The Futureheads Unveil Festive Christmas Album and UK Tour Dates

Celebrate the season with The Futureheads’ new Christmas album and exclusive UK tour shows this winter.

If you’ve ever found yourself craving a fresh take on holiday classics, The Futureheads have just answered your festive prayers. This Sunderland indie band is gearing up to drop their first-ever Christmas album titled Christmas, and it’s bursting with yuletide cheer reimagined in their signature indie style. Plus, they’re hitting the road with a handful of special UK shows to bring those songs to life.

A Seasonal Soundtrack for Indie Fans

Mark your calendars for November 21, when Christmas hits the shelves—a collection that’s not just packed with covers but two original songs that add a personal touch to the holiday spirit. The album promises to be a nostalgic yet fresh celebration of the season.

If you want to grab your copy early, pre-orders are already live here.

One of the standout new tracks is The Coldest Winter In 100 Years, which sits alongside the band’s earlier yuletide hit Christmas Was Better In The 80s. This 2010 single was The Futureheads' first foray into festive tunes, and it fits perfectly alongside classic covers that fans will instantly recognize. Think Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime jingle-jangled through an indie lens.

They’ve also included some surprising gems like The Pretenders’ 2000 Miles and Jona Lewie’s Stop The Cavalry. All tracks are self-produced, arranged, and recorded by the band, giving the album an authentic and intimate feel.

For a taste of their holiday vibe, check out their video for Christmas Was Better In The 80s, a playful nod to festive fun with that unmistakable Futureheads energy:

Touring Through the Festive Season

What better way to enjoy these new tunes than live? The Futureheads are treating fans to four exclusive UK gigs this December. They’re kicking things off in Glasgow at Oran Mor on December 8, then heading back home for two nights in Sunderland at The Fire Station on December 19 and 20 before wrapping up in London’s EartH Theatre on December 22.

Tickets go on sale September 29 at 10 AM, and you can snag yours here.

Tour Dates:

• Dec 8 - Glasgow, Oran Mor
• Dec 19 & 20 - Sunderland, The Fire Station
• Dec 22 - London, EartH Theatre

The Band’s Take on Their Festive Project

When it comes to putting together an album like this, The Futureheads took the reins from start to finish. They said:

“We are proud to have self-produced this collection of recordings. We are also proud and grateful to be still making music together after all these years and this album is a celebration of that. We love being in this band and when in good spirits, we make a special sound.”

Recording a Christmas album in the middle of a summer heatwave? Sounds like a challenge, but the band embraced the sweaty studio sessions with humor:

“If you’re going to make a Christmas album, and want it done and dusted (or should that be polished) in time to release during the appropriate season, then sweaty summer sessions are a must! And oh boy, did we have some sweaty ones.”

‘Christmas’ Tracklist Highlights

1. Carol Of The Bells
2. Stop The Cavalry
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
4. What’s This?
5. In The Bleak Midwinter
6. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
7. Wonderful Christmastime
8. 2000 Miles
9. The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years
10. Christmas Was Better In The 80s

Beyond the Band: Barry Hyde’s Solo Journey

While The Futureheads are reigniting the holiday spirit, frontman Barry Hyde has been exploring his roots with a solo album titled Miners’ Ballads, released earlier this year. It’s a concept album that delves into the coal mining heritage of England’s North East, revealing a thoughtful side to Hyde’s songwriting beyond the indie anthems.

Looking Back: Nostalgia and Indie Memories

Hyde has also reflected on the early days of The Futureheads, especially their time opening for The Killers on the iconic 2005 tour alongside Bloc Party and Kaiser Chiefs. He fondly recalls the youthful energy and excitement of that era, noting how young the band really was—especially their drummer, who was just 16 and couldn’t even legally enter the venues during their early US tours.

Sharing a humorous anecdote from the 2005 awards ceremony, Hyde recalled:

“That was a heavy-duty Noughties night! I was gutted because I went up to Simon Pegg at the bar and told him how much I loved his sitcom Spaced, and he wasn’t very friendly. I ended up winning the award that nobody wants – when I was given The Drunkest Person of the Night award!”

Those early days were a mix of wild moments and creative breakthroughs, and it’s clear The Futureheads carry that spirit forward into their new festive work.

FAQ

• What is unique about The Futureheads’ Christmas album? It combines classic yuletide covers with original songs, all self-produced by the band, giving it a fresh indie twist.
• When is the Christmas album releasing? The album is set to release on November 21.
• Where can I see The Futureheads live this December? They will perform in Glasgow, Sunderland (two nights), and London.
• Are there any original songs on the album? Yes, the album features two original tracks, including The Coldest Winter In 100 Years.
• Has Barry Hyde released any solo work recently? Yes, his solo album Miners’ Ballads came out earlier this year, exploring the mining heritage of North East England.

Ready to bring some indie flair to your holiday decorations? Shop your favorite album cover poster and celebrate the season with The Futureheads at Architeg Prints. It’s the perfect gift for yourself or the music lover in your life!