FIRST TASTE OF NEW MUSIC FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM, SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE LATER THIS YEAR
BAND’S SUMMER KICK-OFF SHOW, “THE RALLY” UPGRADED TO FULL STADIUM DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND; CONCERT TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 23 AT TIM HORTON’S FIELD IN HAMILTON
06 April 2018 (Toronto, ON) – Fan-fave rockers Arkells unleash their brand new single, “People’s Champ” today via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. On the heels of their meteoric hit single, “Knocking at the Door,” “People’s Champ” is the first single to be announced off the upcoming fifth studio album from Arkells, set for release later this year.
Stream/download “People’s Champ”
Written and recorded in Toronto by Arkells, produced by previous collaborator with the band, Eric Ratz (“Knocking at the Door” and “Leather Jacket”), and mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, The 1975), “People’s Champ” is an upbeat, horn-infused, politically-charged anthem written to the social climate; created in part by “the guy currently in charge who only seems to be concerned with creating hysteria and bringing attention and wealth to himself.”
“We’re all looking for leadership that is benevolent and generous, and truly has the will of the people in everything they do,” said frontman, Max Kerman. “We’re comforted every day by the people in our neighbourhood who go the extra mile for their community – especially when they don’t have to. We love that person. This song is about the opposite of that: it’s about the guy who acts like Robin Hood, but is the farthest thing from it. But that’s OK: look around and you’ll find people’s champs all around ya.”
Earlier this year, Arkells announced “The Rally” for June 23, an official kick-off to the summer, live at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, with special guests Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs and Ellevator. Due to popular demand, the hometown show was shortly upgraded to a full stadium affair of up to 26K tickets, making it the band’s biggest headline show to-date, surpassing their 2017 summer show at Budweiser Stage in Toronto which sold out in three days. In partnership with PLUS 1, Arkells have already raised over $18K through ticket sales for “The Rally” that will be donated to Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health.
At the recent 2018 JUNO Awards in Vancouver, Arkells lit up the stage with their song “Knocking at the Door” – the hit track that helped them secure four nominations at this year’s awards including the highly-coveted “Single of the Year.” “Knocking at the Door” spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Canadian Alt/Rock charts, making it the most played Alt/Rock song of 2017, and Arkells the most played band of the year. Watch their performance on the 2018 JUNO Awards broadcast below. Next week, starting on April 13, Arkells will embark on a month-long UK tour supporting folk-rock troubadour Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls. After that, the band will return home for “The Rally,” followed by a string of Canadian festival dates. See itinerary below.
Vocalist/guitarist Max Kerman, guitarist Mike DeAngelis, bassist Nick Dika, drummer Tim Oxford and keyboardist Anthony Carone, collectively known as Arkells, have been relentlessly touring in support of their most recent album, Morning Report; building their audience and further solidifying their reputation as a passionate, high-energy, live-rock authority. Since the release of the album, the 4x JUNO Award winners have made their debut at some of the biggest marquee festivals in the U.S., including Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. Their most recent hit single, “Knocking At The Door,” spent an unprecedented 14 weeks at #1 on the Canadian Alt/Rock charts, making it the most played alt/rock song of 2017, and Arkells the most played band of the year.
Upcoming live shows in Canada:
- June 23 – Hamilton, ON @ Tim Hortons Field – Arkells present “The Rally” with special guests Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs and Ellevator
- June 30 – Timmins, ON @ Hollinger Park – Stars and Thunder Festival 2018
- July 7 – Thunder Bay, ON @ Marina Park – Thunder Bay Blues Festival
- July 27 – Belleville, ON @ Empire Square – Empire Rockfest 2018
- September 7 – Vancouver, BC @ Stanley Park – SKOOKUM Festival
- September 8 – Edmonton, AC @ Victoria Park – SONiC Field Day