Shame announce hiatus after final ‘Cutthroat’ shows: “This is by no means a goodbye”

Shame announced they will pause operations after completing the final shows of the ‘Cutthroat’ tour.

The South London group confirmed the move in an Instagram statement posted yesterday, August 28.

“After an extraordinary year touring ‘Cutthroat’, connecting with many new people and benefiting from the chance to travel worldwide to share our music, we have reached the last shows of this record’s itinerary,” the band said. “Following that, we intend a short intermission.”

Though the decision was not made lightly, we believe it is the right choice both personally and as a collective to take a break, and we promise to return stronger—deadlier and better than ever—to deliver your fifth Shame album.

This is certainly not a goodbye; it is a ‘see you later.’ Lots of love.

The group recently closed with a performance at Green Man in Wales on August 21, and will then give their three final UK gigs – in Huddersfield (The Parish), Sheffield (Crookes Social Club) and Manchester (Projekts Skatepark) – before entering the hiatus cycle.

The band’s final tour stop was at Green Man in Wales on August 21; subsequent concerts will be held in Huddersfield, Sheffield and Manchester before the break begins. See available tickets here.

Shame’s remaining 2026 live dates are:

SEPTEMBER
2 – Huddersfield, The Parish
3 – Sheffield, Crookes Social Club
4 – Manchester, Projekts Skatepark

‘Cutthroat’ was released in September last year via Dead Oceans, fusing electronic touches, jangle pop and spaghetti‑western flair into their signature post‑punk sound.

In an interview ahead of its launch, frontman Charlie Steen described his intent for the record as a broad social commentary rather than an overt political declaration. “The album lacks a direct political agenda; instead it offers an external perspective on contemporary issues.”

“I wanted to look outward rather than inward, documenting the kinds of characters—cowards, hypocrites, and the morally ambiguous—that appear around me,” he explained.

The tracklist highlights ‘To And Fro’ and ‘After Party’ amid electronic moments, and the quirky, spaghetti‑western pastiche ‘Lampià,’ along with the crisp jangle‑pop song ‘Spartak.’

NME awarded the album four stars, praising its depth, noting how tracks like ‘To And Fro’ blend electronic edge with the atmospheric flair of ‘Lampià,’ while ‘Spartak’ delivers pure jangle‑pop authenticity.

“Each song is risky yet stays true to Shame’s distinctive voice, proving the project’s boldness without losing its identity.”

Earlier this year, Steen went viral recounting a drunken incident in an elevator, framing the story as a lesson in friendship thanks to a manager who helped clean up the aftermath.

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