Simple Minds are back with ‘Sacrosanct’ – their first album in five years.
Due January 29, 2027 via BMG, the LP is the group’s first since 2022’s UK Top 5 effort ‘Direction of the Heart’ and arrives on the back of a career-spanning documentary, memoir and global tour, the latter of which inspired Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill to draw on their art-rock and new wave roots for the new project.
Described as one of the band’s most vital records in decades, it’s preceded by the single ‘Beginner Boys’, which is inspired by Kerr watching his twin grandsons grow up and considering what it means to raise a good man today.
It explores “how strength, tenderness, courage, and gentleness might still belong together, even when the wider culture around them can send mixed signals,” he says. “It’s less a statement than a question I hope they’ll spend their lives answering for themselves.”
Speaking about the album title, Kerr adds: “We called the album ‘Sacrosanct’ because after a lifetime of doing this — nearly fifty years of writing songs together — it’s stopped feeling like a career and started feeling like something closer to faith. Calling the record Sacrosanct isn’t an exaggeration. It’s just honest.
“Making records and performing live is as much part of our lives now as when we started out. We feel grateful to those who support new music from Simple Minds and look forward to seeing you all on our upcoming world tour.”
‘Sacrosanct’ is released on January 29 and available to pre-order from Amazon, HMV, Rough Trade, Townsend and more. Listen to ‘Beginner Boys’ below.
Tracklist: Simple Minds – ‘Sacrosanct’
1. Elysium
2. King of the Underworld
3. Beginner Boys
4. Jerusalem (State of Mind)
5. Our Secrets are the Same
6. Songs
7. Alive in This Moment
8. The Next Right Thing
Alongside the new album, Simple Minds are set to embark on their biggest arena tour to date, launching in Australia and New Zealand in February before heading to Europe and the UK & Ireland in April and May.
Before launching ‘The Simple Minds V Tour 2027’ – which promises a panoramic live experience, with the band celebrating five decades of music – the group will headline Sunday night of BBC Radio 2’s In The Park at City Park, Stirling in Scotland on September 13.
Support comes from Level 42 on the international dates, with Gary Numan appearing at the UK and Ireland shows.
Tickets go on sale Friday, September 11 and are available here. The full list of UK dates is below.
6 – The O2, London
7 – Co-op Live, Manchester
8 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
10 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
11 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
13 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
14 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
17 – 3Arena, Dublin
