Future Islands Tickets

North Carolinian electro outfit Future Islands had spent almost a decade refining their sleek, tuneful, synth-driven indie pop, elevated by the impassioned croon and magnetic presence of frontman Samuel T. Herring. Everything was progressing steadily, until a 2014 performance on The Tonight Show With David Letterman changed everything.

Future Islands’ story began at East Carolina University, where Herring, bassist William Cashion and keyboardist Gerrit Welmers had played together in previous bands. Following the dissolution of their last project, the trio created Future Islands, moved to Baltimore and released their debut Waves Like Home for London label Upset The Rhythm.

Off the back of solid touring and a growing fanbase, the band signed to respected indie label Thrill Jockey for the In The Fall EP and their second album, 2010’s In Evening Air. However, Future Islands and Thrill Jockey parted ways over a difference of opinion over 2011’s On The Water.

Following another single for Upset The Rhythm, the band signed to 4AD for their next record, 2014’s Singles, which found them honing their sound to a fine point, taking all their considerable potential and squaring it. It was while promoting the album that the band was invited to make their network televised debut on The Tonight Show. Herring’s breathtakingly physical and intensely emotional performance left David Letterman giddy with excitement (“I’ll take all of that you’ve got,” the veteran host declared) and the audience ecstatic. The band turned into an overnight phenomenon, albeit after eight years’ hard work.

Future Islands took three years to record another album, returning in 2017 with the ambitious The Far Field, which saw them expand their sound with the help of producer John Congleton and enlist Blondie star Debbie Harry for a guest appearance. After the addition of drummer Mike Lowry, the band returned in 2020 with the melodramatic, brooding As Long As You Are. The band announced a UK tour for spring 2022, and headlined End of the Road festival in September 2023.

Future Islands kicked off 2024 in style, releasing their seventh album People Who Aren't There Anymore – which the Guardian called "grownup, weighty ruminations on devotion, sacrifice, separation and Covid" – and announcing a headline spot at London's South Facing festival on 27 July.