The Darkness announce new album and huge November/December 2021 UK tour

They’re supported by Steve Harris’ British Lion

The Darkness' Justin Hawkins
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 4th Jun 2021

Glam rock sensations The Darkness have lined up an extensive headline UK tour for November and December 2021 in support of their seventh studio album ‘Motorheart.’

Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Tiger Taylor will play a total of 22 shows across the length and breadth of the UK, opening at Brighton Dome on Wednesday 17th November and culminating with two nights at London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th December.

British Lion, the side-project of Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris, will open proceedings at all dates.

Enthusing about the tour, Justin Hawkins said: “The time has come, the walrus said... to put your fookin pants on your head and rock like Satan is eating your private parts with a pointy fork! Yes, we, The Darkness, are the f--- back on tour, praise Satan’s better half... come and party with us like it’s the last orders at the last chance saloon. Which it may well be, but I wouldn’t like to comment any further on that.

“Get in kids, it’s the Darkness, wot you knows and luvs, plus British Lion - Steve Harris’ top rock band who are guaranteed to blow your socks straight up your welcoming arses. What a night! Delirium! Outfits, including hats! Denim that smells of hamsters! Who doesn’t want that? See you down the front, connoisseurs of the finest that life has to offer...”

The Darkness tickets

Tickets to The Darkness’ headline UK tour go on sale from Planet Rock Tickets at 10am on Friday 11th June 2021.

Buy tickets to see The Darkness and British Lion

The headline UK tour supports The Darkness’ new studio album ‘Motorheart’, which is released on Friday 15th October 2021 via Cooking Vinyl.

The Darkness - Motorheart

In their idiosyncratic style, The Darkness said of the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Easter is Cancelled’: ‘Drop the needle anywhere on Motorheart and be instantly transported from this moaning and weeping vale of tears to Elysian fields of rock where all hands are raised, the drinks – just as in the Club Tropicana of yore – are free, and everyone wears a pleasingly salacious grin. Does it rock? Is the sun hot? Has your partner’s touch grown cold? The Darkness are the Orwellian boot stamping on the flaccid face of limp rock, forever!

‘Brimming with their trademark blazing guitar riffs and solos, soaring falsetto and immeasurable rock ‘n’ roll extravagance, fans will get the first preview of The Darkness’ newest masterpiece when the first single is unveiled next month.’

See The Darkness at the following shows:

NOVEMBER 2021

Brighton Dome – Wed 17th

Margate Winter Gardens – Fri 19th

Bournemouth O2 Academy – Sat 20th

Southend Cliffs Pavillion – Sun 21st

Norwich UEA – Tue 23rd

Cambridge Corn Exchange – Wed 24th

Reading The Hexagon – Fri 26th

Cardiff The Great Hall – Sat 27th

Exeter The Great Hall – Mon 29th

Guilford G Live – Tue 30th

DECEMBER 2021

Liverpool 2 Academy – Thu 2nd

Manchester Academy – Fri 3rd

Hull Bonus Arena – Sat 4th

Stoke-on-Trent The Victoria – Mon 6th

Bristol O2 Academy – Tue 7th

Glasgow Barrowlands – Thu 9th

Newcastle O2 Academy – Fri 10th

Leeds O2 Academy – Sat 11th

Nottingham Rock City – Sun 12th

Birmingham O2 Academy – Tue 14th

London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – Thu 16th

London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – Fri 17th

Buy The Darkness tickets

The Darkness UK tour

Listen to Planet Rock on DAB nationwide, on our free app, online, via your smart speaker (“Play Planet Rock”) and on Freesat.