The Fratellis have postponed their ‘Costello Music’ 20th anniversary UK tour, citing “ongoing health issues”.
The Scottish indie band had been set to hit the road this week to celebrate two decades of their 2006 debut studio record, which peaked at Number Two in the UK and earned an 8/10 review from NME.
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Dates included a show at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, as well as stops in Nottingham, Cardiff, Norwich, Lincoln, Liverpool, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Portsmouth, Southend, Leeds, Newcastle and Bristol throughout this month.
However, The Fratellis have now confirmed that the UK gigs will no longer take place as planned “due to illness in the band”. They told fans that frontman Jon Fratelli is currently unwell and taking some time out to recover.
The group’s summer festival appearances, including TRNSMT, Y Not, Rock N Roll Circus and Neighbourhood Weekender, remain unaffected.
Tickets for the impacted dates remain valid for the rescheduled concerts, full details of which will be shared “as soon as possible”.
“We are really sad to announce that our ‘Costello Music’ 20th anniversary tour has been postponed,” The Fratellis wrote in a statement on social media.
“Unfortunately, Jon is unable to perform right now due to ongoing health issues. With the tour so close, it breaks our musical hearts to take this decision but in light of medical advice that Jon takes time to recover it’s the only sensible option.”
They continued: “Not long after The Fratellis were born (end of 2004/beginning of 2005 depending on who you argue with) we were faced with a far more serious medical obstacle that should have ended our dream there & then. The thing is we just point blank fucking refused to accept that we couldn’t do what we’d set out to do.
“Taking no for an answer was no answer at all. We had stuff to do. We were going where we were going. End Of. With a wee bit of time we’ll do now what we did then.. whatever it takes to get back onstage as quickly as possible, playing music for anyone who loves our thing as much as we do.”
The Fratellis said they’d been “blown away” by the response to their 20th anniversary tour, telling followers that they’re “disappointed” to be pushing it back. “We’ll do everything possible to announce the new dates ASAP,” they wrote.
“With the postponement of the tour we’re even more excited at the prospect of seeing many of you at our summer festival dates.. they really can’t come quickly enough. We love you all.”
‘Costello Music’ features the UK top five hit ‘Chelsea Dagger’, top 10 track ‘Whistle For The Choir’, and the top 20 single ‘Henrietta’.
Last summer saw The Fratellis perform in the Field Of Avalon at Glastonbury 2025 and open for Catfish And The Bottlemen at their huge show in Glasgow, while appearing at numerous other events.
Speaking to NME in 2022, Fratelli (real name Jon Lawler) remembered Justin Timberlake and Scissor Sisters beating The Fratellis to Number One following the release of ‘Costello Music’.
He also talked about the group’s music being described as “indie landfill”, telling NME: “Some might think it’s snobbery, but let’s face it, we’ve all got a bit of the snob about us – I certainly have.
“‘Chelsea Dagger’ produces this sort of total abandon that’s a pleasure to stand back and watch. Most nights you don’t even have to sing it ‘cause the audience will take care of that. It’s a song that’s never dipped below a level of sheer fucking happiness for us.”
The Fratellis have released six full-length studio albums overall, their latest being 2021’s ‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’. In a three-star review, NME said the record contained “10 classy, lush songs audibly inspired by ’60s girl group doo-wop”.
