Gene Gallagher’s Villanelle have announced the release date for their upcoming debut EP ‘Measly Means’, and dropped a new single called ‘Placebo’.
READ MORE: Gene Gallagher’s Villanelle are ready to launch with “a genuine passion to bring back rock music”
The rising band kicked things off at the end of 2025 by sharing their first two tracks, the debut single ‘Hinge’, and the hazy follow-up ‘Measly Means’.
Now, they have confirmed details of a full debut EP and released another new track called ‘Placebo’, which they describe as capturing “heightened visualizations of post session anxiety”.
The song sees Villanelle continue their signature style of blending immersive sonic sections with catchy, instantly-recognisable hooks. Alongside Gallagher’s distinctive, charismatic vocals, guitarist Ben Taylor and bassist Jack Schiavo create a wall of sound behind, drawing inspiration from grunge icons like Alice In Chains and Soundgarden.
Combining distorted, intense guitars with the laid-back vocals, the band build towards the immense chorus: “It’s that time/ Don’t let go/ It’s a lie/ Placebo”. Check it out below.
Also shared today (Wednesday February 11), Villanelle have shared that their long-anticipated debut EP will be released on May 6. It will contain the three latest singles, and more details are set to be released shortly.
Already 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for the rising UK band, who kicked off January by finishing up a tour with Miles Kane, and confirming a BBC Music Introducing Presents show at London’s Lower Third on March 5.
They have also got a lot of live shows lined-up for this summer, including slots at The Great Escape, Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Mad Cool in Madrid, Boardmasters and more. Visit here for tickets and check out the latest list of shows below.
Villanelle’s 2026 live shows are:
MARCH
05 – London, Lower Third – BBC Music Introducing Presents show
APRIL
04 – Stockton-On-Tees, Stockton Calling Festival
MAY
11 – Dublin, Road To The Great Escape
15 – Brighton, The Great Escape
24 – Warrington, Neighbourhood Weekender
JUNE
06 – New York City, Governor’s Ball
12 – Tennessee, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
JULY
08 – Madrid, Mad Cool Festival
18-19 – Nottinghamshire, Splendour Festival
AUGUST
08 – Newquay, Boardmasters Festival
29 – Portsmouth, Victorious Festival
Around the time ‘Hinge’ was released, Villanelle spoke to NME about what brought them together as a band, and how they supported Liam Gallagher (Gene’s dad) on his ‘Definitely Maybe’ 30th anniversary tour in 2024.
“It was a genuine passion and drive to bring back rock music again,” Taylor told NME of how they came to form the band. “Bands have been in the culture lately, but it was indie rock for a long time. Then it plateaued into an almost ‘pop’ band-y culture. We wanted to bring something back.”
The trio also made it onto the newly-launched NME 100 list too, with an entry that read: “Villanelle are doing things the old school way, both in terms of building a fanbase through sweaty, small gigs and in their commitment to a big night out: thudding hangovers inspired their first two singles, the searing, grungy ‘Measly Means’ and ‘Hinge’.
“The trio, who are fronted by Liam Gallagher’s son Gene, will continue to get their name out there – and expand their songwriting themes – with the ‘Measly Means’ EP in May. Get the painkillers ready.”
The post Villanelle face a hangover with “heightened visualizations of post session anxiety” on grunge-inspired new single ‘Placebo’ appeared first on NME.
