There’s a particular electricity that follows The Howlers wherever they go — a kind of dust‑kicked, leather‑clad swagger that feels increasingly rare in the UK’s guitar landscape. Clash dubbed them “leather clad cigarette chomping outlaws”, and honestly, it’s hard to think of a more fitting introduction. But what’s most exciting about The Howlers in 2026 is how much further they’ve pushed beyond that first impression.
This February, the East London desert‑rock trio return to the road for a full‑throttle UK tour, hitting some of the country’s most beloved grassroots venues — the kind of rooms where sweat drips from the ceiling, the crowd is practically on the stage, and bands earn their stripes the old‑fashioned way.
The Howlers closed out last year with some of the biggest shows of their career, including a triumphant hometown night at Scala that felt like a line in the sand. Their debut album, What You’ve Got To Lose To Win It All, landed in summer 2024 and cracked the Top 15 of the UK Independent Album Chart, cementing their reputation as one of the most exciting independent bands operating today.
What’s kept fans locked in isn’t just the riffs or the desert‑rock aesthetic — it’s the band’s unwavering honesty. Their songwriting has always carried a rawness, a sense of lived experience, and a refusal to polish away the grit. That authenticity has earned them praise from Rolling Stone, Classic Rock, The Line of Best Fit, and a growing community across Europe.
The upcoming run kicks off on 13th February at Nottingham’s Bodega, before weaving through Cardiff, Birkenhead, Glasgow, Sunderland, Sheffield, Norwich, Brighton, Southsea, Bedford, Exeter, and finally Chelmsford, where demand has already forced the addition of a matinee show.
From Future Yard to King Tut’s, Sidney & Matilda to The Cavern Club, The Howlers are choosing rooms with history, character, and community at their core.
It’s a tour that feels like a thank‑you to the fans who’ve been there since the early days, and an invitation to anyone who’s been waiting for a band with real bite to come along.
The tour arrives hot on the heels of their latest single, “You Can Be So Cruel”, a track that sharpens their sound while leaning deeper into the emotional weight that’s always set them apart. It’s a reminder that The Howlers are building something bigger.
2026 UK Tour
13 Feb – Bodega, Nottingham
14 Feb – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
15 Feb – Future Yard, Birkenhead
17 Feb – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
18 Feb – Independent, Sunderland
19 Feb – The Parish, Huddersfield
20 Feb – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
21 Feb – Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich
24 Feb – Alphabet, Brighton
25 Feb – Kola, Southsea
26 Feb – Esquires, Bedford
27 Feb – Cavern Club, Exeter
28 Feb – Hot Box Live, Chelmsford (matinee)
28 Feb – Hot Box Live, Chelmsford (evening)
Tickets available HERE
The Howlers are part of a new wave of UK bands proving that independent music can still feel dangerous, communal, and human. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to fall in love with a band again, this might be it.
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