The Maccabees debuted a new song ‘Ballad Of So Long’ at their intimate Edinburgh show last night – check out footage and the full setlist below.
The reunited indie band played Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange on Monday (July 6), the first of two intimate warm-up shows ahead of their summer 2026 outdoor run.
During the set, Orlando Weeks and co aired the previously unreleased ‘Ballad Of So Long’, with the frontman asking the crowd: “Would anyone like to hear a new song? OK, just remember this is the first time, it’s like introducing a new person. Be polite – you don’t have to be super friendly, they’re new to the party.”
The band then launched into the track, a warm, slow-burner with a twinkling lead guitar motif and quietly passionate vocals from Weeks, as he lingers on the refrain, “I loved you so much”.
Watch the ‘Ballad Of So Long’ performance here:
‘Ballad Of So Long’ was one of two unfamiliar titles spotted in the band’s rehearsal post last month, alongside another song called ‘She’, which prompted fans to speculate that the band could indeed be preparing to play new material on the road.
The Maccabees played:
‘Love You Better’
‘Latchmere’
‘Lego’
‘Feel To Follow’
‘Kamakura’
‘Young Lions’
‘Wall Of Arms’
‘First Love’
‘Precious Time’
‘Can You Give It’
‘Spit It Out’
‘Silence’
‘Toothpaste Kisses’
‘X-Ray’
‘Marks To Prove It’
‘Ballad Of So Long’
‘Something Like Happiness’
Encore:
‘No Kind Words’
‘Grew Up At Midnight’
‘Pelican’
The band continue their run tonight (July 7) at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall, before heading to London’s Alexandra Palace Park on July 9. See their complete set of dates below and find any remaining tickets here.
The Maccabees’ remaining 2026 tour dates are:
JULY
7 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
9 – London, Alexandra Palace Park
11 – Cornwall, The Eden Sessions
23 – Bristol, Amphitheatre – Siren
24-26 – Abingdon, Truck Festival
25 – Brighton, On The Beach
31 – Leeds, Kirkstall Abbey
Speaking to NME ahead of their reunion shows, the band reflected on last year’s gigs together.
“I loved it, it’s my favourite memories of playing with Maccs,” Weeks said. “I just thought it was a total pleasure, and I thought the shows were amazing – to see how much it seemed to matter to people.
“Even from a practical point of view, if you take away the emotional, sentimental goodness of it, we all know how to do it and we’ve been away for long enough that to redo it is so nice. It’s a shock at how natural it all feels, having had time away from it.”
Speaking about the prospect of new music, Weeks added: “I would say we’re slightly further on than just talking about it, but we’re not a long way on. I live in Lisbon, so it’s harder for me to just get in a room, but I think the fact that we’re doing these shows is a good opportunity to put a fire under us. We’ll see.”
The band also recently got involved with War Child’s Secret 7” record auction, contributing their 2009 track ‘No Kind Words’ to the initiative. Weeks, who is also an artist and illustrator, told NME the song fit with the figures he has been creating in his visual work.
The band also recently played Harry Styles’ Meltdown festival last month.
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