The Lilacs are getting closer to the release of their debut album Keeping Up With The Joneses, but they’re not making us wait until then for more new music.
The Wigan four-piece have released their latest single Put The World To Rights, and it’s the kind of track that feels made for a crowd to sing back at them.
Big hooks and plenty of energy are at the heart of the new song, which follows What’s The Worst That Can Happen? and arrives after a summer that has seen the band spending plenty of time doing exactly what they do best – playing live.
Put The World To Rights also gives us another glimpse of what to expect from Keeping Up With The Joneses. Previous singles Miss Behavin’ and Girl Behind The Bar have already started shaping the sound of the record, while fan favourites Grace and Vicarage Road have been given fresh recordings for the album.
For anyone who has followed The Lilacs for a while, finally getting to their debut album feels like a significant moment.
Ollie Anglesea and Sam Birchall formed the band before releasing Vicarage Road in 2019, with Matt Johnson and Dave Gomersall completing the line-up. Since then, they’ve steadily built a loyal following rather than appearing from nowhere overnight.
Grace brought more attention their way in 2023, while 2025’s The 395 (To Forever) EP reached the Top 10 of the Independent Albums Chart.
But live music has always been a huge part of The Lilacs’ story.
They’ve shared stages with Lottery Winners and fellow Wigan band The Lathums, appeared at festivals including Isle of Wight and Truck and reached the point where they could sell out a 2,700-capacity headline show in Manchester.
This summer has pushed things even further. After heading to the Czech Republic for Rock For People, they’ve played Kendal Calling, Tramlines and Latitude, with their first Leeds Festival appearance still to come.
And 2027 is already looking pretty big too.
The Lilacs will head out on their biggest headline tour so far, including a show at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse – quite the jump for a band whose story started with Vicarage Road seven years ago.
Getting to this point hasn’t been without some much bigger challenges away from music. Sam was recently given the all-clear from cancer following a year of treatment, something he has spoken about publicly with both ITV and the BBC.
Now, with Keeping Up With The Joneses on its way and Put The World To Rights offering another taste of what’s to come, The Lilacs are heading towards a debut album that has been a long time in the making.
And judging by this latest single, they’re making sure there will be plenty for those festival and headline crowds to shout back at them when it finally arrives.
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