NORWICH UEA (Sold Out)
Wed 12 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo (Sold Out)
Thu 13 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo (Extra Date)
Fri 14 SHEFFIELD O2 Academy (Sold Out)
Sat 15 LIVERPOOL University (Sold Out)
Tue 18 LONDON Eventim Apollo (Sold Out)
Wed 19 LONDON Eventim Apollo (Extra Date)
Sat 22 SOUTHAMPTON O2 Guildhall (Sold Out)
Sun 23 BEXHILL-ON-SEA De La Warr Pavilion
Mon 24 DUBLIN Olympia Theatre (Extra Date)
Tue 25 DUBLIN Olympia Theatre (Sold Out)
Thu 27 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
Fri 28 PLYMOUTH Pavilions
Sun 30 BRISTOL O2 Academy (Sold Out)
Mon 31 BRISTOL O2 Academy (Extra Date)
