Written by Pippa Dale
It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for Overpass fans – setting the tone for what’s to be a massive year for this upcoming Birmingham band. 2025 saw the release of their second EP Dependent, plenty of sold-out headline shows and the band opening for some amazing acts such as The Amazons and The Wombats. So, it’s no wonder their fanbase has grown hugely across the year as more indie-rock-fanatics fall in love with their infectiously feel-good live shows and their addictive short and sweet EPs.
Overpass wasted no time enticing us into what they had in store for 2026 – they were teasing the extremely coveted release of Union Station on January 1st. The ecstatic hype around this track’s eventual release came from the many times it was played at the band’s energetic gigs across the year. Its’ electrifying, uplifting chorus and unique, catchy sound set it apart as a fan favourite unreleased track. The inevitable love for this contagious banger made it no surprise it was released swiftly into the year on January 14th, as the first single for the simultaneously announced debut album Elsewhere, Always releasing this summer. The excitement is already boiling over among the loyal fanbase – this will be their first extended body of work and will no doubt give the band more room to show off their incredible talents: everything from Max Newbold’s impressive vocal range to Elliot Rawlings intricate guitar work.
But let’s cast back to late 2025, to when some very exciting emails dropped into our inboxes. The band surprised their mailing list with access to tickets to four secret, unannounced shows in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow in January. This was a real testament for how much they value their loyal fans, giving us a chance to see such a special show in a small, intimate venue.
I was lucky enough to be at the Birmingham show at The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath. It was such a special show – knowing the exciting year ahead and being among the first to hear new tracks off the upcoming album such as Fall in love and Bonnie & Clyde Pt.2, among all the timeless favourites such as Take it Or Leave It and Beautiful. The crowd had a tangible energy, singing along to every lyric and riff, jumping and dancing from the very first electrifying verse of Union Station to the nostalgic outro of 3AM. You could feel the energetic drums from Jake Bishop and the mellow bass from Indie Summer Armstrong right up to the back wall – the room was alive with music. Their humble yet high-spirited stage presence and immense live sound never ceases to amaze me – with every performance I see, I fall in love with them even more.
And the excitement doesn’t stop there…Overpass have announced their album tour dates, spanning across October and November 2026 and visiting cities such as Dublin, Bristol, Sheffield and London. But, perhaps most thrilling of all, they are heading back to their hometown to perform at the 02 Academy in Birmingham – which will be their biggest headline show to date. Eager eyed fans at the Birmingham secret show would have spotted a handful of mysterious posters dotted around the venue reading Birmingham 7/11/26 – which we now know was a hint to this iconic show’s announcement the next day!
The waiting is now the hardest part – but the band are playing a handful of festivals around this summer such as TRNSMT, London Calling and YNOT to keep us satisfied in the meantime. Overpass have definitely started their year off on the right foot and who knows what else is to come! Whatever this incredible band have in store for us next, one thing is for certain, that 2026 is going to be their year.
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