Stanleys have announced their return for 2026, with new single ‘Pass The Time’ out this week!
To celebrate the single, the Wigan band have also revealed details of a Manchester show at Night & Day Café on Friday 10th April.
We caught up with Tom Concannon (frontman) and Jake Dorsman (guitarist) to discuss what the new chapter has in store for the band.
They told us all about the new single, change in sound, the live show and plenty more…
NC: First of all, you’ve been away for a little while. What’s been happening?
Jake: “Yeah, we’ve had a bit of a break really, since playing Glastonbury Festival. We’d done two sets back-to-back and decided to step back, write loads of new music, and change up our live sound. Over the last few weeks, we’ve kind of relaunched ourselves with new photos, new ideas, and a fresh perspective. Hopefully it’s exciting for everyone. It felt like the right time to reset and come back with something new.”
NC: What’s this new vision in terms of sound and direction?
Tom: “We all talked about what we wanted over the next few years and agreed that we love playing live. We want the shows to be more entertaining, more dancing, and more energetic. We’ve written more upbeat, more raucous songs. The melodies are still there, but now they’re more punchy. The main aim is to make the live show as good as it can possibly be. We’re still a guitar band. But sonically, people will notice a difference straight away. The production is different, and we’ve tried things we’ve never done before. In the first 30 seconds, people will probably think, “Oh, this is new.” But it still sounds like us. Hopefully it’s a positive change.”
NC: What made you sit down and plan things more carefully?
Jake: “We had such an amazing run, supporting bands like Cast and Shed Seven, playing with Richard Ashcroft, and then Glastonbury. That felt like a real pinnacle. Before that, we were always chasing the next goal. After this, we asked ourselves what we wanted long-term. We all had other things going on, so the break gave us breathing space to rethink everything.”
NC: What was the Glastonbury experience like for Stanleys?
Tom: “It was unreal. You grow up watching it on TV, so actually being there felt surreal. Even aside from our own set, just seeing so many bands and being part of that weekend was incredible. Definitely one for the scrapbook. We’d tried to get tickets for years and never managed.”
NC: I imagine supporting Richard Ashcroft is a huge deal for a Wigan band too?
Jake: “Definitely. Growing up in Wigan, his music, especially Urban Hymns, it was everywhere. He even went to the same college as us for a while. He’s a massive part of the local culture.”
NC: The Wigan music scene had a big moment with new bands coming through in the early 2020’s, how is the scene now?
Tom: “It’s still brilliant. We practice in the same place as always and now share it with younger bands. It feels like the baton’s being passed on. There are loads of new bands coming through, and that community spirit is still there.”
NC: Big shows at Robin Park seem to have helped too. What was it like playing there?
Tom: “Yeah, having major acts at Robin Park has been huge for the town. It inspires younger musicians and helps local businesses too. Playing there was mad. I used to do cross-country running there at school, and suddenly it’s this massive stage!”
NC: Let’s talk about the new single, “Pass the Time”. What can we expect?
Jake: “It’s more upbeat and driven, with a punky feel and strong bass line. We wanted something that really works live. It’s the kind of song that could open a set and get people dancing straight away. It’s a homage to our youth, messing about with mates, being cheeky, getting into trouble. It came from reflecting on where we’ve been.”
NC: How did the song come together?
Tom: “Me and Harry were writing. He showed me a bass line, and we knew straight away that was the song. I added a melody, and the next day we showed the others. It all came together really quickly and naturally.”
NC: Is this the sound for the next chapter?
Jake: “It’s part of it, but we like every song to feel different. Some new tracks are slower and acoustic, others are heavier. There’s a theme of starting fresh, but we don’t want everything to sound the same.”
NC: And tell us about the Manchester show to celebrate the new single?
Tom: “It’s on April 10th at Night & Day Cafe. Manchester has been amazing for us as a band, and we wanted something intimate. It’s a chance to see people’s reactions up close and try out new material. We’re reworking the whole set – a new setlist, a new look, and new music.”
Pass The Time, the new single from Stanleys, is out THIS FRIDAY – 20th February.
The Night & Day Manchester show takes place Friday 10th April 2026 – with tickets here.
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