Skinny Lister are back with brand new album ‘Songs From The Yonder’ and will be coming to Leicester on their winter tour.
A glorious, riotous mix of chest-thumping anthems, shanty sing-a-longs and folk/punk classics, tempered by some of the most tender and reflective songs the band have penned yet; ‘Songs From The Yonder’ is out now, and they’ll be performing at O2 Academy 2 Leicester on Friday 5 December.
We caught up with the band to chat about the album and touring.
Your new album Songs From The Yonder is out now, tell us about the journey to creating that album?
Songs From The Yonder grew out of a pretty wild mix of touring life, late-night sessions, and trying to bottle that feeling of being constantly on the move. We’d been gathering scraps of melodies and stories from all over – back rooms of pubs, motorway service stations, overseas tours – and this album became about stitching all of that together. There’s a bit more reflection in this one, but still plenty of rowdiness. It feels like a celebration of where we’ve been and a nod to where we’re heading.
With 7 albums now under your belt, how do you think your style has changed in that time?
We’ve gone from a scrappy, rum-soaked folk-punk band stomping around festivals to something a bit more expansive and diverse, and then with the last couple of albums – returned closer to our folky roots, while all along retaining that core energy. The heartbeat is still the same: melodies you can shout along to, lyrics pulled from life on the road, and that sense of community we’ve always chased.
If anyone here is new to listening to Skinny Lister, which 3 artists would you put in your “for fans of” section?
- The Pogues – for the folk-punk spirit.
- Frank Turner – for the anthemic, heartfelt singalongs.
- Flogging Molly – for some raucous Celtic energy and big communal choruses.
What can fans expect on the upcoming tour?
A proper knees-up. We play every show like it’s a Saturday night in a packed pub, whether it’s 200 people or a festival field. Expect loud choruses, some tender moments between the chaos, plenty of laughs, and probably a few bruised shins from dancing too hard. And of course, the flagon might make an appearance…
As a band you’ve managed to captivate audiences at both folk festivals and also Download Festival, how do you think that’s possible?
Because at the end of the day, it’s all about energy and honesty. Folk crowds appreciate the storytelling and the acoustic roots, while more punk and rock audiences latch onto the raw, high-octane side of what we do. Our sets are built around connection – if you give a crowd everything you’ve got, they give it back no matter what scene they come from.
If someone was listening to Skinny Lister for the first time, which 3 songs should they start with?
- “Trouble on Oxford Street” – pure Skinny energy.
- “Rollin’ Over” – big chorus, big heart.
- “Tumbling Into Something” – shows the more melodic, reflective side.
Our weekly music guide is sponsored by PPL PRS. As a music artist, are you registered with PPL and/or PRS for Music?
Yes
Are you aware that Leicester is the home of TheMusicLicence… and how important are those royalties to you as a performing and touring artist? How have they helped you continue to create music and tour?
Absolutely — and it’s brilliant knowing that a place like Leicester is at the heart of keeping the whole ecosystem turning. Those royalties make a massive difference to artists like us. Touring is amazing, but it’s also expensive, and recording albums takes a lot of time, energy, and resources. When venues, shops, cafés and other businesses have TheMusicLicence, it means the music they’re playing is actually supporting the people who create it.
For us, those payments help bridge the gaps between tours, keep the wheels turning when we’re in the studio, and allow us to take risks creatively. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes things that might not seem huge to the outside world, but it genuinely helps keep independent bands on the road and able to keep making new music. It’s a proper lifeline — and we’re hugely grateful for everyone who plays our songs and supports the system that feeds back into the music community.
How can people keep up to date with what you’re doing?
The best bet is to follow our social channels — Instagram & Facebook are always buzzing with tour updates, studio bits, and general chaos. Our website (skinnylister.com) is kept up to date with all things touring and releases, and of course signing up to the mailing list via our website means you won’t miss a thing.
