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THE KOOKS

THE KOOKS / Photo – Alex Drewniak

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THE KOOKS.

THE KOOKS
announce brand new album
NEVER/KNOW

British Indie-rock Favourites Return With
First New Record In Three Years Out 9 May

First Single
‘Never Know’
Out Now

Australian Tour
Kicks off February

+ including festival appearances at
Party In The Paddock, and Yours & Owls 

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The Kooks.

British indie-rock favourites The Kooks are back with their most accomplished album to date. Never/Know is out on 9th May via Virgin Music Group, the band’s new global distribution partner. Never/Know is both a return to the band’s trademark, anthemic songwriting, and a celebration of their taste in timeless, classic records. Pre-order here.

The upcoming record’s first single, the effortlessly infectious and groove-driven ‘Never Know’, is out now – listen here – alongside a brand new, lyric video – see here. The single sets the tone for the album, showcasing the band’s reputation as one of the genre’s strongest songwriters. The track’s meaning is a universal one; the innocence behind the chorus’ mantra (“you never know, never know, never know”) captures the excitement of a newly discovered romance.  

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Speaking about the single, frontman and songwriter Luke Pritchard said, “It’s a love song about a cute meet with someone unpredictable. I like the idea of it being played in a convertible on a road trip somewhere ridiculous. Because really, you never know”.  

The 11-track offering, self-produced by Pritchard*, was born out of a mission to reconnect with The Kooks’ original creative drive. Speaking about the album’s impetus, Pritchard said, “It’s not about going back to the first album’s sound, but to the roots of our influences and asking, ‘What is the identity of this band?’  

“The whole thing was to just forget that the past had happened,” he says. But to truly move forward, they had to reflect: “What kind of music do we want to make, and how do we make it feel natural?” 

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THE KOOKS

THE KOOKS

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The result is an album that encapsulates the magic of the band’s culturally pivotal debut while venturing into fresh, uncharted territory for The Kooks. From the lush female backing vocals on ‘Sunny Baby’, to the title track’s Motown-inspired four-to-the-floor kick pattern, the record is full of surprises. At its core though, it’s an album dedicated to well-crafted pop-rock songwriting.

Known for a sound which defined indie in the 2000s, the band has navigated an ever-evolving musical landscape and managed to resonate with a whole new generation of fans. In fact, 45% of The Kooks’ current core audience is made up of 18-24 year olds, and with over 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, it’s clear the quality of their songcraft continues to make an impact across the board.

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Never/Know puts on show some of Pritchard’s most simple, yet expressive lyrics to-date. The songs are filled with witty one-liners and endearing nicknames for his children and loved ones, which resonate on the surface, yet carry a deeper, more personal significance.

Sonically, an intoxicating cover of Paul McCartney and Wings’ ‘Arrow Through Me’ is the clearest indication of the band’s influence, while the album’s closer, the moody ‘Talk About It’ puts on show an appreciation for classic soul.

The album started as a solo endeavour by Pritchard who began by creating a series of demos, before inviting the rest of the band to join him in the studio. He and guitarist Hugh Harris rekindled the collaborative spirit that defined the band’s early, most spontaneous work. Harris said, “At the heart of it, we both want the same thing, and that’s very powerful.” 

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Briston Maroney

Briston Maroney

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About THE KOOKS

The Kooks, whose 2006 debut sold over 2 million copies, have unexpectedly found themselves beloved by a new generation. While their original fans remain, they’ve layered on a fervent Gen Z following, headlining festivals and selling out shows worldwide. Social media has made them a generations’ new favourite band again, introducing their unmistakable Brit-pop joy to fresh ears. Their debut was a defining moment for indie music in the 2000s, their first releases set the sound of a moment in time. There are few songs as defining of the 2000s as ‘Naïve’, but the band were never a one-hit wonder – their follow-up record, Konk, hit number one as one of four top 10 albums. The Kooks never stopped evolving, transitioning from indie rock to synthpop and krautrock influences. Over time, they’ve integrated wide-ranging inspirations—Harris’ love of soul and opera, alongside Pritchard’s classic influences like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.  

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THE KOOKS
AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2025

With special guest Briston Maroney

Friday 7 February Party In The Paddock Carrick TAS
Thursday 20 February Hordern Pavilion Sydney NSW
Saturday 22 February Electric Avenue Auckland NZ
Thursday 27 February Palace Foreshore Melbourne VIC
Saturday 1 March Fortitude Music Hall Brisbane QLD
Sunday 2 March Yours and Owls Festival Wollongong NSW
Tuesday 4 March Hindley Street Music Hall Adelaide SA
Thursday 6 March Red Hill Auditorium Perth WA

Also appearing at Party In The Paddock and  Yours and Owls


Tickets On Sale Now


Presented by XIII Touring and Untitled Group

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THE KOOKS.

The Kooks – Never Know
Single out now, Never/Know out Friday 9th May via Virgin Music Group
Listen here

The Kooks

Full track list for
Never/Know 

1. Never Know  
2. Sunny Baby  
3. All Over The World  
4. If They Could Only Know  
5. China Town  
6. Compass Will Fracture  
7. Tough At The Top  
8. Arrow Through Me  
9. Echo Chamber  
10. Let You Go  
11. Talk About It

*All tracks produced by Luke Pritchard except track 9 which was produced by J Lloyd

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Follow THE KOOKS
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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THE KOOKS

THE KOOKS / Photo – Jordan Munns

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THE KOOKS.

AMNPLIFY – DB

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