Idlewild look back at 30 years on the road on nostalgic new single ‘It’s Not The First Time’

Idlewild have shared their nostalgic new single ‘It’s Not The First Time’, check it out below.

• READ MORE: Idlewild – ‘Interview Music’ review

The Scottish band recently announced their return with a self-titled album on the way – their first in six years. ‘Idlewild’ is expected to land October 3 via V2 Records, and so far, the band have shared lead single ‘Stay Out Of Place‘. You can pre-order the album here.

Now, they’ve dropped their second teaser from the upcoming record, ‘It’s Not The First Time’. The single features a rich, expansive soundscape where Idlewild reflect on their 30 years as a band, with frontman Roddy Woomble saying of the song: “Memory is a broken net, a leaky barrel. You exist in a series of nows, and there is an art to the obvious – all great truths are obvious truths.

“Having been a touring band for 30 years we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs,” he continued.

“So for every wet and cold Tuesday night in Chemnitz in Germany supporting a band and playing to a half empty room of disinterested people talking, or maybe a Thursday in Lawrence, Kansas when six people have paid in on the door and you’ve been on tour for two months already – there’s a sold out night at the Glasgow Barrowlands, playing to two thousand people who know all the words, or getting the opportunity to play packed headline gigs in Tokyo or New York. To travel and meet great people.

“The point is amidst all this you have to appreciate the moment for whatever it is showing you. And that’s the idea the song is trying to get across.”

Take a listen to ‘It’s Not The First Time’ below:

The band will be embarking on a series of live dates in the next few months – including an already-announced run of shows in October following the release of their self-titled album. Buy tickets here and see all dates below:

Idlewild’s UK tour dates are:

July
27 – Deer Shed Festival, Thirsk

September
13 – Black Isle Calling, Inverness

October
10 – Boiler Shop, Newcastle 
11 – Project House, Leeds 
12 – University of Wolverhampton at The Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
14 – Junction, Cambridge
15 – O2 Academy, Bristol 
17 – KOKO, London 
18 – New Century Hall, Manchester

December
5 – Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen
6 – LiveHouse, Dundee
7 – Barrowland, Glasgow

January (2026)
2nd – 5th – Rockaway Beach, Bognor Regis

Idlewild last released music in 2019 with ‘Interview Music‘; NME gave the album four stars, saying: “Free from commercial constraints, Idlewild are reinvigorated. ‘Interview Music’ is their best work in 17 years. They seem driven by the joy of making music great again. It won’t change the world, but this record is a wonderful world all of their own.”

The post Idlewild look back at 30 years on the road on nostalgic new single ‘It’s Not The First Time’ appeared first on NME.