Category: Press Releases

Today, Oysterband extend their A Long Long Goodbye tour with the announcement of a further series of headline shows this November.

While recognised as one of the UK’s foremost folk-rock bands and an unparalleled live proposition, the band confirm the decision they made recently to call time on their touring career.

Intending to bow out on a high, Oysterband will serve up a resolute reminder of their captivating live performances and immortal songbook as they chart a special Autumn tour around some of their favourite UK towns and venues that have supported them all these years.

Kicking off in Shrewsbury on 4th November, the 20-date run will see the band travelling the length and breadth of England, from Bodmin to Bruton, Manchester to Maidenhead and beyond. Tickets for these shows will go on sale this Friday 5 April @ 10AM.

These new shows come in addition to Oysterband’s previously announced A Long Long Goodbye dates with June Tabor, in which they will be performing alongside the English folk singer who has guested on some of their greatest works, for the final time. The remaining tickets for those fixtures are on sale now.

Speaking about their upcoming shows Oysterband say:

“The reaction to our first announcement has been far greater than we ever imagined it would be. We’re genuinely moved by people’s desire to say what the songs have meant to them.”

Emerging in the early 80s from their folk club and ceilidh band days, Oysterband infused both the traditional and their own songs with a passion and energy that was electrifying. Polkas, politics and a heaving dance floor seemed just right for Thatcher’s Britain. Signing to new roots label Cooking Vinyl, headlining English Roots Against Apartheid, playing Glastonbury and the Fleadh several times each, touring with The Pogues in Europe and Billy Bragg in North America, hosting their Big Session Festival in The Midlands. All gained them a large and loyal following both at home and internationally.

Endlessly touring and writing over the course of their 45 year career, the band have played all over the world and released dozens of studio releases throughout their career, including seminal albums like ‘Holy Bandits’ (1993), ‘The Shouting End of Life’ (1995) and ‘Diamonds On The Water’ (2014), not to mention timeless compilations, and unbeatable live albums.

Collaborating with June Tabor in 1990, the meeting of minds produced the cult favourite Freedom & Rain. Reconnecting some 21 years later, the resultant album Ragged Kingdom would become one of the best-selling folk-rock albums of the new millennium.

And Oysterband’s efforts have not gone unnoticed either. Awarded winners of several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including Best Band twice, Oysterband’s song-writing has never stood still, and hits such as ‘The Oxford Girl’, ‘When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down)’, ‘Everywhere I Go’ and ‘Put Out The Lights’ are now staples of the folk canon.

Most recently, Oysterband released their final studio album Read The Sky to much acclaim in 2021 and recently undertook an extensive tour of Europe, plus a special “Decades” tour across the UK where they explored their back catalogue.

Now, after 45 years on the road, the legendary Canterbury-formed collective will be hanging up their touring boots with a tour aptly named A Long Long Goodbye. Planning a year of unmissable shows at some of their favourite haunts of old, they will be performing career-spanning sets, while also revisiting highlights of their work with June Tabor.

In a statement about the upcoming A Long Long Goodbye tour, Oysterband said:

“We’re hanging up our travelling shoes, but we’re taking a year or so to say goodbye to our lovely live audience.  And we mean to enjoy every minute! It’s been a long, tough, joyful journey, but the time has come. In the words of our own song ‘Granite Years’, we’re waving you a long, long goodbye… Come help us celebrate!”

A golden oldie: ‘Granite Years’ – live:

The full list of upcoming shows are as follows:

OYSTERBAND – ‘A LONG LONG GOODBYE’ TOUR

Thursday 3 Oct 2024 – Birmingham – Town Hall w/ JUNE TABOR
Friday 4 Oct 2024 – Bristol – Beacon w/ JUNE TABOR
Saturday 5 Oct 2024 – Bexhill – De La Warr Pavilion w/ JUNE TABOR
Saturday 12 Oct 2024 – Manchester – RNCM Concert Hall w/ JUNE TABOR
Sunday 13 Oct 2024 – Sunderland – The Fire Station w/ JUNE TABOR
Tuesday 15 Oct 2024 – Leicester – De Montfort Hall w/ JUNE TABOR
Saturday 19 Oct 2024 – London – The Barbican w/ JUNE TABOR

Monday 4 Nov 2024 – Shrewsbury – Theatre Severn  ** JUST ADDED **
Tuesday 5 Nov 2024 – Chester – Storyhouse   ** JUST ADDED **
Wednesday 6 Nov 2024 – Leeds – City Varieties Music Hall  ** JUST ADDED **
Friday 8 Nov 2024 – Bodmin – St Petroc’s Church  ** JUST ADDED **
Saturday 9 Nov 2024 – Bruton – St Mary’s Church  ** JUST ADDED **
Tuesday 12 Nov 2024 – Maidenhead – Norden Farm Centre  ** JUST ADDED **
Wednesday 13 Nov 2024 – Milton Keynes – The Stables  ** JUST ADDED **
Thursday 14 Nov 2024 – Bury St Edmunds – The Apex  ** JUST ADDED **
Saturday 16 Nov 2024 – Kendal – Brewery Arts Centre  ** JUST ADDED **
Monday 18 Nov 2024 – Manchester – Band On The Wall  ** JUST ADDED **
Tuesday 19 Nov 2024 – Beverley – East Riding Theatre  ** JUST ADDED **
Wednesday 20 Nov 2024 – Sheffield – Memorial Hall  ** JUST ADDED **
Friday 22 Nov 2024 – Hertford – Corn Exchange  ** JUST ADDED **
Saturday 23 Nov 2024 – Cranbrook – Queens Hall Theatre  ** JUST ADDED **
Sunday 24 Nov 2024 – Wimborne – Allendale Centre ** JUST ADDED **
Monday 2 Dec 2024 – Exeter – Phoenix  ** JUST ADDED **
Tuesday 3 Dec 2024 – Exeter – Phoenix ** JUST ADDED **
Wednesday 4 Dec 2024 – Portsmouth – The Wedgewood Rooms ** JUST ADDED **
Thursday 5 Dec 2024 – Stroud – Subscription Rooms ** JUST ADDED **
Friday 6 Dec 2024 – Emsworth – Emsworth Baptist Church ** JUST ADDED **-

Tickets are on sale from this Friday @ 10AM here: www.alonglonggoodbye.live

Artists’ website: www.oysterband.co.uk