Indie
LISTEN: The Lilacs unveil first single Girl Behind The Bar from their debut LP
The Lilacs have unveiled the first single Girl Behind The Bar from their upcoming debut album Keeping Up With The Joneses, which will be released in October.
The Lilacs have unveiled new single Girl Behind The Bar - the first track from their upcoming debut album.
After causing an avalanche of anticipation when they announced that their long-awaited debut album Keeping Up With The Joneses will be released on October 2, The Lilacs continue to surge forwards as they unveil its lead single.
Keeping Up With The Joneses is the sound of The Lilacs stepping up to the next level. They’ve raised the bar with songwriting that sparkles with bigger earworm choruses than ever before, and their tour-honed musicianship has clearly evolved. And they have the dedication, heart and soul to match - all within the instantly relatable coming-of-age stories that fans have come to love.
Girl Behind The Bar is a tale of carefree youth that’s replicated in every town and city right across the land: a snapshot of friends loving their time together in the pub, The Killers on the jukebox, and then becoming instantly infatuated with the girl behind the bar.
Vocalist-and-guitarist Ollie Anglesea said: "Girl Behind the Bar was the first song I wrote shortly after coming back from the Isle of Wight Festival in 2025, so as you can imagine it’s filled with nothing but good vibes! I think this release really sets the tone for the rest of the album. It’s direct, it’s in your face and I’m certain this will become a fan favourite.”
Girl Behind The Bar was produced by Joe Cross - who previously worked with The Courteneers and Hurts - and recorded at sessions split between Manchester and Paris.
The new single is one of eight new songs to feature on Keeping Up With The Joneses, which is completed by fresh recordings of fan favourites and live staples Grace and Vicarage Road.
Both the album and single are out via Manchester’s renowned independent label Scruff of the Neck.
Keeping Up With The Joneses is available to pre-order HERE. The band’s official store offers a CD, cream vinyl,and signed lilac galaxy vinyl with alternate black artwork - plus a new bucket hat. The first 500 orders of any physical album format will be rewarded with a signed art print. Meanwhile, select indie stores have an exclusive red cornetto vinyl with a signed obi strip, packaged in alternate red artwork.
Formed in Wigan by 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 grassroots following ever since, winning further fans with Grace in 2023 and scoring a Top 10 on the Independent Albums Chart with The 395 (To Forever) EP in 2025.
The Lilacs have previously played shows with Lottery Winners and The Lathums and hit countless festivals from Isle of Wight to Truck. And that has been rewarded with ever-bigger headline shows, so far peaking with a sold-out 2700-capacity headline show in Manchester.
Their ascension so far hasn’t been without challenges however. Sam Birchall recently received the all-clear from cancer following a year of treatment - his story documented by both ITV and BBC.
The band’s current headline tour is now underway, which they will follow with an ever-expanding summer schedule of big outdoor shows and major festivals - including their debut at Leeds Festival.
The dates are below, limited tickets remain available HERE.
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APRIL
10th - Norwich, The Waterfront (SOLD OUT)
11th - Southampton, The Joiners (SOLD OUT)
17th - Bridlington Spa, This Feeling By The Sea (HEADLINERS)
18th - Glasgow, King Tut’s (LOW TICKETS)
25th - Dublin, Whelan’s - upstairs (LOW TICKETS)
MAY
1st - Plymouth, The Junction (SOLD OUT)
2nd - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach (LOW TICKETS)
3rd - Liverpool, Sound City
30th - Leigh, Sports Village (with Lottery Winners)
JUNE
14th - Czech Republic, Rock For People
19th - Liverpool, On The Waterfront (with Red Rum Club)
24th - Sheffield, Tramlines (main stage)
30th - Lake District, Kendal Calling
JULY
23rd - Cheshire, In It Together Festival
23rd-26th - Oxfordshire, Truck Festival
25th - Suffolk, Latitude
30th-Aug 2nd - Derbyshire, Y NOT? Festival
AUGUST
16th - Isle of Wight, Robin Hood Adventure Park (with Scouting For Girls)
21st - Blackpool, Winter Gardens (with The Fratellis)
30th - Leeds Festival
29th - Wakefield, Tileyard North (with Ocean Colour Scene)
