The Magnetic Fields announce UK tour

Following the release of their long-awaited 11th album 50 Song Memoir, The Magnetic Fields have announced plans to return to the UK for a series of two-night shows this summer, including performances at Edinburgh's Kings Theatre (25 & 26 August, as part of this year's International Festival) and Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall (4 & 6 September).

Across the two nights, the band will play the new record in full, with a song to represent each of band leader Stephin Merritt's 50 years, complete with a spectacular stage set featuring artefacts both musical and decorative to complement the period. The tour echoes the Boston-formed Baroque pop ensemble's critically-acclaimed performance at Brooklyn Academy of Music in late 2016 – read the full list of UK tour dates below.

50 Song Ensemble follows a five-year break between records, with previous Magnetic Fields opus Love at the Bottom of the Sea described by us as "another chapter to a songbook without peer." First formed in the late 80s around Merritt's wry, genre-spanning songwriting talents, early releases saw him taking a background role in what was regarded as a studio project – his baritone voice soom came to the fore, however, aligned with the lighter vocal delivery of Claudia Gonson. They first came to prominence following their 1999 triple album, 69 Love Songs, widely regarded as their defining opus.

The Magnetic Fields UK tour 2017

25 Aug – Edinburgh King's Theatre (Edinburgh International Festival)
26 Aug – Edinburgh King's Theatre (Edinburgh International Festival)
28 Aug – Dublin National Concert Hall
29 Aug – Dublin National Concert Hall
31 Aug – Bristol Colston Hall
1 Sep – Bristol Colston Hall
3 Sep – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
4 Sep – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
6 Sep – Brighton Dome
7 Sep – Brighton Dome
9 Sep – The Barbican, London
10 Sep – The Barbican, London