Buckle up, folks! Birmingham's finest indie sons Johnny Foreigner are about to take you on a wild ride with their brand new album 'Forwards!', dropping on September 4, 2026, via Alcopop! Records. This is the follow-up to last year's 'How To Be Hopeful', and it looks like they're pushing the boundaries once again – this time with a sonic boom that'll leave you breathless.
'Forwards!' is a love letter to the band's hometown, Birmingham, where the streets have stories to tell. The album takes listeners on a chronological journey through key moments in Brummie history, from the Lunar Society/Priestley Riots to post-war brutalist redevelopment and the current era of perceived apathy and political turmoil. Frontman Alexei Berrow explained that they're not just playing with songs – they're using them as a mirror to reflect on the city's complexities.
The lead single, 'The New Navigation', is an absolute riot! This 'noisy, thrashing cut' takes inspiration from 18th-century folk song 'Birmingham Lads (The New Navigation)', but don't be fooled – Johnny Foreigner's take is a scathing critique of Westminster's policies and the city's current struggles. They argue that the 1945 Distribution of Industry Act deliberately held back Birmingham's growth, and now the city's facing 'managed bankruptcy' affecting public services and residents.
'Forwards!' is an album about Birmingham as both a microcosm of the UK and a testing ground for centuries of policy decisions. It's a reflection on their own origins and identity – where they came from, what shaped them, and how it all adds up to who they are today. Throughout the record, local trio Luxury Nan Smell bring their unique energy as 'The City Elders', offering a running commentary on the songs, while Bryn Bowen embodies the power brokers of old as 'The Lords Of Change'.
In a statement, Johnny Foreigner expressed that this album is a testament to their roots and a chance to explore how politics and media narratives have fuelled division. They reflected on a past pride in Birmingham's ingenuity and tolerance, contrasting it with a current sense of disillusionment. It might not be the most conventional career move, but for Johnny Foreigner, this project is 'absolutely the right thing for Our Band Johnny Foreigner to do' – Brummie-style, no less!
But enough chat – let's get stuck in! The UK tour kicks off on September 3 in Nottingham, with dates across the country including London, Bristol, Norwich, Sheffield, and a hometown show in Birmingham on September 10. The tour concludes on September 17 in Kingston – don't miss out!