With a reputation for turning raw truth into rhythm and verse, Kae Tempest returns this summer with a new album and tour that promises to strike deeper than ever before. His fifth studio release, Self Titled, arrives July 4 via Island Records—and it’s more than a new chapter. It’s a reckoning.
Described by Tempest as his most intimate and revealing work to date, Self Titled was forged alongside Grammy-winning producer Fraser T. Smith (the force behind Adele and Stormzy). The result? A 12-track odyssey that reconnects with Kae’s Hip Hop roots, takes cues from pop’s melodic urgency, and holds up a mirror to the person he once was—crafted not in abstraction, but in vivid first-person storytelling. This time, it’s personal.
And he’s bringing that honesty live and direct.
Kicking off June 25 at Exeter Phoenix, the tour begins with a night that promises to set the tone for what’s to come. For fans in the South West, this opening show offers a unique opportunity to experience the album’s live debut in an intimate setting—where Kae’s poetic delivery and unfiltered narratives will resonate all the more powerfully. With its deep musical legacy and fiercely loyal audience, Exeter is primed to witness an artist laying their soul bare from the very first note.
Tempest’s calendar continues from there, including a stop at Glastonbury’s Park Stage on June 29—sure to be one of the weekend’s most quietly powerful sets.
Fans can also catch Kae up close during a run of July in store shows, including Rough Trade Liverpool (July 6), Vinilo in Southampton (July 7), and Resident Music in Brighton (July 8). These stripped-back sessions offer a rare chance to experience Self Titled in the spaces that shaped its spirit—small rooms and open hearts.
But the crescendo builds toward autumn, with a full UK tour launching in November. From Bristol’s O2 Academy to Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, and a must-see homecoming at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on November 8, these shows promise to channel the record’s soul into something visceral. Support comes from rising Island Records labelmate Jacob Alon, adding fresh fire to an already inspired bill.
Self Titled doesn’t pull any punches. Guest appearances from Young Fathers, Connie Constance, Tawiah, and none other than Neil Tennant underscore Kae’s standing as a magnet for collaboration and a bridge between generations. And in case anyone needs reminding, this is the same artist who’s twice been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, and whose Brand New Ancients won the Ted Hughes Award at just 27.
Add an Ivor Novello win in 2024, a trail of critically acclaimed albums, poetry collections, and plays—and last year’s revealing BBC Arena documentary Being Kae Tempest—and you’ve got an artist continually redrawing the lines between word and sound.
Whether it’s the whisper of a poem in a record shop or the thunder of a verse in a packed hall, every stop on this tour is a chance to witness something real. Self Titled isn’t just a record—it’s an invitation. To listen. To reflect. To show up as yourself.
Tickets are moving fast. Don’t let this one pass you by.
JUNE LIVE DATES
25th - Exeter, Exeter Phoenix
26th - Oxford, O2 Academy
29th - Glastonbury, Park Stage
JULY INSTORE DATES
6th - Liverpool, Rough Trade Liverpool
7th - Southampton, Vinilo
8th - Brighton, Resident Music
15th - Birmingham, HMV - The Vault
16th - Nottingham, Rough Trade Nottingham
JULY LIVE DATES
25th - Topcliffe, Deer Shed Festival
30th - Cardiff, Cardiff Castle
NOVEMBER UK TOUR DATES
8th - London, O2 Academy Brixton
9th - Bristol, O2 Academy
10th - Manchester, Albert Hall
12th - Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
Support on the tour comes from Island Records label mate Jacob Alon
Tickets available HERE