British avant-punk band Blue Bendy have returned with new single "Poke", their first new music since releasing their debut LP So Medieval back in 2024.

Listen to "Poke" in the visualizer below:

Frontman Arthur Nolan explains that the lyrics for "Poke" were a reaction to “terrible hedonistic tendencies” and what happens when they meet “rural social reclusion.” "But for me it’s just like any fetishised nostalgic romance pop song," he says. "Who started the rumour of my insanity, and is a Facebook poke still hot ten years on? This pretty much sums up our last 18 months perfectly. Maybe with a pinch of salt.”

The press release also revealed that in the 18-month period following the release of So Medieval, the band nearly broke up. Blue Bendy have weathered that storm, and now has introduced a new lineup of musicians: Dina Willcock and Tristan Petsola take up the bass guitar and drums respectively, joining brothers Arthur (vocals) and Oliver Nolan (guitar), Olivia Morgan (piano and synth) and Joseph Nash (guitar).

Whether "Poke" is a standalone single or part of a larger project isn't clear as of yet. The band will head out on tour with Floodlights this September, with addiontal dates in the UK. On October 31st, the band will open for Black Country, New Road at 02 Academy Brixton in London.

Full list of tour dates below:

09/04/2025 – London, UK @ Village Underground *
09/05/2025 – Paris, FR @ Popup *
09/07/2025 – Amsterdam, NL @ Cinetol *
09/09/2025 – Nijmegen, NL @ Merleyn*
09/10/2025 – Berlin, DE @ Badehaus *
09/12/2025 – Cologne, DE @ Artheatre *
09/13/2025 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Club *
09/18/2025 – Edinburgh, UK @ Mash House
09/19/2025 – Manchester, UK @ Gullivers
09/20/2025 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
10/28/2025 – Oxford, UK @ Little Bully
10/29/2025 – Ipswich, UK @ Smokehouse
10/31/2025 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton #
02/05/2026 – London, UK @ Oslo

* w/ Floodlights
# w/ Black Country, New Road

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