So that was the first big weekend of the summer… following the appearance of a countdown on the band’s website, Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton have reformed Arab Strap, the seminal miserablist Falkirk indiepop combo, for a trio of reunion gigs to mark their 20th anniversary.

The duo will play London’s Electric Brixton on October 13th, the Ritz in Manchester on the 14th, and Glasgow’s Barrowland on October 15th. These will be the first from the band since the secret NicenSleazy’s 20th birthday set back in 2011.

Malcolm Middleton said of the reunion: “I think the day we went to the pub and split up, we made a joke about Arab Strap getting back together in 10 years’ time to celebrate. So that’s basically what this is: a chance to enjoy the music we made once more.”

Aidan Moffat added: “We wanted to celebrate it while we’re still relatively young and don’t look too embarrassing on the stage.”

The band have also shared a new version of debut single ‘The First Big Weekend’, remixed by Chemikal Underground labelmate Miaoux Miaoux, who also produced Malcolm Middleton’s new ‘Summer of ’13’ album. Moffat describes the reimagining of the 1996 track as “probably how it should have sounded the first time.”

Tickets for the 20th anniversary gigs go on sale on Friday 17th June at 9am, with ‘The First Big Weekend 2016’ available for download via Chemikal Underground from 16 June.

The band have also shared a reintroductory Spotify playlist, for anyone needing (re)-acquainted with the band… it contains the new version of ‘The First Big Weekend’, which is also available on iTunes.