The Darkness have kicked off the 2025 festivities with a gloriously over the top cover of Cliff Richard’s Christmas classic Mistletoe And Wine. Released yesterday via Cooking Vinyl, the track arrived on the fifth day of Advent with a suitably festive video and a big dose of the band’s tongue in cheek British rock swagger.
As the cracker pops, synths dance around the unmistakable melody while Heavy, strung out riffs drive the song forward. Bells ring, a powerful rhythmic stomp locks in and Justin Hawkins’ passionate vocal performance soars, bolstered by stacked choral harmonies that turn the song into a full scale seasonal anthem.
Speaking about the single, Justin says: “Season’s greetings! Children, roasting on an open fire, their eyeballs all aglow, are weeping in awe of our latest seasonal offering. Mistletoe And Wine represents a musical departure for The Darkness as we reimagine Richie Clifton’s timeless classic and add a few sprinkles of shoegaze and drone. Jack Frost staring at his toes? You will be too. In a good way.”
The release closes out another triumphant year for The Darkness. In April they rocketed to Number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart with their eighth studio record ‘Dreams On Toast’, the band’s most successful release since their iconic debut ‘Permission To Land’. That first album has recently been crowned the most successful British rock album of the 21st century, and the band’s latest material is already being embraced as future favourites.
The Darkness launched Dreams On Toast with a run of sold out shows across the UK, including a headline return to Wembley Arena, before taking their live celebration through Europe, Australia and the USA. New songs slotted in seamlessly alongside their multi platinum, award winning catalogue, proving the band remain a formidable force in contemporary Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.
Looking ahead, 2026 is already shaping up to be very merry and very loud. The Darkness will join Iron Maiden at Knebworth Park on 11 July 2026, bringing their high voltage live show to one of the UK’s most storied rock fields. They will then embark on their largest headline tour in 20 years, a seven date arena trek across the UK this December.
The December run kicks off at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on 8 December and wraps up with the band’s debut headline appearance at The O2 in London on 16 December. Along the way they will hit Leeds’ FD Arena, Manchester’s AO Arena, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, Cardiff’s Utilita Arena and the Brighton Centre. Joining them on all dates will be GRAMMY winning American country rockers Brothers Osborne and UK rock favourites A.
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Tickets are available from aegpresents.co.uk/event/the-darkness-3.
