Rising Suffolk alt-pop outfit AFTERDRIVE are stepping up the momentum with the release of their brand new single Jewellery, the latest track to emerge from their forthcoming debut EP, Dress To Drive.
Afterdrive
Following the breakout response to previous singles Fashion and Neon View, Jewellery finds the British four-piece pushing further into their blend of pop-rock energy, modern alt-pop production and anthemic songwriting. Co-produced by the band alongside producer and mixer Thomas Mitchener, the track marks the latest chapter in what is shaping up to be a defining period for the Ipswich-based group.
At its heart, Jewellery is about the magnetic pull of encountering somebody who refuses to blend into the crowd. Rather than focusing on conventional romance, the song explores the fascination that comes from meeting someone whose confidence, individuality and energy immediately sets them apart.
“It’s about crossing paths with someone who’s not like anybody in this time or era of your life,” the band explain. “Someone who is complex in the way that you don’t understand why they are different – they stand out without trying, they have their own vibe and confidence and don’t follow what everyone else is doing.”
That sense of rarity provides the track with its central theme, as AFTERDRIVE capture the feeling of being drawn towards somebody whose authenticity cuts through the sameness of everyday life.
“We are so excited for everyone to hear this song and for it to be the next release from our debut EP, Dress To Drive,” the band add.
The release of Jewellery arrives alongside the announcement of AFTERDRIVE’s first UK headline tour, giving fans the opportunity to experience the band’s increasingly energetic live show on their own terms. The run begins with a hometown headline appearance at Baths in Ipswich on 19th September, before continuing into October with dates in Manchester, Birmingham and London.
The London show at Islington Academy2 on 27th October will bring the tour to a close, following performances at Off The Square in Manchester and O2 Institute 3 in Birmingham.
The headline dates represent another significant step forward for a band whose live reputation has grown rapidly throughout 2026. AFTERDRIVE began the year with a sold-out headline show at The Waterfront Studio before hitting the road in support of The Entitled Sons and subsequently joining US pop-rock star Maggie Lindemann for a major UK and European tour.
The band have also shared stages with McFly, performing at Borde Hill, while a headline appearance at Ipswich’s new Halo Festival saw them play alongside established indie names including Two Door Cinema Club and The Vaccines.
That combination of high-profile support slots, festival appearances and increasingly ambitious headline shows has given AFTERDRIVE the opportunity to sharpen their live performance in front of audiences far beyond their Suffolk home.
The band’s growing profile has also been reflected in radio support. Alyx Holcombe has championed both Jewellery and Neon View across her BBC Radio 1 Indie Show and BBC Introducing Rock Show, while Jess Iszatt and local BBC Introducing presenter Angelle Joseph have also backed the band.
But the next major milestone will be Dress To Drive. Rather than simply collecting four previously released songs, AFTERDRIVE have conceived their debut EP as a cinematic narrative, following a protagonist through a psychological downward spiral driven by desire, image and the search for escape.
Across its four tracks, the story moves from attraction towards addiction, gradually escalating from calm into recklessness before ultimately reaching loss. The band’s pop-rock immediacy provides the soundtrack to that descent, creating an EP designed to work as a complete piece rather than a straightforward collection of singles. Jewellery therefore arrives at an important point in the Dress To Drive story, building on the foundations established by Fashion and Neon View while offering another glimpse of the broader world the band are creating.
Afterdrive
With major support slots, festival appearances, growing radio backing and their first headline tour now on the horizon, AFTERDRIVE are rapidly graduating from emerging act to one of the UK’s most promising new pop-rock bands. The Dress To Drive era is only just beginning.
Upcoming UK Tour Dates:
SEPTEMBER
19th – Ipswich, Baths
OCTOBER
23rd – Manchester, Off The Square
24th – Birmingham, O2 Institute 3
27th – London, Islington Academy2
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