Aural Aggravation

Legendary psych outfit Gong are back today with their new single ‘Stars In Heaven’ alongside a brand new music video created by Drain Hope. The band have also teased the release of their new album which fans will see in 2026 and shared the album’s name – Bright Spirit.

“It’s such an eclectic record,” says singer and guitarist Kavus Torabi. “This is the most colourful and kaleidoscopic album so far from this incarnation of the band. There are Eastern-infused epics, long instrumental jazz-inspired sections, meditative and cosmic detours and blistering, incendiary psychedelic rock. When picking the first song to be released, it has felt as if there’s an extra weight on the choice, as if the song somehow has to represent the whole album.”

Lyrically it expands on the idea that the world is as you are. “If you are a cynical, defensive or suspicious person, then that’s the world you’ll inhabit,” continues Kavus. “You’ll see mean-spirited behaviour and selfishness all around you but it’s always a choice. I think perhaps some people forget that. That’s not the world I live in, nor would I want to. It’s a sad old world for sure but it’s also a beautiful one bursting with hope, possibility, wonder and magic in every single moment.”

‘Stars In Heaven’ is the first single to be released from the new album Bright Spirit which will be released in 2026 on Kscope. Bright Spirit continues the legendary Gong catalogue – an extensive and acclaimed collection of releases that has seen Gong produce over 30 studio albums during a career spanning more than 50 years, since the band was founded in 1970 by the late Daevid Allen.

Gong continue to carry the torch ignited by Daevid Allen with their UK tour alongside fellow psych legends HENGE currently underway -  

UK TOUR DATES 2025/26

GONG – UK

Nov 08 – Bedford Esquires, Bedford

Nov 14 – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis

Nov 15 – The Boileroom, Guildford

Nov 16 – The Piper, St Leonards

Nov 25 – Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich

Nov 29 – Club 85, Hitchin

GONG & HENGE – UK

Nov 05 – The 1865, Southampton

Nov 06 – Trinity Centre, Bristol

Nov 07 – Dreamland, Margate

Nov 09 – Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester

Nov 11 – The Globe, Cardiff

Nov 12 – Exeter Phoenix, Exeter

Nov 13 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth

Nov 19 – Crookes Social Club, Sheffield

Nov 20 – The Leeds Irish Centre Leeds

Nov 21 – Northumbria Students’ Union, Newcastle

Nov 22 – Kanteena, Lancaster

Nov 23 – St Luke’s Glasgow, Glasgow

Nov 26 – Cambridge Junction, Cambridge

Nov 27 – The Robin, Bilston

Nov 28 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Nov 30 – Earth Hall, London

Mar 19 – Chalk, Brighton

Mar 20 – Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury

Mar 21 – Hangar 18, Swansea

Mar 26 – The Drill, Lincoln

Mar 27 – New Century Hall, Manchester

Mar 28 – Hangar 34, Liverpool

AA