Alt-rock newcomers thistle. announce backflip EP, set for release 29 May via REX RECS, and share brand new single ‘pieces’.
Accompanied by news of a UK headline tour in May (including London’s iconic Moth Club), ‘pieces’ serves as the band’s first single of 2026, and the opening statement of their forthcoming second EP. One of their most sonically ambitious offerings to date, the track touches both ends of their sonic spectrum, experimenting with oscillating synths, brushing up against hushed vocals, rhythmic acoustic guitar and bursts of distorted noise.
Fresh from a support slot with Rocket, and an Independent Venue Week tour alongside little grandad, thistle. have fast established themselves as one of the most promising and bold voices in the UK alternative scene over the last twelve months. Ticking off a tour run with Humour in the autumn, and additional dates with Westside Cowboy, Witch Post and Man/Woman/Chainsaw, the group are primed for a busy summer, with festivals and multiple shows of their own lined up to coincide with the EP’s release.
Now based in their adopted hometown of Manchester, the trio’s lo-fi, introspective yet hardcore sound has already garnered plenty of attention. Decamping to esteemed producer Macks Faulkron’s REX Studios to record their second EP in late 2025, and set to release via his rising indie label REX RECS, thistle.’s distorted noise rock effortlessly glides into vulnerable and evocative soundscapes, with further EP reveals primed for the months to come.
Detailing the origins of ‘pieces’, the three-piece explained:
“The song is about changing yourself to fit other people’s expectations for so long that you’re not really sure who you are anymore.”
thistle. Live Dates
March
28 – Ritual Union Festival, Bristol (UK)
April
11 – Homegrown Festival, Brighton (UK)
May
7 – Clwb lfor Bach, Cardiff (UK)
8 – Rat & Pigeon, Manchester (UK)
10 – SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow (UK)
11 – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield (UK)
12 – Rough Trade, Bristol (UK)
15 – Moth Club, London (UK)
16 – Joiners, Southampton (UK)
22 – Bearded Theory, Derbyshire (UK)
July
11 – 2000 Trees Festival (UK)
September
4 – Brighton Psych Fest (UK)
5 – Brighton Psych Fest (UK)
For more information on thistle. please check their website and instagram.