The Futureheads announce a capella album and UK tour

The Futureheads have decided to do away with the instruments altogether and let their voices do the talking on a new a capella album,'Rant'.

Jayne Robinson

Last updated: 17th Feb 2012

It makes sense really. North East band The Futureheads, long known for their adventures in vocal harmonies, have decided to do away with the instruments altogether and let their voices do the talking on latest album Rant.

The strictly a cappella album is due for release on April 2nd, through the band's own label Nul Records. Rant will feature a variety of re-arranged Futureheads songs alongside medieval and traditional folk songs, and will be accompanied by a UK tour featuring only a capella and acoustic performances.

Speaking of the project, lead singer Barry Hyde had this to say:

"A Futureheads fan who doesn’t get 'Rant' is not a Futureheads fan. This version of The Futureheads has always been there. We’re bringing to the fore what we’re really about: a unification, a gang mentality, which is in the balance between our voices and our personalities.

"Just because this is an a cappella album doesn’t mean to say that the songs are slow or passive. They’re still in-your-face, slightly mad, aggressive. They’re still The Futureheads."

Listen to 'Robot' here, just one of the songs from The Futureheads' back catalogue that has been reworked for the album.

The tracklist for 'Rant' is as follows:

1. Meantime
2. Meet Me Halfway (The Black Eyed Peas cover)
3. Robot
4. Beeswing (Richard Thompson cover)
5. Thursday
6. Sumer Is Icumen In (Traditional)
7. The Keeper (Traditional)
8. The No. 1 Song in Heaven (Sparks cover)
9. The Old Dun Cow (Traditional)
10. Acapella (Kelis cover)
11. Man Ray
Bonus: Heartbeat Song (Digital only)
 
The Futureheads will be embarking on a full UK tour in April and will be playing the following shows:
 
APRIL
3rd: BRISTOL, Colston Hall
4th: LONDON, Union Chapel
5th: LEEDS, Wardrobe
6th: STOCKTON, Georgian Theatre
8th: GATESHEAD, Sage
9th: GLASGOW, Oran Mor
10th: BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club
12th: NOTTINGHAM, Glee Club
13th: MANCHESTER, Royal Northern College of Music