“Something very exciting is going to happen. Maybe more than one thing that’s exciting is going to happen.”
The Charlatans will be in Manchester next week(Image: Cat Stevens)
While 2025 has been dominated by the year of that BIG Manchester rock ‘n’ roll comeback (more on which later), it’s nice to rejoice in one of indie music’s strongest survival stories.
The Charlatans have been together now for 35 years, having faced some incredible highs and tragic lows along the way. All while soundtracking fans’ lives with anthems like Tellin’ Stories, Then, How High, One To Another and North Country Boy.
The band return to Manchester next week for their first big show of the year, at Castlefield Bowl for the return of the Sounds of the City run of outdoor gigs.
They’re busy rehearsing for the gig at their Cheshire music studio bolt-hole when the MEN catches up with frontman Tim Burgess over zoom.
And we are immediately presented with one of the first of many surprises during our call. For gone is Tim’s signature blonde mop of recent years – returned instead to his dark roots.
And for a moment I feel like I’ve got the cherubic 1990s Tim of university poster days looking back at me. “New face, new band”, laughs Tim when I point out the new barnet.
“Maybe that’s the first surprise that people can expect at the Manchester show,” he teases.
Ah yes, surprises. Tim reckons fans heading along to the Castlefield gig are in for a few.
Tim pictured with his blonde hair – he’s now gone back to his roots(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“Something very exciting is going to happen in the show, that’s all I can say. It’s top secret, but something very exciting is going to happen.”
After a month where UK music fans have seen Sir Paul McCartney turn up to duet with Bruce Springsteen, Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay jam with Dua Lipa and Self Esteem sing with Robbie Williams, I suggest to Tim it’s de rigueur to bring out a surprise superstar guest this summer.
His face lights up again and he says: “It’s always great to have a guest… ” Before abruptly adding: “I’m not saying whether it is a guest. But something very exciting is going to happen. Maybe more than one thing that’s exciting is going to happen. Maybe a new jumper, something like that.”
Or, like his new hair I add. He deadpans: “Well that’s exciting for a start. There’s not going to be any major change from how you see it right now, It might hopefully be a little less dishevelled.”
The Charlatans will play Castlefield Bowl on July 3(Image: Cat Stevens)
Tim meanders about the band’s eclectic Big Mushroom music studios and HQ as he chats, pausing so I can ask about the gold discs I can spy on the wall (one for 2001’s Wonderland, another for their 1990 debut Some Friendly). “They’re not mine, they’re Martin’s, I gave mine all away”, he adds.
It seems a good time to ask if the band are busy working on some new material, given their last album now was 2017’s Different Days.
And yep, another surprise.
For Tim says: “We have been working on some new material, it’s when that comes out I’m not sure…. whether some of it will ever see the light of day.
“We’re enjoying being in each other’s company, I’m not saying we don’t normally because we always do, but it’s been a long time since our last album and we’ve just been taking it step by step really but there’s a few new little things.”
Will any of those “new things” make the setlist I ask?
Tim Burgess of The Charlatans performing at the Manchester Arena in 2018(Image: Sean Hansford/Manchester Evening News)
“We’re figuring out a set list right now as we speak,” he says. “And looking at the best opener for The Charlatans, so I think we’re going to go with Forever, that’s a great one and should open up things really well.”
Talk turns to the buzz in Manchester right now, not least thanks to the big reunion of the city’s most famous brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, who Tim has long had a history with, and with Oasis in general.
Will he go to see them? “I haven’t asked, but of course I’d love to see them. I think people are very excited to see the brothers back together – I’m pleased for all of them, I know Bonehead, I’ve been good friends with Andy Bell for a long time, I played with Liam a few years ago and he sang at the Royal Albert Hall memorial for Jon Brookes [The Charlatans’ drummer who died aged just 44 in 2013].”
While everyone loves a comeback, it’s also notable to celebrate the success of a band like The Charlatans who have stayed firmly together despite the heart-wrenching tragedies they’ve been through.
The Charlatans have been together for 35 years(Image: Cat Stevens)
Tim says: “I think that’s a huge thing that we’ve never split up, we’ve been together 35 years. Obviously there’s been the ups and downs with Rob Collins [who died aged 33 in 1996] and Jon that everybody knows about.
“But we just seem to have this chemistry and we listen to each other, respect each other and love each other very much. It’s one of my biggest achievements without a doubt, probably my biggest achievement.”
While The Charlatans have long been associated with the “Madchester” scene, they also have connections with the Midlands, and to Northwich in Cheshire where Tim (who was born in Salford) grew up. Tim’s mum remains in Northwich so he’s regular popping over there, and we recall how great the North by Northwich event the band put on in the town back in 2018.
He says: “You do something once and if it’s a success you want to do it again, but you also want to do something else.”
As we return to the thought of the Castlefield gig next week, I ask if the band are prepared for whatever weather Manchester might be about to through at them.
Tim laughs: “We did a little bit of merch with umbrellas with How High on them. So I’ve got a spare one of them I might have to use.”
And any more teasers of what to expect from the show?
“Potentially an interactive thing with waving at the train, who knows?” He laughs. “I’m not going to give anything away.”
The Charlatans play Castlefield Bowl, with special guests Embrace and The Coral, on Thursday, July 3. For tickets see ticketmaster.co.uk