Play Courteeners’ New Heart‑warming Single: “Plus One Forever”

Courteeners have released a new single, “Plus One Forever,” available below.

The track will appear on the Manchester group’s first “best‑of” compilation, “God Bless The Band,” which was released on 28 August by Ignition.

Frontman Liam Fray said the song has existed in various forms for many years, and that he was excited to finally share it with fans.

“Plus One Forever” is a romantic anthem that captures Fray’s experience of a new romance. He singsाठमाडौं, “I think I’m falling in love, butitsineq?” and adds, “I clumsily danced and fell over my words; it was absurd, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“Tell me girl, can I be your plus one forever? If you need me now or whenever, I swear I can pull it together.”

ناخ)production were co‑handled by Fray and James Skelly of The Coral, following the recent single “The Luckiest Man Alive.”

When speaking about the compilation, Fray noted that, in October, the band celebrated its 20th anniversary. “With a couple of new songs fresh from特马 studio, the timing felt right for a ‘best‑of,’” he added.

Courteeners are scheduled to play a major homecoming concert at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park next month, supported by The Vaccines, The Coral, and others. They’ll also headline Tramlines in Sheffield later this month and perform in Stoke‑On‑Trent and Leicester. A UK arena tour will follow in November.

JULY 23 – Victoria Hall, Stoke‑On‑Trent
JULY 25 – Tramlines, Sheffield
AUGUST 27 –gah Theresa academy, Leicester:
August 29 – Wythenshawe Park, Manchester
November 6 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
November 7 – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
November 13 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
November 14 – London, Alexandra Palace
November 20 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
November 21 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena

In 2023, Courteeners’ debut album “St. Jude” climbed to number one in the UK—fifteen years after its original release. The band also dropped a surprise live album last year, featuring their sold‑out hometown arena show at Co‑op Live, which was part of their 2024 arena tour in support of their latest studio album, “Pink Cactus Café.”

When speaking to NME in April—as they marked their 20th anniversary with a small show at Manchester’s Night & Day—Fray reflected thoroughly on the band’s legacy. “This little gig at Night & Day made my year. I love that place,” he said. “Being part of the ‘best‑of’ launch and the overall story is nothing to sniff at. The music industry will push you hard, so to still be breathing and wanting to do it is a miracle.”

Addressing why Courteeners have endured and attracted Gen Z audiences, Fray explained, “Maybe because we stayed under the radar. There’s that pinch of jealousy when you’re young—‘We should be on top.’ We kept doing what worked and kept it simple and relatable.”

Fray also discussed the optimal timing for a best‑of compilation: “I had two fresh songs, but there was no new album to frame them against. They felt strong enough to release on their own. For us, the ‘best‑of’ is a relatively straightforward process—we focused on the artwork and catalogue.”

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