THE LILACS RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

Rachel Brown Published: October 2026 | Updated: October 2026 3 minutes read

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NEWS | THE LILACS | 9th October 2026

Wigan quartet The Lilacs have released their debut album, Keeping Up With The Joneses, out now via Manchester independent label Scruff of the Neck.

The ten-track record, produced by Joe Cross (Courteneers, Hurts), has been seven years in the making. It follows four preview singles, ‘Miss Behavin’‘, ‘Girl Behind The Bar’, ‘What’s The Worst That Can Happen?’ and ‘Put The World To Rights’, the hook-laden anthem the band have called their favourite track on the record. The title track is the lead single, and has already become a fan favourite.

Frontman Ollie Anglesea said: “Keeping Up With The Joneses has been seven years in the making, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve created. There’s been blood, sweat and tears poured into this record, and so much of ourselves in every song. It’s been a real journey, with some of the highest highs and some of the toughest moments along the way, which makes finally getting this album out into the world all the more special.”

On the title track, he added: “It was the first idea that came to me and, in many ways, it became the starting point for everything else. The song really shaped the wider theme of the record. It feels like the heart of the record, and I think it sums up everything we’ve been trying to say over the last seven years.”

the lilacs — The Lilacs (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure)

The album arrives after a difficult stretch for the band. Guitarist Sam Birchall recently got the all-clear from cancer following a year of treatment, with his story documented by ITV and BBC. He said: “Being part of creating the Keeping Up With The Joneses album has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my music career so far. It’s a real jump in maturity of The Lilacs’ sound. It’s our first real shot at aiming for the stars and putting The Lilacs up in the charts with all the big names, and no matter where it finishes, I’m proud of how it sounds and what we have achieved.”

The record is out on CD, cream vinyl, a limited edition galaxy vinyl and a Sh*t Shirt vinyl, plus individual members’ CD versions that can also be bought as a bundle.

To mark the release, the band are on a run of stripped-back record store shows, trading festival stages for record shops and intimate rooms, with a signing after most dates. The run kicked off in Wrexham at The Rockin’ Chair and takes in Rough Trade East in London, The Cluny in Newcastle and a hometown date at Boulevard in Wigan, before wrapping up in Glasgow on 25 October.

Formed by vocalist Ollie Anglesea and guitarist Sam Birchall, The Lilacs are completed by Matt Johnson on bass and Dave Gomersall on drums. They debuted in early 2019 with ‘Vicarage Road’, followed it with ‘Grace’ in 2023, and hit the Top 10 of the Independent Albums Chart with The 395 (To Forever) EP in 2025. They have shared stages with Lottery Winners and The Lathums, played Isle of Wight and Truck, and sold out a 2,700-capacity show in Manchester. This summer took in Rock For People in the Czech Republic, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Latitude, a first Leeds Festival appearance and Y Not Festival, where we even managed a quick chat with the band. Their biggest headline tour yet follows in 2027.