London-based Irish band NewDad announced their second album, Altar, set will be released on September 19th.
Hot on the heels of the recent Safe EP, Altar is preceded by new single ‘Roobosh’, a song that adds some urgent vocal bite to the NewDad sound, with a one-shot video directed Peter Eason Daniels and Rory Mullen – the creative duo behind Altar.
Roobosh is just about being fed up. I wanted to write one song for the album that allowed me to shout, to get out all my frustration. Women get angry and we are expected to contain our rage but on this song I just allowed myself to go there. I wanted a song where I could moan and scream cause we all need to do that every once in a while and honestly it was just a bit of fun, letting myself get angry when I never allow myself to.”
frontwoman Julie Dawson
Altar was written over the last two years after leaving Galway for London and releasing their debut album Madra. The band are Julie Dawson (vocals/guitar), Sean O’Dowd (guitar), and Fiachra Parslow (drums) since the departure of bassist Cara Joshi.
Altar addresses themes of relationships, homesickness, ambition and sacrifice “and finds the trio grappling with the life they left behind in exchange for the promise of chasing their dreams”.
The band are on tour in China and Japan this month.
NewDad 2025 Tour Dates
15th Jul – China, Shenzhen – B10 Live
16th Jul – China, Guangzhou – MAO Livehouse
18th Jul – China, Chengdu – MAO Livehouse
19th Jul – China, Guiyang – Bubbling & Boiling Music & Arts Festival
20th Jul – China, Beijing – Full of Livehouse
23rd Jul – China, Hangzhou – Liveshop Uni
24th Jul – China, Shanghai – Modernsky Lab
26th Jul – Japan, Tokyo – Fuji Rock
30th Jul – USA, Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
2nd Aug – USA, Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza / Reggie’s Rock Club (w/ Wunderhorse)
6th Aug – USA, Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
8th Aug – USA, San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands
9th Aug – USA, Sacramento, CA – Channel 24 (w/ Mannequin Pussy)
12th Aug – USA, Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
13th Aug – USA, Vancouver, BC, Biltmore Cabaret
14th Aug: USA, Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s
2nd Oct – Norway, Oslo – John Dee
3rd Oct – Sweden, Stockholm – Nalen Klubb
5th Oct – Denmark, Copenhagen – Vega Small Room
6th Oct – Germany, Hamburg – Nochtspeicher
7th Oct – Germany, Berlin – Lido
9th Oct – Italy, Milan – Arci Bellezza
10th Oct – Switzerland, Zurich – Bogen F
11th Oct – France, Paris – La Maroquinerie
13th Oct – Belgium, Brussels – Botanique
14th Oct – Netherlands, Amsterdam – Melkweg Old Hall
15th Oct – France, Lille – L’Aeronef
18th Oct – United Kingdom, Manchester – Academy 2
19th Oct – United Kingdom, Sheffield – The Foundry
20th Oct – United Kingdom, Glasgow – SWG3 TV Studio
22nd Oct – United Kingdom, Bristol – Bristol Electric
23rd Oct – United Kingdom, Cardiff – Tramshed
24th Oct – United Kingdom, Birmingham – XOYO
26th Oct – United Kingdom, Brighton – Chalk
28th Oct – United Kingdom, London – O2 Forum Kentish Town
31st Oct – Ireland, Dublin – 3Olympia
1st Nov – Ireland, Cork – Cyprus Avenue
2nd Nov – Ireland, Galway – Leisureland
4th Nov – United Kingdom, Belfast – Mandela Hall
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
