After 6 billion streams, 30 million single sales, 10.8 million album sales, over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners and 1.8 million ticket sales, Irish alt-pop trio The Script embark upon a new chapter with the November 8th release of their new album ‘Sunsets & Full Moons’.
Having returned with the emotive, stadium-bound first single ‘The Last Time’, ‘Sunsets & Full Moons’ is the sound of The Script – Danny O’Donoghue (vocals, piano, guitar), Mark Sheehan (vocals, guitars) and Glen Power (drums) – focusing on the inclusive, uplifting songwriting that helped them become an arena-filling band with a fervent fan base the world over.
In many ways, ‘Sunsets & Full Moons’ feels like a sequel to The Script’s much-loved debut album. Both albums emerged from emotionally turbulent times: O’Donoghue lost his father around the time of the release of their debut. And ten years later, he lost his mother as they worked on this album – with both his parents passing on Valentine’s Day. Naturally the songs began to reflect the band’s own personal experiences – and those are themes sure to resonate with their fans, too.
“I think it’s the most poignant record we’ve ever made,” asserts O’Donoghue. “Our music was always about being together with the audience, and writing about your own feelings, and sharing them”.
The Script approached the album reinvigorated following a triumphant tour in support of 2017’s #1 album ‘Freedom Child’. Again echoing their early days, the band embraced the unifying power of the simple things – killer hooks, insistent melodies and stirring sentiments. They opted to produce the album themselves, staying close to home at their unshowy space in Metropolis Studios, with help from mixing master and old friend Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (Coldplay, Beyoncé, Frank Ocean) plus Manny Marroquin (Post Malone, Lizzo, Dua Lipa) and Dan Frampton (AuRa, Maejor, Jack Savoretti).
“No frills, no production, just us playing as a band,” notes Sheehan. “It’s us doing what we do best.”
The overriding theme, concludes O’Donoghue, is simple. “No matter how deep and dark it gets, it’s going to be daylight again.” Exuding hope and positivity in the face of challenging times, The Script’s sense of uplift as alive and vital as it ever was.
‘Sunsets & Full Moons’ is now available to pre-order on CD, vinyl and digital formats. The Script’s official store will also offer some special versions of the album including limited edition transparent vinyl, cassette and signed CDs and vinyl.
Fans who pre-order the album from the official store by 5pm on Tuesday October 15th will receive access to a pre-sale for tickets for next year’s UK and European arena tour. The pre-sale opens at 9.30am on Wednesday October 16th, with tickets going on general sale at 9.30am on Friday October 18th.
General sale tickets will be available from https://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/the-script and https://www.thescriptmusic.com
The dates are:
FEBRUARY
20th – UK, Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
21st – UK, Leeds, First Direct Arena
22nd – UK, Manchester, Arena
24th – UK, Bournemouth, International Centre
25th – UK, Brighton, Centre
26th – UK, Sheffield, FlyDSA Arena
28th – UK, Birmingham Resorts World Arena
29th – UK, London, The O2
MARCH
3rd – UK, Belfast, SSE Arena
6th – Ireland, Dublin, 3Arena
7th – Ireland, Dublin, 3Arena
9th – UK, Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
10th – UK, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
12th – UK, Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
13th – UK, Aberdeen, P&J Live Arena
14th – UK, Newcastle, Utilita Arena