Simple Minds Present New Album 'Sacrosanct' and Announce V Tour 2027

Simple Minds, the legendary band from Glasgow that has shaped the sound of Britpop and art rock, have unveiled their eagerly awaited studio album 'Sacrosanct'. The album will be released on January 29, 2027 via BMG, and the band see it as a pivotal work in a career spanning nearly half a century. The first single from the album, "Beginner Boys", is released today and marks the beginning of a period characterised by reflection, maturity, and new creative energy.

Sacrosanct consists of eight carefully composed tracks and is the third chapter in the trilogy that also includes the acclaimed albums 'Walk Between Worlds' and 'Direction Of The Heart' from 2022. Songwriting duo Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, along with band members Gordy Goudie, Ged Grimes, Cherisse Osei, and Sarah Brown, have drawn inspiration from intensive touring and reflections on the band’s development – where they both revisit their new wave roots and explore emotionally charged new territory.

The album opens with "Elysium", named after the paradisiacal place in Greek mythology, and contrasts with "King Of The Underworld", inspired by the figure of Mephistopheles. Other highlights include "Jerusalem (State Of Mind)", evoking William Blake’s vision of a better world, as well as "Our Secrets Are The Same" – a poignant reflection on the friendship between Kerr and Burchill that began on the streets of Glasgow decades ago. The album pays homage to the band’s enduring bonds and their willingness to explore themes such as friendship, nostalgia, and transcendence.

Among the standout tracks is "Songs", a heartfelt tribute to the power of music in both joy and adversity. The closing tracks "Alive In This Moment" and "The Next Right Thing" reflect a contemplative focus on the present and an awareness of life’s transience – themes that underscore Simple Minds’ ever-evolving perspective. Jim Kerr describes the album’s title as a reflection of the almost spiritual dimension the band’s work has taken on over time, saying: "Calling the album 'Sacrosanct' is no exaggeration. It’s just honest."

Visually, 'Sacrosanct' stands out thanks to its cover, which is a collaboration with renowned Scottish sculptor Andy Scott. Scott, best known for creating The Kelpies in Falkirk, has recreated the band’s logo in steel for the album cover. This collaboration unites music and visual art, rooting the project even deeper in Simple Minds’ Glasgow heritage.

V Tour 2027: A Panorama of the Career

The release of 'Sacrosanct' comes just before Simple Minds’ most spectacular tour to date: V Tour 2027. The arena tour kicks off in Australia and New Zealand in February and then continues through Europe and the UK during April and May. The European leg particularly features the concert at Royal Arena in Copenhagen on Saturday, April 24, 2027, where the band will be joined by guest artist Level 42 for a monumental evening with both bands celebrating their respective musical legacies.

• Royal Arena, Copenhagen: Saturday, April 24, 2027 (with Level 42)

Simple Minds are also headlining the Sunday programme at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in Stirling, Scotland, as well as performing at Darker Waves Festival in California, further reinforcing their continued strong international presence. Demand for their concerts has been high in recent years, with over 1.5 million attendees last year and good responses from both audiences and media for both new studio work and energetic classics.

With roots in 1970s Glasgow – and a name taken from David Bowie’s "The Jean Genie" – Simple Minds are now one of Britain’s most successful groups, with over 60 million albums sold and a host of iconic singles, including "Don't You (Forget About Me)". The band’s documentary 'Everything Is Possible' as well as the memoir 'Our Secrets Are The Same', both acclaimed by, among others, Uncut Magazine and Rough Trade, underscore its lifelong influence. As 2027 approaches, Simple Minds demonstrate what it means to age artistically – with vitality, reflection, and uncompromising drive.