The Cure confirmed to perform two live sessions for the BBC
The Cure will be performing two special shows for BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2 later this month, ahead of the release of their newest album in 16 years, Songs of a Lost World.
The legendary group will record the exclusive sets at BBC Radio Theatre in London’s Broadcasting House, and will cover old classics alongside some new songs from the latest record.
The band’s set for 6 Music will be broadcast between a special interview with Huw Stephens on October 31st, while the setup for Radio 2 will take place in front of a small audience on October 30th and be broadcast on the station with Jo Whiley the following day on the station.
Following a long hiatus, with the new material being the first since 2008’s 4:13 Dream, frontman Robert Smith recognised the significance of the shows in anticipation of the fan’s enjoyment. “It’s not often we perform such intimate shows, so we’re really looking forward to this, and to sharing more tracks from the new album for the first time,” he told the BBC.
The shows will be available on BBC iPlayer from October 31st for 30 days. On November 2nd, BBC Two will also air the band’s show with Radio 2 with a brand new The Cure at the BBC compilation set. The channel will also roll out previous films That Was Then…This Is Now: The Cure, The Cure at Glastonbury 2019, and Rock Around the Clock: The Cure.
Of course, all of this follows high anticipation of the band’s new record, Songs of a Lost World, which features the previously unveiled single ‘Alone’, a track that fans first caught a glimpse of during its debut radio play slot on Mary Anne Hobbs’ Radio 6 Music weekday show.
The Cure’s new album Songs of a Lost World
The sign of a brand new The Cure album first surfaced in 2022 when Smith floated the idea of an album called Songs of a Lost World. After a series of mysterious delays, the band completed the first single ‘Alone’, and the rest began to flow with unexpected ease—mainly because the inspiration behind the first track arrived loud and clear.
‘Alone’ presented a monumental return for the band, with its overwhelming surge of intro sounds and Smith’s seemingly unchanged poignant vocals leading the way into a new, albeit nostalgic, territory. However, placing ‘Alone’ at the fore of such an important comeback wasn’t always the plan, but the moment when Smith realised its significance, the rest became “unlocked.”
The musician previously explained of ‘Alone’: “‘Alone’ is the track that unlocked the record. As soon as we had that track recorded, I knew it was the opening song and I felt the whole album come into focus. I’d been struggling to find the right opening line for the right opening song for a while, working with the simple idea of being ‘Alone’ always in the back of my mind.”
Songs of a Lost World is the band’s most accomplished and daring effort yet, according to Smith himself. “Essentially it’s a 12 track album. It’s there, it’s kind of half-mixed and half-finished,” the frontman told NME.
Continuing: It’s a weird thing. It’s kind of evolved over the last two years. It hasn’t always been a good thing to have been left alone with it. You pick at it, like picking at seams, and everything falls apart. It’ll be worth the wait. I think it’s the best thing we’ve done, but then I would say that.”
Songs of a Lost World is scheduled for release on November 1st via Capitol Records. It has been written and arranged by Smith, who co-produced and mixed the record with Paul Crockett, who previously teamed up with The Cure on Bloodflowers.
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