PREMIERE: The Slow Readers Club share video for 'Tell No Lies' starring Line of Duty's Craig Parkinson

Manchester outfit The Slow Readers Club are back with their most anthemic single yet, ‘Tell No Lies’ - with an accompanying video premiered by Hot Press below.

The huge synth-driven alternate gem lands just in time for the band’s long anticipated – and three times rescheduled – UK & Europe headline tour. The tour was originally penned for Spring 2019 to coincide with the release of the band’s Top 10 album, The Joy Of The Return.

The brand-new music video for 'Tell No Lies' features Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson, known for his portrayal of DI Matthew “Dot” Cottan. Parkinson plays the extravagant faith healer who meets his match when he encounters protagonist and lead singer of the band, Aaron Starkie. With an electric atmosphere, perfect acting from Parkinson and exhilarating guitar riffs building up to a booming chorus; 'Tell No Lies' is a new, more powerful direction from the band you mightn't have heard of, but they sell out huge venues.

The collaboration with Parkinson came about through an unlikely meeting between BBC 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins and The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess:

“I met Craig at Kendal Calling, he was stood talking to Chris Hawkins and Tim Burgess at the time. It was one of those weird things where you feel like you’ve met before, I think Chris saw me trying to figure it out and then pointed out that I would know him from Line of Duty,” Starkie recalls.

“We since got chatting on Twitter and he let us know that he was a fan of the band and kindly offered to be in the video. He’s a top bloke, so generous with his time and brought great energy to the shoot.”

‘Tell No Lies’ provides a step forward for the band, a fresh new larger sound, one that is made for a live audience - yet still stays true to a blueprint that has become synonymous with the band’s success to date.

“The song is about music’s ability to transport you somewhere else and take away your anxieties for three minutes or so," Starkie notes of the track. "Lyrically it’s a bit of a conscious departure from our more introspective, existential, doom-laden stuff that we are known for. Feels like the world needs upbeat tunes now, as real life has been bleak enough.”

The Slow Readers Club evolved from earlier band Omerta, forming in 2003 before signing to Manchester label Northern Ambition in 2005 when they released three singles - each of which sold out on the day of release and became collector's editions. Their double A-side debut 'Everything Is Frozen / Learn To Love The System' was followed by 'One More Chance' and their final single 'One More Minute'.

After dispersing in 2007 and undergoing line-up changes, current four-piece The Slow Readers Club is composed of Aaron Starkie on vocals, Kurtis Starkie on guitar and backing vocals, James Ryan on bass and David Whitworth on drums. They released their self-titled debut album in 2011, followed by 2015's Cavalcade, 2018's Build a Tower, 2020's The Joy of the Return and 91 Days In Isolation.

Tickets are on-sale now for The Slow Readers Club's UK & European tour here.

Check out the brand new video for 'Tell No Lies' below: