Following on from their critically acclaimed albums Tracey Denim and The Twits, both out in 2023, which cemented them as one of the UK’s most celebrated musical prospects, bar italia release new EP The Tw*ts June 4th on Matador.
The Tw*ts comes amidst a year in which the London based three-piece of Nina Cristante, Jezmi Tarik Fehmi and Sam Fenton have toured North America, including multiple sold out shows, made their Coachella debut, played first shows in Japan and New Zealand and played their biggest London headline to date at Electric Brixton. The rest of the year will see further European dates, their debut shows in Australia and Indonesia, and festivals including Glastonbury, Lowlands, Green Man, Rock En Seine, Iceland Airways and others.
Written directly after The Twits, the three unreleased tracks on Tw*ts – ‘The only conscious being in the universe, ‘Sarcoustica’ and ‘drumstart’ – were originally intended as B-sides to the single ’sounds like you had to be there’ from the album and share a similar sonic world to it, making for a companion piece to this period of the band’s output.
Released in May 2023, Tracey Denim featured the singles ‘Nurse’, ‘punkt’, and ‘changer’ and came out to acclaim, including from The Guardian (“one of the albums of 2023 so far”), The Times (“excellent debut album”), The Observer (‘Artist To Watch’), NME (“a lasting impression that’s all of their own making”), The Quietus (“endlessly evocative”) and Pigeons And Planes (“quickly establishing themselves as one of the most enticing upcoming bands”). ‘Nurse!’ was playlisted on BBC 6 Music and received spins from Radio 1, Absolute Radio and NTS.
Following in November, The Twits featured singles ‘Jelsy’, ‘my little tony’ and ‘world’s greatest emoter’, with the latter two going on the A-list at BBC 6 Music. Sunday Times called it “wonderful (…) Bar Italia draw you into their alt-rock world and ensnare you in it”, Uncut noted “quizzical, strangely beautiful songs”, and Line Of Best Fit said, “this is rich, idiosyncratic music that’s too wild and strange to copy”. The release was accompanied by an exhibition of the band members’ drawings at Frieze gallery in London.
TRACKLIST
- The only conscious being in the universe
- Sarcoustica
- drumstart
- sounds like you had to be there
LIVE DATES
June 6 – Australia, Brisbane, Black Bear Lodge
June 8 – Australia, Melbourne, Rising Festival
June 9 – Australia, Melbourne, Howler (Sold Out)
June 11 – Indonesia, Bali, Potato Head
June 14 – Switzerland, Luzern, B-Sides Festival
June 19 – France, Tourcoing, Le Grand Mix
June 20 – France, Paris, La Cigale
June 24 – Croatia, Zagreb, INmusic Festival
June 29 – UK, Glastonbury, Glastonbury Festival
July 3 – Denmark, Roskilde, Roskilde Festival
July 5 – Finland, Turku, Ruisrock Festival
July 6 – France, Belfort, Les Eurockéennes
July 7 – Italy, Modena, Arti Vive Festival
July 11 – Germany, Gräfenhainichen, MELT Festival
July 13 – Spain, Madrid, Mad Cool
July 18 – Belgium, Dour, Dour Festival
August 1 – Netherlands, Amsterdam, Dekmantel Festival
August 2 – Poland, Katowice, OFF Festival
August 12 – Italy, Corigliano d’Otranto, SEI Festival
August 14 – Portugal, Paredes de Coura, Paredes de Coura Festival
August 16 – France, Saint-Malo, La Route du Rock
August 17 – Netherlands, Biddinghuizen, Lowlands Festival
August 18 – UK, Brecon Beacons, Green Man Festival
August 22 – Spain, Málaga, Canela Party Festival
August 24 – UK, London, RALLY
August 25 – France, Paris, Rock en Seine
September 13 – Greece, Athens, Plisskën Festival
September 14 – Italy, Rome, Spring Attitude Festival
November 9 – Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Airwaves
bar italia
