The Roddy Woomble and Idlewild news email lists are some of the few that we choose to subscribe to over and above the usual news outlets and press lists needed to run a music website. We appreciate receiving curated insights about the creative process that go beyond the usual corporate comms. When they have products to sell, the offering seems tailored by and for music aficionados with a keen understanding of what is valuable and value within the contemporary music business and the shaky economic climate. So we had to respond when the latest Idlewild news included an inventive response to the possibility of commercial success – not least because we love a good competition!
“We’ve been lucky over the years to have had a bit of radio play for our songs, but that still never diminishes the excitement of hearing them come out from radio speakers. I like to imagine people, all over the country listening, and wonder what they’re all doing while the song is playing – some will be in the car going on a journey, some in the kitchen making dinner, some listening on headphones walking home, or to work – or maybe the radio is on in the background while someone is working on their debut novel, on in the background in the dentist while someone is getting a filling. Just to know that the songs are out there into the world is a great feeling.” – Roddy Woomble via the Idlewild newsletter
Urgent Idlewild news: mid-week chart success and a one-day-only competition!
So, what exactly is this Idlewild news?
Days after the release of their new album, Idlewild, the band learned that it had reached number six in the mid-week UK charts.
‘Not too bad, pal’ for a Scottish band that formed thirty years ago and first hit the UK Top 40 album chart in 2000. Before that, the single When I Argue I See Shapes had hit #19 in the UK Top 40 singles Chart because it is perfect.
In a music industry that’s vastly different now, it’s a pleasant and well-deserved surprise that Idlewild are still charting all these decades later.
Understandably hoping to ensure that this mid-week success translates into a good placement in the official album charts on Friday, Idlewild have launched a one-day-only competition (October 9, 2025) to encourage last-minute sales.
On offer are three prize bundles of a signed vinyl test pressing of the new album Idlewild, a handwritten lyric sheet, and a pair of tickets to the winners’ choice of shows on the upcoming tour.
There are two impressive aspects to the competition. Firstly, the digital download is keenly priced. Secondly, for those who prefer a physical edition, you can create your own format/merch bundle.
To keep things fair, everyone who ordered the album through the official store before the contest was announced will be entered into the competition too. There’s also a separate entry route in case you bought the record elsewhere or really can’t afford to buy it yet.
Exclusive digital deluxe edition of Idlewild by Idlewild – today only!
The digital download of Idlewild is being sold via their official online store at the nice price of £4.99. That would be impressive enough for a brand new album but to sweeten the deal even further, a deluxe edition is being sold for one day only.
Anyone who orders the digital download through Idlewild’s official store on October 9, 2025 (until midnight UK time) will receive the standard album tracks plus four exclusive live versions recorded at recorded at Leith Theatre, Edinburgh.
Idlewild (digital deluxe edition) tracklisting – available until midnight!
- Stay Out Of Place
- Like I Had Before
- It’s Not The First Time
- (I Can’t Help) Back Then You Found Me
- The Mirror Still
- Make It Happen
- I Wish I Wrote It Down
- Permanent Colours
- Writers Of The Present Time
- End With Sunrise
- Stay Out Of Place (Live at Leith Theatre) – exclusive track
- Like I Had Before (Live at Leith Theatre) – exclusive track
- It’s Not The First Time (Live at Leith Theatre) – exclusive track
- I Wish I Wrote It Down (Live at Leith Theatre) – exclusive track
Exclusive physical editions of Idlewild album and merchandise
Idlewild’s official online store also has some tasty exclusive physical formats of the Idlewild album, plus exclusive merch.
Options include a fetching retro t-shirt, a baseball cap featuring Idlewild’s signature font, signed CDs, vinyl records (black or the limited edition ‘Strawberry Milkshake’ version with a signed print).
If the existing bundles don’t have your preferred combo, no worries – you can assemble your own bundle instead! If your basket includes two or more from a list selected items (one or more of which is an album format) you’ll get a discount and a bonus CD.
For instance, if you buy the Strawberry Milkshake vinyl for £25, you can choose to add in the digital exclusive for £3.99, the signed CD for £7, or the t-shirt for £20.
“I suppose this is all part of the fact that to get anyone to buy physical copies these days you have to offer something more. I’m not being cynical here – I think this is a good thing and I want to support record shops and physical sales in any way that I can. I love record shops, and the physical presence of music – albums on the shelf, on the record player, CDs in the car – well, to me that’s one of the greatest things – to be surrounded by other people’s great ideas.” – Roddy Woomble
Idlewild 2025-6 tour dates
The three competition winners will be able to choose tickets from these available tour dates.
10 October, 2025: Boilershop, Newcastle
11 October, 2025: Project House, Leeds (SOLD OUT)
12 October, 2025: Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
14 October, 2025: The Junction, Cambridge (SOLD OUT)
15 October, 2025: O2 Academy, Bristol
17 October, 2025: Koko, London (SOLD OUT)
18 October, 2025: New Century Hall, Manchester (SOLD OUT)
5 December, 2025: Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen (SOLD OUT)
6 December, 2025: LiveHouse, Dundee
7 December, 2025: Barrowland, Glasgow (SOLD OUT)
2nd – 5th January, 2026: Rockaway Beach, Bognor Regis
We’ve just missed a short run of in-store shows (well, technically there were out-stores). But at least we’ll always have this quote from Roddy Woomble: “In many ways a gig in a shop is a strange concept – you’re literally standing and singing in a shop then trying to sell copies of recordings of yourself singing. It’s very to the point, like giving away free pizza in your pizzeria hoping that people will book a table after they realize how delicious it is.”
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