“The Automatic have become the band they always wanted to be, and ‘Steve McQueen’ epitomises this, brutally showcasing their heavier, more grown up sound” – NME

Following a reshuffle in the band’s ranks since their double gold-certified debut album, The Automatic return with a brilliant new single ‘Steve McQueen’.

Steve McQueen is the perfect embodiment of the The Automatic sound. The lead single from forthcoming second album ‘This Is A Fix’ (out 25th August), it’s a white-hot epic, featuring a brilliantly addictive chorus and crunching guitars, while lyrically it’s a romantic reference to growing up in Cowbridge and dreaming of the Great Escape.

It’s also the first track to feature The Automatic’s new line up. While founding keyboard player Alex Pennie has left to pursue other projects, in – though not as a direct replacement – is former Yourcodenameis:milo frontman Paul Mullen, adding another flank to James Frost’s guitar assault, and providing melodic counterpoint to Rob Hawkins’ vocals. All built upon Iwan Griffiths’ pummeling drums, it makes up for a bigger, fatter sound, just as dynamic, just as melodic, but simply ’more’

Produced by Steve Harris (Kaiser Chiefs), ‘Steve McQueen’ will feature three brand new tracks across CD and two 7”s while the digital download will also feature live and acoustic versions of the single. It is also accompanied by a Paul Minor (Muse, Editors) directed video, shot recently in the Mojave Desert.

Meanwhile, following a headline performance on the Love Music Hate Racism Stage at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, The Automatic have been confirmed to play the main stage at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals before embarking on a full UK tour at the end of September:

23rd August - Reading Festival

24th August - Leeds Festival

28th September - Oxford Academy

30th September - Birmingham Academy 2

1st October - Northumbria University

2nd October - Manchester Academy 2

3rd October - Glasgow Garage

4th October - Nottingham Rescue Rooms

6th October - Sheffield Academy

7th October - Bristol Trinity

8th October - London Scala