Travis share delicate new single ‘Bus’ and announce 2024 UK tour
Travis have shared a new single called ‘Bus’ and announced a UK headline tour for 2024. Listen and find all the details below.
The track is the third preview of the Scottish band’s 10th studio album ‘L.A. Times’, which is due for release on July 12 via BMG (pre-order/pre-save here).
“I thought it was just us/ Waiting on this bus/ Waiting on a gust of wind to blow us away/ Away to better days, away to better days,” sings frontman Fran Healy in the chorus of the delicate and reflective song.
In a statement, he explained: “I was on holiday, staring out the window, watching all the boats bobbing on the sea. I was trying to write a song and nothing was coming. It reminded me of all the years I spent waiting on buses. You never think it’s going to come, but if you wait long enough it usually turns up.
“Looking out at the sea at all the little sailing boats, I imagined all the bands and artists sitting in them waiting on that freak gust of wind to blow them to fame and fortune. We caught a huge one in ’99 so I can testify to the random nature of it.”
Healy added: “In the middle of all these thoughts came a cool little melody and the song was written a few minutes later.”
‘Bus’ is accompanied by an official video, which was shot in Scotland and directed by Healy. The visuals feature a fleeting guest appearance from actor, comedian and podcaster Adam Buxton – who is a friend of the band.
“I’m honoured to have at least part of my face featured in the new video from a band I love,” said Buxton. “The dream is to one day land the full body cameo, but you’ve got to start somewhere.”
In the video, we find Travis waiting at a bus stop in the Highlands as Healy daydreams of an escape. The group also perform the song at the side of the road to pass the time. When a yellow and green double-decker eventually turns up, it drives straight past the musicians.
Tune in above.
Additionally, Travis have announced a UK headline tour for this winter – including a performance at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on December 13.
It's official! We're heading out on a UK tour
Pre-order L.A. Times from the official TRAVIS store to receive access to an exclusive fan ticket pre-sale, which will run from 9am on 12th June until the general sale which starts at 9am on Friday 14th June. See you on the road… pic.twitter.com/JyqiiARBt8
— Travis (@TravisBand) June 7, 2024
Other shows are scheduled to take place in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Margate, Bristol, Eastbourne, Sheffield, Newcastle and Glasgow throughout the month.
Tickets go on general sale at 9am BST next Friday (June 14) – you’ll be able to buy yours here. Alternatively, fans can access a pre-sale by pre-ordering ‘L.A. Times’ here (no purchase necessary).
Travis’ 2024 UK tour dates are:
DECEMBER
05 – O2 Academy, Leeds
06 – Albert Hall, Manchester
08 – Olympia, Liverpool
09 – The Halls, Wolverhampton
10 – Rock City, Nottingham
11 – Dreamland, Margate
13 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
15 – Beacon, Bristol
17 – Winter Gardens, Eastbourne
18 – Octagon, Sheffield
19 – City Hall, Newcastle
21 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Travis will be supporting The Killers across their UK and Ireland arena tour this summer. Speaking to NME in March, Healy said: “It’s gonna be great. We’ve been friends for years and years now and Ronnie [Vannucci Jr.] and Brandon [Flowers] are the sweetest guys.
“It’s nice to be a support band again too. I love being a support band. It reminds me of when we supported Oasis. We went on every single night to blow them off the stage, which is what a good support band should be doing. You go on, the other band watch you from the wings going, ‘Fuck’. And then they come on and do a better show because of it.”
Travis’ previous single, ‘Raze The Bar’, features The Killers frontman Flowers and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
The post Travis share delicate new single ‘Bus’ and announce 2024 UK tour appeared first on NME.
Tom Skinner
NME