The Beta Band might be about to announce their first shows in 20 years.
The Scottish group who were active from 1996 to 2004, were known for their releases The Three EPs, the dizzying eclectic self-titled 1999 debut and two subsequent albums 2001’s Hot Shots II and 2004’s Heroes To Zeros.
They featured in a key needle drop in Nick Hornby film High Fidelity starring John Cusack, but remained a cult favourite of mine and many others for their slanted experimental mix of folk, psych, electronica, trip-hop and rock.
The band wound up in December 2004 and played their second last show in Dublin’s Ambassador.
Steve Mason of the band most notably went on to release a swathe of solo material on Domino as well as under the names King Biscuit Time and Black Affair, while Gordon Anderson released music as Lone Pigeon, and formerly The Aliens with Beta Band members Robin Douglas Jones and John Maclean (remember ‘Robot Man’?).
So what’s going on? Well, three weeks ago the band started teasing old photos that soon became new videos of a road-ready amp case stamped with The Beta Band on a beach, suggesting the band are about to announce a tour.
Fans have cottoned on and are begging the band to reveal the news, so can’t be long now.
One commenter on the recent post went further and did some sleuthing and noticed the Gov UK company house website had info on the Incorporation of Beta Band Touring Limited as of November 14 2024.”
Three members of the band: Mason, Maclean and Jones are listed as directors of the company.
Anyway, here’s some of their best tunes while we wait for confirmation.
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, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
