Legendary Scottish act The Delgados have announced plans to reunite after a 17-year hiatus – starting with a five-date tour of the UK next January.

The quartet formed in 1994, and released five acclaimed albums on their own renowned record label Chemikal Underground, before disbanding in 2005. Their career peak was perhaps third album ‘The Great Eastern’, losing out on the Mercury Music Prize in 2000 by a single vote, as well as single ‘Pull the Wires From the Wall’ topping John Peel’s annual Festive Fifty listeners’ poll in 1998. Peel himself described the foursome as “Truly, one of the greatest bands in the world.”

The original line-up remains for these upcoming shows: Stewart Henderson (bass), Emma Pollock (guitar & vocals), Paul Savage (drums) and Alun Woodward (guitar & vocals). The flute, keys and full complement of strings familiar to gig-goers in their heyday will also feature next year.

Speaking about their return, a band statement reads: “When we started The Delgados in 1994, it instantly felt effortless and simple. There was a synergy and a chemistry. Four people pulling in different directions, but towards the same destination. Two of us couldn’t play very well and two couldn’t play at all but that unlearned sensitivity was our guide.

“Fast forward 25 or so years – the band has been split up for 15 of them – and we’re driving to (Mogwai’s) Stuart Braithwaite’s wedding. We’ve spent hardly any time with each other for over a decade and like before it’s effortless, simple… and the thought occurs that it might be good to play together once again.”

Returning in January 2023, The Delgados will play five shows in the UK that start in Brighton before working their way up the country and finish with a hometown show to The Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow.

Tickets go on sale from this Friday (10th June) at 10am…

January 20th – Concorde 2, BRIGHTON tickets
21st – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, LONDON tickets
22nd – Academy 2, MANCHESTER tickets
24th – The Leadmill, SHEFFIELD tickets
25th – The Barrowland Ballroom, GLASGOW tickets

More at thedelgados.band