EXCLUSIVE AUDIO CHAT: Del Amitri promise greatest hits and new album surprises on Yorkshire tour dates

Del Amitri fans can expect a sneak preview of new album songs, greatest hits and surprises when the Scottish rockers return to Yorkshire, guitarist Iain Harvie revealed in an exclusive chat with Graham Walker.

Nothing ever happens? Try telling that to Del Amitri!

More than 40 years after bursting onto the music scene, the Scottish rockers are preparing to hit the road with four decades of greatest hits – and a surprise for fans.

Alongside timeless classics including Nothing Ever Happens, Always The Last To Know and Roll To Me, audiences will be the first to hear new songs from their next album set for release next year, guitarist Iain Harvie revealed in our exclusive chat.

The 24-date Past To Present 2026 UK Tour kicks off at Leeds O2 Academy on Monday, November 9, before playing York Barbican on Monday, November 16, and Sheffield City Hall on Tuesday, November 17.

In our interview - listen in full below - guitarist and songwriter Iain told how the band will play a mix of greatest hits and surprises, including songs from their next album which is due out in 2027.

Fans attending the shows will be among the first to hear some of the new material they are excited to be releasing next year.

"Some of those songs will be popping up at various shows," he assured me.

"We'll also play all the obvious hits, but we haven't quite got our head around what the surprises in the set might be."

The album will follow 2021's Fatal Mistakes, which marked Del Amitri's return to the studio after 18-years.

For younger fans who have never experienced Del Amitri live, Iain believes the emotional power of frontman Justin Currie's songwriting is reason enough to buy a ticket.

"There's probably not another band with a lyricist like Justin that nails emotions in songs the way that he does it," said Iain, who has played his own key role in shaping Del Amitri's distinctive sound as Justin's longtime songwriting partner.

The band's story began with their self-titled debut in 1985, before 1989's Waking Hours, featuring Nothing Ever Happens, propelled them onto Top of the Pops.

Five UK Top 10 albums, more than six million worldwide record sales and extensive international touring followed.

With around 150 songs in their back catalogue, choosing a setlist is a challenge – but Iain promises the classics in an old-fashioned rock show, without distracting video walls.

"We've kind of gone back to just a very simple setup with a straightforward backline on stage and old-fashioned rock and roll lights," he said,

"The venues that we're doing are big, but they've got an intimacy to them and that intimacy I think can be dissipated if you get too much production.

"The Yorkshire dates stir fond memories, particularly a 1998 gig at Leeds Town and Country Club – now O2 Academy Leeds – when a Stars In Their Eyes contestant ,who impersonated Justin, joined the band for Roll To Me."He came on stage and we performed the song with him," he recalled.

"Leeds Town and Country Club was great. I'm always very fond of venues where you can see the bar from the stage."Yorkshire audiences hold a special place in his heart.

He said: "North of England always feels like the south of Scotland to me."

Those connections with fans remain central to the band's appeal, particularly when audiences sing along to Nothing Ever Happens – a hit whose success surprised them.

"Nothing Ever Happens was a big event in our lives when it became so successful.,” he said, “We didn't really expect that. It didn't seem like the kind of song that was necessarily going to get played on the radio."

And does he ever tire of playing it?

He’s quick to reply: "No, not at all. Why would we tire of playing it? Everybody sings the lyrics when we play it now, which is just amazing. How could you possibly tire of that?"

Now 64, Iain reckons touring is easier in some ways than when he started in his 20s, with better stage technology replacing the enormous sound systems and scorching lights of old.

"It's also a bit less hectic. But it's not that different, really. People go to bed a bit earlier," he laughed.

The band's determination to keep performing is particularly poignant following Justin Currie's revelation that he has Parkinson's disease.

"Justin's got some issues with his Parkinson's. But he's really excited to be working and he's in good shape," added Iain.

There are still ambitions to fulfil – Iain always wanted to play New York's Madison Square Garden and tour Japan.

For now, though, he has more immediate concerns as he prepares for the tour.

He chuckled: "That involves making sure that you've got enough underwear in your suitcase!”

DEL AMITRI LINKS

PAST TO PRESENT 2026 UK TOUR DATES

November

Monday 9 – Leeds, O2 Academy

Tuesday 10 – Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA

Thursday 12 – Blackpool, Opera House

Friday 13 – Cardiff, University Great Hall

Saturday 14 – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Monday 16 – York, Barbican

Tuesday 17 – Sheffield, City Hall

Wednesday 18 – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

Friday 20 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange

Saturday 21 – Bournemouth, O2 Academy

Sunday 22 – London, Roundhouse

Tuesday 24 – Birmingham, O2 Institute

Wednesday 25 – Bath, Forum

Friday 27 – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

Saturday 28 – Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall

Sunday 29 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall

December

Tuesday 1 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall

Wednesday 2 – Perth, Concert Hall

Friday 4 – Aberdeen, Music Hall

Saturday 5 – Dundee, Caird Hall

Sunday 6 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall

Tuesday 8 – Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom

Wednesday 9 – Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom

Thursday 10 – Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom