After more than four decades, Haircut 100 will finally deliver the long-awaited follow-up to their 1982 classic Pelican West. The new album, Boxing The Compass, will be released on 20 March 2026, marking the band\u2019s first full-length studio release in 43 years.<\/p>\n
The reunion of the original members Nick Heyward, Les Nemes, Graham Jones and Blair Cunningham has turned what began as a nostalgic revisit into a fully-fledged second chapter. Their comeback gathered momentum in 2024 when their first new single in decades, The Unloving Plum, became BBC Radio 2\u2019s Record of the Week, recapturing the bright, jazz-funk pop sound that made them one of the most charming acts of the early 1980s.<\/p>\n
Their new single Dynamite, premiered by Scott Mills on Radio 2, continues that feelgood tradition. It blends buoyant disco guitar hooks, bursts of brass and jazzy flourishes, anchored by Heyward\u2019s unmistakable melodic vocals. The track has already made waves on their North American tour, where Haircut 100 supported ABC and Howard Jones.<\/p>\n
Heyward says, \u201cBoxing The Compass is the traditional way of finding out where you are on land or sea using the compass rose. We\u2019re arriving back at the port we left 43 years ago with a log of songs from our personal travels. Wherever I\u2019ve been in the world, I\u2019ve always been Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 and we\u2019re all ready to set sail again for more adventures.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boxing The Compass will be available on digital, CD and vinyl formats, with fans who pre-order through the band\u2019s official store gaining access to an exclusive tour ticket pre-sale.<\/p>\n
\u2018Boxing The Compass\u2019 Tracklist:
Vanishing Point
The Unloving Plum
That\u2019s A Start
Dynamite
Come Back To Me
Someone
A Wonderful Life
Soul Bird
Raincloud
Sunshine<\/p>\n
The title perfectly captures Haircut 100\u2019s rediscovery of direction after decades apart. Their friendship was reignited after reconnecting for a business chat that quickly turned into laughter and reminiscence. That chemistry led to a sold-out reunion show at London\u2019s O2 Shepherd\u2019s Bush Empire in 2023, followed by a UK tour and new studio sessions with producer Sean Read (Dexys) at Famous Times Studio in East London.<\/p>\n
Haircut 100 formed in Beckenham, London, in 1980, blending new wave, Brit funk and jazz-funk into an irresistible pop mix. Their debut album Pelican West shot to No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and earned Platinum status, with hit singles Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Fantastic Day and Nobody\u2019s Fool. Their upbeat charm and polished musicianship made them fixtures on Top of the Pops and symbols of Britain\u2019s early 80s pop optimism.<\/p>\n
After Heyward\u2019s departure in 1983, the group released one more album, Paint and Paint (1984), before disbanding. Heyward went on to enjoy a successful solo career with hits like Whistle Down The Wind and Blue Hat For A Blue Day.<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s first full UK headline tour since 2023 will launch in May 2026, marking another major moment in their comeback.<\/p>\n
Haircut 100 \u2018Boxing The Compass\u2019 UK Tour 2026
May
1 \u2013 London, Palladium
2 \u2013 Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre
3 \u2013 Poole, Lighthouse
7 \u2013 Cambridge, Corn Exchange
8 \u2013 York, Barbican
9 \u2013 Manchester, Albert Hall
10 \u2013 Glasgow, Pavilion Theatre
14 \u2013 Bath, Forum
15 \u2013 Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
16 \u2013 Basingstoke, Anvil
17 \u2013 Lincoln, Engine Shed<\/p>\n
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Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n