The Guest List unveil powerful music video for EP title track 'When The Lights Are Out'...

Video Still - Directed by Ewan Ogden

Manchester Breakthroughs Release Powerful Video For

EP Title Track ‘When The Lights Are Out’

April/May 2026 UK Headline Tour Announced

Including 4 Rescheduled Dates: Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol & Brighton

The Guest List, today release an extremely powerful music video to the title track of their brand new EP When The Lights Are Out - out now.

The video follows the quiet, heavy routine of a young working man in the UK, portraying the emotional weight he carries as he battles stress, relationship strain, and the pressure to appear strong. As the lyrics explore fear, exhaustion, and intrusive thoughts, the visuals reinforce the message that men are often taught to stay silent, even when they’re breaking. It ends with a clear call for openness and support, highlighted by references to three mental-health charities - Mentell Charity, Men's Minds Matter, and CALM - underscoring its central theme: men need to talk, and help is available. Watch here.

The video comes off the back of a rapturous November headline tour saw the band play to 6,000 fans - including three consecutive nights at London’s Camden Assembly - plus a huge 1,300-capacity hometown date at Manchester’s New Century Hall. It’s been a run that puts them into pole position as one of Britain’s next breakthrough live acts.

Described by Rolling Stone UK as “a thrillingly ambitious statement of intent that takes in sludgy desert rock moments reminiscent of Humbug-era Arctic Monkeys and even heads into dream pop territory,” one of Dork’s ‘HYPE’ bands for 2026, & 1883 Magazine hailing the fast-rising Manchester five-piece as “one of the most exciting new guitar bands to emerge in recent years”, The Guest List are fast establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

A powerful exploration of modern anxieties and human resilience When The Lights Are Out blends sonic depth with emotional intensity. Across its tracks, the band tackles generational trauma, self-doubt, mental health, and the climate crisis through raw storytelling and ambitious soundscapes.

Our new EP is our proudest release yet”, explains frontman Cai Alty. “These five songs have been rehearsed, recorded, gigged with, and rewritten over and over for the last three years to get to where they are now. They have given us the freedom to make what we want to make, and to talk about what we care about. They have taken us around Europe and the UK and have introduced us to some of the most creative people we've ever had the privilege of working with. We hope there's something in them for you.”

Formed in early 2021, The Guest List: Cai Alty (vocals/guitar), Tom Quigley (lead guitar), Leio Hunter (rhythm guitar), Sid Wallace (bass) and Angus Gilchrist (drums), came together as school friends and music students, initially bonding over a love of The Strokes. Posting high-octane indie covers on TikTok, they quickly amassed over 400,000 followers and nearly 8 million likes, before carving out their own lane with original material. With early singles like Canada, London and Loose Tongue (produced by The Coral’s James Skelly) drawing comparisons to Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender and Radiohead, the band are rapidly becoming one of the UK’s most essential young acts.

Their rise has been powered by both Cai’s emotive, socially-conscious writing and their formidable live set. The Guest List have supported Inhaler, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, Blossoms, Razorlight, The Snuts and The K’s, while a huge festival run in 2025 saw them play Glastonbury, The Great Escape, TRNSMT, Truck, Kendal Calling, Neighbourhood Weekender, Sound City, London Calling and Y Not. Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale caught their Glastonbury set, Courteeners frontman Liam Fray has praised their songwriting, and BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins has been an early champion.

The band will return to the road across April & May next year to conquer more towns and cities across the UK, as well as perform 4 rescheduled dates from the November tour. Full dates below.

With over 5.2 million Spotify streams, 80,000 YouTube subscribers, and a dedicated fanbase cutting across tribes and demographics, The Guest List are making music for now: bold, unflinching and built to connect. With collaborations from visual artist Lydia Smith (@lyds.m.art) bringing striking artwork to their releases, and new music with Bergen producer Matias Tellez already in the pipeline.

The Guest List are heading into 2026 primed for a breakout year.

When The Lights Are Out is also available as a super limited run of 10" vinyl and CD, here.

APRIL/MAY HEADLINE DATES

April

7th DUBLIN 1, Academy 2

9th BLACKPOOL, Bootleg Social

10th KINGSTON UPON HULL, Polar Bear Music Club

11th EDINBURGH, Cabaret Voltaire

12th HEBDEN BRIDGE, Hebden Bridge Trades Club

13th PRESTON, The Ferret

15th LIVERPOOL, Arts Club

16th STOKE-ON-TRENT, The Sugarmill

17th BEDFORD, Esquires

18th PORTSMOUTH, Kola

RESCHEDULED DATES

20th SOUTHAMPTON, The Joiners Arms

22nd CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach

23rd BRISTOL, Exchange

24th BRIGHTON, Dukes at Komedia Picturehouse