Following the release of their critically acclaimed sophomore album Ants from Up There earlier this year, British rock outfit Black Country, New Road return to Dublin to play the 3Olympia Theatre on 5th May 2023.

The band have swiftly returned with a follow album to February 2020's For The First Time that takes yet another bold and innovative musical leap.

Their debut, For the first time, is a 2021 Album of the Year, receiving critically acclaimed reviews and picking up a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. The band have harnessed the momentum from that record and run full pelt into their second.

On their debut album, the band (Evans, May Kershaw, Charlie Wayne, Luke Mark, Isaac Wood, Tyler Hyde and Georgia Ellery) melded klezmer, post-rock, indie and an often intense spoken word delivery. On the follow-up Ants From Up There, they have expanded on this unique concoction to create a singular sonic middle ground that traverses classical minimalism, indie-folk, pop, alt rock and a distinct tone that is already unique to the band.

Ants From Up There manages to strike a skilful balance between feeling like a bold stylistic overhaul of what came before, as well as a natural progression.

“We were just so hyped the whole time,” says Hyde. “It was such a pleasure to make. I've kind of accepted that this might be the best thing that I'm ever part of for the rest of my life. And that's fine.”

It came as Isaac Wood announced his departure from the band in January 2022.

While the remaining six members continued performing together as a collective, their shows were cancelled in light of Wood's departure. This included a night at Dublin's 3Olympia Theatre on April 11, a US tour scheduled for February and all remaining UK dates, but they'll now come to Ireland in May.

The band added: "Although Isaac won’t be part of the group any longer, the rest of us will be continuing to make music together as Black Country, New Road. In fact, we’ve already starting working on it."

"The things we’ll miss about working with Isaac are too many and various to list here, but by listening to the music we made together, I’m sure you’ll understand at least a few of them. It’d be difficult to overstate how much our experiences as a group have affected us. In fact, it’s difficult to say anything at all coherent about what we’ve managed to do. But it has certainly been the greatest privilege to do it all together, as seven friends."

Tickets from €24.40, including booking fees, on sale Friday 16th December at 10am.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black Country, New Road (@blackcountrynewroad)