Liam Fray on Courteeners Legacy, Survival and New Best Of Album

The Courteeners have announced a career-spanning best of compilation titled God Bless The Band and a corresponding UK arena tour to commemorate 20 years of the band’s existence. The collection is scheduled for release on August 28, 2026, via Ignition Music.

The announcement was accompanied by the release of a new single, The Luckiest Man Alive, on April 9, 2026. The upcoming compilation will feature established hits such as Bide Your Time, Modern Love, and Not Nineteen Forever, as well as another new track titled Plus One Forever. Frontman Liam Fray collaborated with James Skelly of The Coral to produce both new songs.

To launch the project, the band performed an intimate one-off show on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Night & Day Café in Manchester. This performance marked the band’s first appearance at the 250-capacity independent venue since May 2007.

Grassroots Support and Arena Tour

The band has scheduled a headline UK arena tour for November 2026, which will include a performance at London’s Alexandra Palace. The tour will feature the Wigan-based band The Lathums as special guests. Tickets for these dates were set to go on general sale on April 17, 2026.

As part of the tour, the Courteeners are donating £1 plus VAT from every ticket sold to the LIVE Trust. This initiative is designed to provide financial support to the grassroots music sector, including independent venues, artists, festivals, and promoters.

During the Manchester launch event, Liam Fray emphasized the importance of independent venues, noting that Night & Day had served as a home for the band during the early 2010s and had previously faced threats of closure in 2014, and 2021.

Reflections on Longevity and Future Direction

In an interview with NME, Liam Fray discussed the decision to release a compilation rather than a full studio album at this time. Fray explained that while he had new material, there was not enough for a complete record, and he did not want to rush the process of creating the band’s eighth album.

The next move has to be really different. I don’t know what that means, but I felt like [2024’s] ‘Pink Cactus [Café]’ was 10 pretty direct pop songs, and I don’t think that’ll be the next move. These singles are pretty poppy as well. I have a real fondness for that, but maybe the next record will be a big shift away from that… that’s why there’s a ‘best of’, because I don’t want to rush an album.

Liam Fray

Fray also touched upon the band’s survival over two decades, describing their continued activity as a miracle given the volatility of the music industry. He noted the band’s growing appeal among Gen Z audiences, recounting an instance where he encountered 14-year-olds covering Not Nineteen Forever.

Looking toward the future, Fray indicated that the next album will be a left turn from their previous work. He also expressed a desire to further the band’s impact within Manchester, mentioning past work with Mayor Andy Burnham’s homeless charities and his involvement with the Middleton Development Committee.

Fray revealed plans involving the Royal Northern College of Music, where he received a Fellowship. He intends to create original music and potentially take an orchestra on tour.

2026 Tour Dates

• July 23: Stoke-On-Trent, Victoria Hall
• July 25: Sheffield, Tramlines Festival
• August 27: Leicester, O2 Academy
• August 29: Manchester, Wythenshawe Park
• November 6: Leeds, First Direct Arena
• November 7: Cardiff, Utilita Arena
• November 13: Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
• November 14: London, Alexandra Palace
• November 20: Glasgow, OVO Hydro
• November 21: Birmingham, Utilita Arena