Reading Fesitval, 28 August 2006. Copyright: AA
Hope Of The States have announced their reunion, revealing a trio of UK gigs to showcase new material.
The Chichester post-rock band achieved cult status in the early ’00s off the back of their two acclaimed albums: 2004’s ‘The Lost Riots‘ and ‘Left’ from 2006. They split just a few months after the release of their second record at Reading & Leeds festival that summer, saying at the time that they felt “cursed” by bad luck. They had earlier lost their guitarist Jimmi Lawrence to suicide in early 2004.
Now, the band are back for their first tour in 18 years alongside a remastered vinyl reissue of their debut album and news of brand new music being recorded with producer Jolyon Thomas [U2, Soft Play, Daughter]. Jolyon is son of the late Ken Thomas [Sigur Rós, Wire, M83), with whom the band made their first two records.
Speaking to the NME, Herhily said, “I was always really against getting back together at first, and I don’t really know why. It was probably because it was a bit of a third rail. I was always really proud of everything that we did with our band, but all of the stuff that surrounded it kind of swallowed it in a way and made it feel like it might be better to leave it alone.
“Now it’s 20 years since the first record, which I didn’t realise until someone pointed it out, and it just felt like it would be nice to be in a room with these guys again. Why not? Plus my kids said they wouldn’t feel too embarrassed if I did it!”
Hope Of The States 2024 reunion headline tour dates are below. Tickets are on sale from 10am on Wednesday July 10 and will be available here.
DECEMBER
Wednesday 4 – Manchester, Deaf Institute
Thursday 5 – Glasgow, Stereo
Friday 6 – London, The Dome