Weekly International Music News Roundup

It has been another huge week for new music, live shows and big announcements. From Kasabian completing a three-album journey to the Sex Pistols adding more punk dates, the week of 31 August–4 September 2026 has delivered plenty for music fans to get excited about.

Here are the biggest international music stories from the last few days.

Kasabian release ACT III

Kasabian’s ninth studio album, ACT III, is out today, Friday 4 September, via Sony/Columbia.

Produced by Serge Pizzorno and Mark Ralph, the record features 10 tracks and three interludes. It also completes the trilogy that began with 2022’s The Alchemist’s Euphoria and continued with 2024’s Happenings.

Fans have already heard several tracks from the album, including:

• “Hippie Sunshine”
• “Great Pretender”
• “Superpowers”
• “Nothing Better Than This”

“Superpowers” arrived with a trailer starring actor Stephen Graham, while “Nothing Better Than This” gave fans the latest preview before release day.

The album follows another strong summer for the Leicester band, including their first-ever Thursday headline slot at Leeds Festival. Their new songs are expected to feature heavily when they head out on a major UK arena tour with The Vaccines later this year.

With ACT III now available, Kasabian have brought their latest chapter together in one energetic, shape-shifting collection. Whether you have followed the trilogy from the start or are discovering the band for the first time, this is a good weekend to press play.

Heading to one of the band’s upcoming shows? Rep your gig-day favourites with officially licensed band merch from Rock Universe.

Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter add six UK dates

The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter have added six new UK dates to their winter ’50 Years Of Punk’ / ‘Anarchy In The UK’ arena tour.

Tickets for the newly added shows went on general sale today, Friday 4 September, at 10am BST. The new dates are:

• 4 December – Leeds O2 Academy
• 5 December – Newcastle NX
• 12 December – Liverpool Olympia
• 14 December – Birmingham O2 Academy
• 15 December – Portsmouth Guildhall
• 16 December – Bristol Prospect Building

These dates join the previously announced shows:

• 7 December – Dublin 3Arena
• 9 December – Edinburgh Corn Exchange
• 10 December – Glasgow O2 Academy
• 18 December – London Brixton Academy
• 20 December – London Eventim Apollo

The tour celebrates 50 years since the Sex Pistols helped change the direction of British music. Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock are joined by Frank Carter, who became the band’s vocalist for their live return.

Speaking to NME, Jones described the current line-up as a “well-oiled machine” and praised Carter for getting the crowd moving.

The combination of the band’s classic songs and Carter’s high-energy stage presence should make these shows some of the most lively nights on the winter calendar.

Manic Street Preachers announce The Holy Bible Live

Manic Street Preachers have announced The Holy Bible Live, a major release built around their 2014 performances of the band’s dark and influential 1994 album.

The release arrives on 23 October 2026 across several formats, including:

• 2x 12-inch vinyl and a 3CD deluxe edition
• 2x blue marble 12-inch vinyl
• CD and Blu-ray
• Digital formats

The recordings come from the band’s three sold-out Roundhouse shows in December 2014. At those concerts, the Manics played The Holy Bible in full for the first time, wearing military-style outfits inspired by the original era.

The collection also includes Kieran Evans’ long-awaited concert film, Be Pure, Be Vigilant, Behave, as well as a new spatial audio mix of the original album by Steven Wilson.

For longtime fans, the release carries huge emotional weight. Bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire described The Holy Bible as “a record that still sort of scares me at times” and spoke about the live album as a tribute to Richey Edwards.

The band will also head out on a winter UK co-headline arena tour with Suede. The shows will give fans a chance to revisit the Manics’ catalogue while celebrating one of the most important and intense albums in British alternative rock.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs share Hidden In Pieces Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released Hidden In Pieces Live At The Royal Albert Hall, which is streaming now.

An expanded digital edition is also on the way, while vinyl and CD editions follow on 23 October. Fans can pre-order the physical release through the band’s official store, with the first 250 vinyl orders receiving a signed band photograph.

Most of the album was recorded during the band’s two June 2025 nights at the Royal Albert Hall. Additional performances come from San Diego, Chicago and New York, recorded during the group’s intimate 25th-anniversary theatre tour.

The set features reworked arrangements built around strings, piano and double bass. Songs receiving a fresh live treatment include:

• “Maps”
• “Gold Lion”
• “Zero”
• “Cheated Hearts”
• “Spitting Off The Edge Of The World”

The album also includes a cover of Björk’s “Hyperballad” and opens with “In Heaven”, the song from Eraserhead, as an ode to the late David Lynch.

A 22-minute black-and-white companion film, directed by Barnaby Clay, is available through the Criterion Channel. The whole project presents a more intimate and atmospheric side of Yeah Yeah Yeahs while keeping the emotional force of their live shows.

Kneecap announce huge FENIAN world tour

Kneecap announced their huge FENIAN world tour on Tuesday 1 September, setting up a reported 35-date run across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

The tour supports the group’s latest album, FENIAN, which reached Number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart and became their highest-charting album so far.

The UK and Ireland leg begins on 28 November in Southampton and finishes at Dublin’s 3Arena on 16 December. Other stops include Bristol, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool, Nottingham and more.

The UK dates include:

• 28 November – Southampton Guildhall
• 29 November – Bristol Prospect Building
• 1 December – Wolverhampton The Halls
• 3 December – Manchester Depot Mayfield
• 4 December – Newcastle O2 City Hall
• 9 December – Glasgow OVO Arena
• 12 December – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• 16 December – Dublin 3Arena

New UK, European and New Zealand dates went on general sale today at 10am BST. Fans can check the latest information through Kneecap’s official gig listings.

After a major Reading & Leeds appearance, the tour arrives at a perfect moment for Kneecap. Their live reputation continues to grow, and these arena dates look set to be some of the most talked-about shows of the winter.

Quick hits

• Miley announces Bass Persuades. Formerly known as Miley Cyrus, the singer has announced her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, arriving on 18 September via Atlantic. It is her first release under the mononym “Miley”. She has also confirmed Hollywood Bowl shows for 16 and 18 October, her first public concerts in four years.

• Beabadoobee shares “Memories”. The new single arrives ahead of Pylon, which is due on 18 September. She will support the album with The Powerlines Tour, her first arena run, including dates at Madison Square Garden and London’s O2. The single is available through her official “Memories” link.

• Lollapalooza India reveals its 2027 line-up. The Mumbai festival takes place on 23–24 January, with Limp Bizkit, Olivia Dean, Fontaines D.C. and KATSEYE set to headline their India debuts. 5 Seconds of Summer, St. Vincent and many more are also on the bill. Rolling Stone India has more details.

That’s the roundup

From new Kasabian music and punk history to ambitious live releases and huge world tours, this week has been all about keeping music moving forward while celebrating the past.

Fancy adding some music history to your wardrobe? Browse the latest officially licensed band T-shirts and clothing at Rock Universe, and find something that fits your sound.

We’ll be back next Friday with another international music news roundup.