ARCANE ROOTS have released a new single!
The Kingston upon Thames-based alternative rock band have returned with their first new music since 2018, releasing the six‑minute single A Wave, Across The Sea. The track arrives via their new label home Big Scary Monsters, who celebrate their 25th anniversary this year – a full‑circle moment for a band who once dreamed of signing with them at the start of their career.
Following their hiatus in 2018, the members of ARCANE ROOTS went in separate directions – relocating, starting families, and in some cases stepping away from music entirely – but the sense that the band would one day reunite never fully disappeared. Their return also marks a shift in lineup, expanding from a trio to include founding member Daryl Atkins and Icelandic composer Bjarni Biering, signalling a new creative era.
From vocalist/guitarist Andrew Groves on the reformation, “when we disbanded the band in 2018, it was always with the understanding that we could return one day under better circumstances. Founding drummer Daryl Atkins & myself had long been looking for a way to continue creating together, after him needing to leave ARCANE ROOTS in 2015. Our busy work schedules had other plans however and it wasn’t until a chance meeting with Icelandic composer Bjarni Biering, after relocating to Iceland in 2019, that we struck upon the unlikely songwriting partnership that we have today. Within a short time we felt we had something to share and began to set the stage to see if this could become the supergroup we’d all dreamed of. We’re still exploring that to this day, that excitement & challenge commands absolutely everything we do and it feels completely limitless right now.”
Listen to A Wave, Across The Sea here:
ARCANE ROOTS have also been confirmed for two exclusive festival appearances in 2026. The band will headline the Axiom Stage at 2000trees Festival on Friday July 10th, followed by a stripped‑back Forest Stage set on Saturday July 11th. They will also perform at ArcTanGent Festival between August 19th–22nd. Warm‑up shows are planned, with details to be revealed via the band’s mailing list and Discord.
On this live return, Groves says, “if you were going to ask me where I would want to present such a pivotal event in our lives, 2000trees & ATG would be the immediate retort. They have always served as both a source of raucous celebration and loving home-away-from-home for us… There is nowhere more fitting for us to share our new findings with.”
Tour dates are as follows:
• July 8–11 – 2000trees Festival (two sets)
• August 19–22 – ArcTanGent Festival
For more information on ARCANE ROOTS like their official page on Facebook.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source distortedsoundmag.com ’
