In a seismic comeback, multi-Platinum-selling, BRIT Award-winning giants Catfish and the Bottlemen are set to embark on a monumental new chapter.
Today, the band unveiled their first new music in five years, dropping the anthemic and stadium-ready single “Showtime” via Island Records. The track, recorded in Los Angeles with multi-GRAMMY-winning producer Dave Sardy, showcases a bold evolution in frontman Van McCann’s songwriting, reflecting the sun-kissed optimism of LA. It serves as the first taste of their soon-to-be-announced fourth studio album.
Adding to the excitement, Catfish and the Bottlemen announced their first headline shows since 2021, including a high-energy return to the Reading & Leeds Festival mainstage for the second time this summer. The announcement follows a week of mounting anticipation, fueled by a mysterious global flyposting campaign of “Showtimes” and an Instagram teaser that garnered over 100,000 likes in under 24 hours.
Catfish and the Bottlemen, revered for their incendiary live performances, are set to perform two massive open-air headline shows, marking 900 days since their last live appearance. Fans can catch them at Cardiff Castle on Jul. 19 and Edinburgh Summer Sessions on Aug. 24. Tickets for these highly anticipated shows will go on general sale on Mar. 1 at 10:00 GMT.
Catfish and the Bottlemen’s journey to success includes a landmark #1 album with The Ride and over one billion streams, two million album sales, and nearly 10 million single sales. Their magnetic energy on stage, particularly frontman Van McCann’s, has solidified their status as one of Britain’s most successful bands of the 21st century.
Van McCann, back in his element headlining festivals and finishing a brand new album, expressed his excitement through the cryptic lines of “Showtime”:
“Back to the fields again
When I’ve headlined Leeds, I’ll be back, my friend.”
The release of “Showtime” and the upcoming headline shows signal a dynamic and exciting new era for Catfish and the Bottlemen, leaving fans eager to witness their triumphant return to the forefront of the music scene.