For many, Northside remain one of the great "what if?" stories of the Madchester era. A band whose infectious blend of psychedelic guitars, acid house rhythms and effortless Northern swagger captured a moment in British music history before circumstances conspired to cut their story short. Now, more than three decades later, they're back with unfinished business.
Manchester's Northside have announced Welcome To The Carnival, their first new album in an astonishing 36 years. Scheduled for release in Spring 2027, the record serves as the long-awaited successor to their beloved 1991 debut Chicken Rhythms, promising a new chapter for one of Factory Records' most enduring names.
Leading the comeback is new single Hey! Mr Brown, arriving on 30 October. Early descriptions suggest the track retains the band's trademark sun-drenched melodies and uplifting energy, channelling the carefree spirit that made Northside such an essential part of the Madchester movement while looking firmly towards the future.
Frontman Warren "Dermo" Dermody is understandably excited about the band's return to recording.
"We can't wait for everyone to hear it. We genuinely feel like, for everyone who's heard the band, there's so many that haven't yet. We've saved the best 'til last and you're not going to be disappointed."
Northside's place in British music history is already secure. Formed in Manchester's northern suburbs and signed to Tony Wilson's legendary Factory Records, they emerged at the height of the city's cultural explosion. Their debut single Shall We Take A Trip? became infamous after attracting BBC bans due to its lyrical content, while follow-up My Rising Star helped establish the band as one of the most exciting young acts of the era.
Their debut album Chicken Rhythms, produced by Ian Broudie, climbed into the UK Top 20 and delivered a collection of tracks that have stood the test of time. Yet just as momentum was building towards a second album, the collapse of Factory Records in 1992 brought everything to an abrupt halt, leaving Northside's next chapter unwritten.
That chapter is finally being completed.
Recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in the band, fuelled by the successful 35th anniversary reissue of Chicken Rhythms and a sold-out run of reunion shows. The enthusiasm from fans old and new appears to have reignited the creative spark, leading to a fresh lineup featuring original members Dermo, Cliff Ogier and Wol alongside newer recruits Rob Glennie and Andrew "Bod" Smith.
The new album announcement arrives alongside a series of UK dates throughout autumn, culminating in a special hometown headline show at Manchester's New Century Hall on 12 December. The performance will see Northside play Chicken Rhythms in full, offering fans a chance to revisit a record that remains one of the defining statements of the Madchester era.
As nostalgia tours continue to dominate venue calendars, Northside's return feels different. Rather than simply celebrating the past, Welcome To The Carnival represents a genuine continuation of a story interrupted far too soon. Thirty-six years after their debut album first arrived, Northside are finally ready to deliver the follow-up that many thought would never come.
The carnival is back in town.
Northside UK Tour Dates 2026
13 November - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
13-16 November - Shiiine On Weekender, Minehead
20 November - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
21 November - London, The Garage
27 November - Sheffield, Foundry
28 November - Newcastle, The Grove
4 December - Glasgow, Saint Luke's
5 December - Aberdeen, Café Drummond
12 December - Manchester, New Century Hall
TICKETS ON SALE HERE
For more information, head to https://linktr.ee/Northside_band
