NEWS: Idlewild returns with self-titled album and new single 'Stay Out Of Place'

After a six-year break, Scottish alternative rock pioneers Idlewild are back with big news: a self-titled album, set for release on October 3rd via V2 Records. This marks the band’s first full-length record since 2019’s Interview Music, and the anticipation is palpable, especially as the band celebrates their 30th anniversary since forming in Edinburgh in 1995.

Alongside the album announcement, Idlewild has unveiled 'Stay Out Of Place' the expansive first single from the forthcoming album. Premiered on BBC 6 Music by Steve Lamacq, the track is a striking reintroduction to the band’s signature warmth and melodic immediacy that has endeared them to fans over the years. It is a reflective, immersive journey, gently easing listeners back into Idlewild's world with atmospheric production and the kind of textured guitar work the band has always excelled at.

Roddy Woomble, the band’s frontman and lyrical heart, reflects on the themes behind the song: "Walt Whitman was right, we do contain 'multitudes' - there is more than one 'us' in there. We’re choosing a voice from among the many voices. This is especially interesting in a band context, because it's not just one voice, but five voices collaborating, over time.” He continues, noting that the track captures the band’s ethos of shaking up expectations and embracing change: “It felt like a good starting point and (re)introduction to Idlewild 2025.”

A Bold New Chapter

Produced by guitarist Rod Jones and the band themselves, 'Idlewild' will be the group’s tenth studio album. Recorded in 2024 at Post Electric Studios in Edinburgh and the Isle of Iona Library in the Hebrides, the album brings together the many facets of Idlewild’s sound by pushing boundaries while staying true to the spirit that defined their early days.

Since their punk-infused beginnings on albums like 'Hope Is Important' and '100 Broken Windows', the band has traversed multiple musical landscapes, from the mainstream rock of 'The Remote Part' to the sprawling art-pop of 'Interview Music'. On their new album, they draw from all these past selves, unafraid to reference their history but with a fresh perspective. As Woomble explains: “We’re looking back without being nostalgic… realizing that we had a ‘sound’ and the songs we were writing should celebrate that.”

What’s Next for Idlewild?

Idlewild is not just an album, it's a testament to the band's ongoing growth. The project promises to explore deep uncertainties while also delivering "big ideas" and "memorable tunes", creating a record that’s both introspective and adventurous. It also hints at a broader sense of reinvention that fans can look forward to with every song.

The album will be available in multiple formats, including CD, standard black LP, and two limited-edition colored vinyl versions.

Idlewild will also be hitting festivals throughout the summer, before embarking on a full tour to support the album's release in October. As always, their live shows will be an opportunity for fans to experience the raw, collective energy that has kept the band vibrant for three decades.

Idlewild drops October 3, 2025. Don’t miss the chance to catch them live on tour!

Words: Lysandre Pons

Photos: Idlewild