World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Villanelle talk new music and huge plans for 2027: “Some might say we are locked in”
Grunge four-piece Villanelle have told NME they feel more "locked in" as a band than ever, with new music on the way and big ambitions for 2027. Speaking backstage at Mad Cool 2026, frontman Gene Gallagher and bandmates described a breakout year of festival slots and touring that has left them feeling part of a wider guitar-music community rather than the outsiders they once described themselves as.
The band detailed a packed 2026 schedule including America's Warped Tour, The Great Escape, Neighbourhood Weekender, and upcoming appearances at Reading & Leeds and alongside Deftones at All Points East x Outbreak in London. They also confirmed a new EP is due by the end of the year, with an album to follow, saying their new material marks "an evolution" that has cemented them as a band, while playfully dismissing suggestions they'd be linked to an Oasis-style 2027 reunion narrative.
In short
- Villanelle feel "locked in" ahead of a big 2027
- New EP due by end of 2026, album to follow
- Reading & Leeds and Deftones support slot upcoming
Explained simply
Villanelle are a four-piece grunge band fronted by Gene Gallagher. They have built their profile through festival performances and touring over the past year, becoming an established presence in the contemporary rock music scene.
In their early days, the band saw themselves as outsiders to the wider guitar-music community. Through their involvement in the festival circuit and touring, they have become integrated into a broader guitar-music community.
With their live reputation established, Villanelle are moving into a phase focused on recorded material. They are planning new releases that represent an evolution of their sound and consolidate their position as a band.
Americas Business Celebrity Entertainment Markets Music World