Field Music reissue & live shows to mark 20 years of one of Britain's progressive bands
Field Music to reissue their debut album to mark 20th anniversary An expanded version of 'Field Music' released 24th October on Memphis Industries Listen to the never before released song 'I Need to Get Sick on You Now' on bandcamp Pre-order: https://fieldmusic.ffm.to/fmstore.OPR
Original line up to play UK shows this November. Tickets
Watch a new live version of 'If Only the Moon Were Up (Locked-in at The Bridge Hotel Vaults)': https://youtu.be/gba47SajbUA?si=1v8PQGskkO10zkCA
In October 2025, Field Music will release an expanded 2-disc edition of their self-titled debut, in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary. The second disc of this new set will include the first ever vinyl release for the 2006 b-sides collection, Write Your Own History, as well as 3 more rare/unreleased recordings from the band’s formative years, brand new liner notes from former NME writer James Snodgrass, and archive material from the North East music milieu which gave birth to Field Music, The Futureheads, Maximo Park and more. Field Music’s debut album arrived when post-punk-influenced guitar music was enjoying a popular renaissance. But where other bands combined skinny jeans and football chants, Peter and David Brewis, along with keyboard-player Andrew Moore, constructed a soundworld which was sonically terse, but brimming with musical detail and sophistication, borrowing from the baroque-pop excursions of Van Dyke Parks, The Left Banke and Todd Rundgren, as much as from Wire and Television. Setting a template which has sustained the band ever since, the album was self-produced at the band’s own studio space in Sunderland, with the brothers’ lofty ambitions far outstripping their limited experience. “As naive as it might sound, we really wanted to make music which didn’t rely on clichés,” says David, “And, while I don’t think we quite succeeded, I do think that first record stands as something quite unique.”
Peter concurs, “I think we were trying to make pop music collages out of everything we were interested in at the time, which felt like quite a lot - we probably listed a few influences on our myspace (like you were meant to do at the time - Beach Boys, Motown, Free Jazz, 20th Century Classical Music, Kate Bush, The Neptunes etc). I suppose we were aiming high - trying to make our own type of music for ourselves.” This reissue also marks 20 years of the band’s association with the pioneering and beloved Memphis Industries label. “Back in the summer of 2004, we sent a CD-R of the unmixed album to them with a half-pleading, half-defiant letter, saying we’d release it ourselves if no one else was interested,” remembers David, “and it must have landed on their desk at an opportune moment because 20 years and 21 albums later, they’re still putting up with us.”
To mark the anniversary the original Field Music line up - the Brewis brothers and Andrew Moore (keys) - will play the album and more on three dates this November. To whet the appetite there is a new live session from their local boozer: “We’ve been having to figure out how to play these old songs again, for our three shows in November. In advance of that, a few weeks back we invited a few friends along to our local to witness us bash through some oldies. And luckily for you, our good pal Ian West expertly filmed this mini-gig so you can watch If Only The Moon Were Up (Locked-in at The Bridge Hotel Vaults) right now.”
Field Music 20th Anniversary Shows 07 Nov - Leeds @ Brudenell Social Club 08 Nov - London @ Islington Assembly Hall 14 Nov - Sunderland @ Fire Station Tickets: https://fieldmusic.ffm.to/fieldmusic.OPR
Praise back in 2005 for 'Field Music':
“Field Music glide through brief swathes of British pop grandeur like a pebble skipping over a calm, lambent lake" Pitchfork "genius" NME "Lustrous romance and loquacious imagination, an intriguing debut" Mojo "Like Wire arranged by the Beach Boys" Uncut "They've perfected the pop gem" The Times "The most charming act to emerge this year" The Observer "Bite sized chucks of melodic perfection. Utterly brilliant" Music Week "It sounds like Brian Wilson has whipped out the factor 35 and slapped it on The Beatles back" The Fly "Steeped in lush melodies and harmony, their songs are full of rare twists and turns" DJ "An encyclopedia of pop music" 'Album Of The Week' Metro "Their debut brims with crystalline keyboard, heaven sent harmonies and beautiful tunes" The Independent
