Barenaked Ladies release new album ‘In Flight’ and announce 2024 UK Tour

September 15, 2023: Famed Canadian rockers Barenaked Ladies have today released their highly anticipated new album In Flight and announced a UK Tour for April 2024.

The much-loved, multi-Platinum band are also celebrating a pair of significant career milestones; today’s date of September 15 marks the 25th anniversary of the release of BNL’s chart-dominating, pop-culture-defining smash, “One Week”, while October 1 will mark the 35th anniversary of the band’s first ever live show in Toronto, an event being commemorated by an exclusive winners-only event in their home city, presented by SiriusXM.

Brimming with 14 vibrant tracks, In Flight,  the band’s 18th studio album, seamlessly captures the hallmark playfulness and astute observation that have earned BNL global renown, and artfully juxtaposes those signature elements against a contemplative, philosophical backdrop, converging into a resounding impression of growth and wisdom gained.  Stand-out singles include “Lovin’ Life,” “One Night,” and today’s “What Do We Need?”,which explores the band’s journey as Barenaked Ladies through the years, reminiscing on what they’ve achieved while looking forward to what the future may hold.

“’What Do We Need?’ is a fun rumination on how to endure every one of your dreams coming true,” says Ed Robertson. “I think about that all the time, I try to stay focused when the grind of a tour is long. I try to keep my eyes on the fact that this is literally my dream that I’m living and it’s really important to stay grounded to that.”

Exclusive D2C packages are available which include items such as In Flight on CD, cassette (a nod to BNL’s 1991 independent, platinum, 5-song cassette EP, The Yellow Tape), 180 gram double white vinyl with two bonus tracks, a flight jacket, duffle bag and even a cassette player – all available for purchase here.

BNL will be making their long-awaited return to the UK in April of 2024 for their “In Flight UK Tour 2024”. Drummer Tyler Stewart comments: “From Edinburgh in the north to Brighton down south, we’re coming back to rock the UK. Barenaked Ladies always love playing in Ol’ Blighty, and this time, Manchester, it’ll be more than just Ed and Tyler! Our In Flight UK Tour 2024 will feature tasty new songs from the album and of course, a whole slew of BNL hits spanning  35 years. So come on Subjects! It’s time to ring in spring with your favourite Canadians, Barenaked Ladies. We look forward to seeing your happy faces.”

Barenaked Ladies “In Flight UK Tour 2024”
Thursday 4 April        Bristol, Beacon
Friday 5 April             London, Eventim Apollo
Saturday 6 April        Wolverhampton, The Halls
Monday 8 April          Brighton, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange
Tuesday 9 April         Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Thursday 11 April      Manchester, Albert Hall
Friday 12 April           Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Sunday 14 April         York, York Barbican
Monday 15 April        Edinburgh, Assembly Rooms

Ticket, VIP and CD bundles of new album pre-sale 10am September 20 / public on sale 10am September 22. VIP packages include access to the BNL soundcheck, a meet and greet with the band, and an exclusive merch package. All ticket information can be found here. 

Produced by Grammy and JUNO-award winning producer Eric Ratz and recorded at Noble Street Studios in Toronto, Barenaked Ladies’ upcoming new album In Flight marks a new chapter for the band. Maybe it’s just the passage of time, maybe the joy of getting back on the road after the COVID lockdown, but Ed Robertson has noticed a change in his own attitude which adjusted his tone on the new project. While BNL’s last album, 2021’s Detour de Force, looked closely at the perils of contemporary, alternate reality media, In Flight offers a sense of joy and appreciation for life.

In addition to the eight songs written/co-written by Ed Robertson, the album features four songs from Kevin Hearn, (two of which are love letters to Toronto: “See the Tower” and “The Peace Lady”) and two from Jim Creeggan, (“Just Wait” and “Wake Up). The album also features co-writers such as Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra), who co-wrote with Ed on “One Night” and “Lovin’ Life” (the latter with Thirty Seconds to Mars’ Steve Aiello), as well as notable Canadian musicians Max Kerman (Arkells) and Donovan Woods.

Ed Robertson says, “We’re a band that has committed to being who we are and what we are, and being as good as we can be—doing the best shows we can do, writing the best songs we can write—and we’ve done it for 35 years. I’m super proud of that.”

The first Barenaked Ladies concert was on October 1, 1988 at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of that show, SiriusXM Canada is presenting a very special BNL event in Toronto at the El Mocambo. Ed, Jim, Kevin and Tyler will take the stage and play a few songs from “In Flight”, plus all of their hits from the last 35 years.  This exclusive concert is being recorded and will be broadcast on SiriusXM at a later date.

Over the course of 35 years, the beloved quartet has sold over 15 million records worldwide and built up an arsenal of hits such as “If I Had $1,000,000,” “One Week,” “Pinch Me” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme.” Widely acknowledged as one of the best live acts on the planet, BNL has hosted a cruise, had their own Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour, and participated in the first-ever “space-to-earth musical collaboration” with astronaut Chris Hadfield. To date, BNL has amassed eight JUNO Awards, garnered two GRAMMY nominations and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Photo Credit: Matt Barnes