The Hanging Stars

New single - Let It Slide - Released Today

Story by Liam Hughes

27/05/2026

The Hanging Stars release their infectious new single “Let It Slide” from their forthcoming album Just A Day (due out on 19 June via Loose).

A feel-good track with a sting in its tail, “Let It Slide” is a tale of someone who is easy to like but hard to fight and exemplifies their step further towards jangle pop. Drawing on their love of four-part harmonies and shimmering twelve-string guitars, The Hanging Stars consistently demonstrate masterful songwriting. Frontman Richard Olson has a knack of tapping into the most memorable tunes and catchy melodies, whilst touching on themes of longing, new beginnings and the fragility of the everyday. The album was co-produced by Teenage Fanclub's Gerard Love and Dexy’s Sean Read. Starting from demos exchanged between Glasgow and London, Gerard Love helped the band strip things back to their essence, ever so gently guiding them toward their finest work to date. The band recorded the core of the album in a single week in February 2025, using Edwyn’s vintage gear – including the Gretsch Blackhawk he used in his Orange Juice days and the Barnes and & Mullins fuzz box heard on a “A Girl Like You”. Longtime collaborator Sean Read added production and engineering duties, with overdubs and mixing completed at his own Famous Times Studios. A line-up change at the end of 2024 proved to be a galvanising moment for The Hanging Stars, with Richard Olson (vocals and guitar), Patrick Ralla (guitar), Paulie Cobra (drums) and Paul Milne on bass - with contributions from Gerard Love and a guest vocal on one of the single b-sides “Maybe Maybe” from Nick Power of The Coral. The result is a wonderfully energising record full of catchy hooks and a renewed vision. The songs are designed to take the listener away from it all… even if it's just for a little while. Their sound evokes classic sounds from the past with an ear towards the future, from The Byrds via Big Star, to The Feelies, Spiritualized, Teenage Fanclub and Tom Petty. Or think Lou Reed and the Velvets jamming with Gorkys Zygotic Mynci. The result is an album that feels simultaneously classic and vibrant, their influences worn lightly giving the songs room to breathe. The band head out on the road with festival dates in the summer including The Long Road and End of the Road (with Bonnie Dobson) and an extensive UK tour in the Autumn. TOUR DATES: 11-06-2026 London, UK - Third Man Records (Sold Out!) 29-08-2026 Stanford Hall, UK - The Long Road Festival 04-09-2026 Sheffield, UK - Yellow Arch 08-09-2026 Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival (with Bonnie Dobson) 07-10-2026 Ipswich, UK - The Church 08-10-2026 Hull, UK - The New Adelphi 09-10-2026 Newcastle, UK - The Cluny 2 10-10-2026 Glasgow, UK - Mono 11-10-2026 Manchester, UK - Night & Day Café 23-10-2026 St. Leonards, UK - The Piper 24-10-2026 Brighton, UK - The Brunswick 31-10-2026 Dorking, UK - St Mary’s Church 05-11-2026 Darlington, UK - The Forum 06-11-2026 Nottingham, UK - The Old Cold Store 07-11-2026 Norwich, UK - Norwich Arts Centre 13-11-2026 London, UK - St Mathias Church 15-11-2026 Portsmouth, UK - The Wedgewood Rooms