THE LILACS TO RELEASE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
OUT NOW
LISTEN HERE
Wigan quartet The Lilacs have revealed their debut album, Keeping Up With The Joneses, out now via Manchester’s renowned independent label Scruff of the Neck. Keeping Up With The Joneses, will feature the lead single or the same name and comes in multiple formats, including CD, a cream disk vinyl, a limited edition exclusive galaxy vinyl, a Sh*t Shirt vinyl, as well as individual members CD versions that can also be purchased as a bundle. Keeping Up With The Joneses is out now HERE.
Speaking of the album, Frontman Ollie Anglesea said, “Keeping Up With The Joneses has been seven years in the making, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve created. There’s been blood, sweat and tears poured into this record, and so much of ourselves in every song. It’s been a real journey, with some of the highest highs and some of the toughest moments along the way, which makes finally getting this album out into the world all the more special. We’ve put everything into it, and I hope people can hear that when they listen. This album means the world to us, and I just hope everyone loves it as much as we do.”
The album has already been previewed by four singles, including Miss Behavin’, Girl Behind The Bar, What’s The Worst That Can Happen? and most recently Put The World To Rights, a hook-laden anthem the band have called their favourite track on the record. Produced by Joe Cross (Courteneers, Hurts), the ten-track album is full of the essential qualities that have powered The Lilacs’ rise so far, with insistent melodies and mega hooks focused on universal tales (and fails) of young adulthood played with youthful passion. The lead single from the album is the title track, and has quickly become a fan favourite.
Ollie continues, “Keeping Up With The Joneses is probably my favourite track on the album. It was the first idea that came to me and, in many ways, it became the starting point for everything else. The song really shaped the wider theme of the record and gave me a direction to run with lyrically. It’s funny to think that if that initial idea hadn’t come about, the album might never have taken the shape it has. It feels like the heart of the record, and I think it sums up everything we’ve been trying to say over the last seven years.”
Their rise so far has come in spite of immensely difficult times, with guitarist Sam Birchall recently getting the all-clear from cancer following a year of treatment, his story documented by both ITV and BBC. Sam has said, “Being part of creating the ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’ album for me has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my music career so far. It’s a real jump in maturity of The Lilacs’ sound, and everything from the lyrics to the tones and the instrumentation has been considered. Our heart and soul has really gone into making it the very best that it can be and I can’t wait to see what response it gets from our ever growing loyal fan base. It’s our first real shot at aiming for the stars and putting The Lilacs up in the charts with all the big names, and no matter where it finishes, I’m proud of how it sounds and what we have achieved!”
Celebrating the release, they have a number of stripped-back record store shows that sees them trade festival stages for record shops and intimate venues, bringing the songs from the album to fans up and down the country in a rare relaxed setting, with most dates including a signing session straight after the performance. The run kicked off in Wrexham at The Rockin’ Chair, and the band will continue to hit other venues across the country’s independent record shop network. These include Rough Trade East in London, The Cluny in Newcastle and a hometown date at Boulevard in Wigan, before wrapping up in Glasgow on October 25th. Tickets are available here.
Formed by vocalist Ollie Anglesea and Sam Birchall (guitar), The Lilacs are completed by Matt Johnson (bass) and Dave Gomersall (drums). They debuted early in 2019 with Vicarage Road and have been building a following of dedicated fans ever since, winning over more with single Grace in 2023 and scoring a Top 10 on the Independent Albums Chart with The 395 (To Forever) EP in 2025.
The Lilacs have built a reputation for electric live shows, sharing stages with Lottery Winners and The Lathums and playing everywhere from Isle of Wight to Truck festival. That momentum has translated into increasingly ambitious headline dates, including a sold-out 2,700-capacity show in Manchester. Their summer touring has kept up the pace, with a recent stop at Rock For People in the Czech Republic followed by major sets at Kendal Calling, Tramlines and Latitude, and a first-ever Leeds Festival appearance. The stripped back record store tour offers fans a rare chance to catch the band in a far more intimate setting before they return to bigger stages on their biggest ever headline tour in 2027. Full details of their 2027 headline shows can be found here.
OCTOBER 2026
9th – Wigan, Boulevard (via Jacaranda) – Performance & Signing
10th – Nantwich, The Crown (via Applestump) – Performance & Signing
11th – Newcastle, The Cluny (via Reflex) – Performance & Signing
12th – Leeds, Key Club (via Crash) – Performance & Signing
13th – Sheffield, Foundry (via Bear Tree) – Performance Only
15th – Bury, Wax & Beans (via Wax & Beans) – Performance & Signing
16th – London, Rough Trade East (via Rough Trade) – Performance & Signing
17th – Kingston, Fighting Cocks (via Banquet) – Performance & Signing
18th – Liverpool, Jacaranda Baltic (via Jacaranda) – Performance Only
20th – Nottingham, Rough Trade (via Rough Trade) – Performance & Signing
24th – Edinburgh, Assai (via Assai) – Performance & Signing
25th – Glasgow, Assai (via Assai) – Performance & Signing
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