Primus announce first UK and European tour in almost a decade

Primus, Les Claypool — (Image credit: Martin Philbey/Getty Images)

Californian alt. rock mavericks Primus have announced plans to tour the UK and Europe for the first time since 2015.

Having previously been announced as one of the headline artists at this summer's ArcTanGent festival in Bristol, Les Claypool's bands will now also play headline dates in Manchester, Glasgow and London. These will be Primus first UK shows since a one-off appearance at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London on June 20, 2017.

The El Sobrante trio - completed by guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer John Hoffman - will also play headline shows in Europe as well as appearing at festivals, including Brutal Assault in Czechia, and legendary Dutch weekender Dynamo Metalfest.

The indoor headline dates will be 'An Evening With...' in all cases.

Primus UK and European tour 2026

Jul 31 – Milan Circolo Magnolia, Italy
Aug 03 – Ljubljana, SLO @ Krizanke
Aug 06 – Warsaw, POL @ Masovian Voideship
Aug 07 – Jaromer, CZE @ Brutal Assaut Festival
Aug 08 – Kortrijk, BEL @ Alcatraz Festival
Aug 10 – Frankfurt, GER @ Batschkapp
Aug 11 – Cologne, GER @ Carlswerk Victoria
Aug 13 – Carhaix-Plouguer, FRA @ Motocultor Festival
Aug 15 – Eindhoven, NET @ Dynamo Metalfest
Aug 17 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
Aug 18 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom
Aug 19 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
Aug 21 – Bristol, UK @ ArcTanGent Festival

Artist presale for all headline dates are available today, February 25, ahead of the public on sale this Friday, February 27 at 10am local time.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Primus UK and Europe 2026 poster — (Image credit: Primusville.com)

Primus' much-anticipated appearance at ArcTanGent festival was announced in November last year. The band will share headlining duties with Chelsea Wolfe and Cult of Luna with Julie Christmas, celebrating the tenth anniversary of their acclaimed collaborative album Mariner.

Festival organiser James Scarlett said, "The stars really have aligned for this set of ArcTanGent headliners - and it’s safe to say all three have been firmly at the top of our wish lists for a very, very long time.

"Primus at ArcTanGent is well overdue, Chelsea Wolfe can finally make that headliner appearance following the booking, announcement and then cancellation from back in 2020 due to Covid, and Mariner by Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas is 100% one of the greatest albums of all time (and celebrating its 10th anniversary next year!). To have them all headline ATG in the same year is literally unbelievable - and we’re extremely proud to present a festival line-up truly unlike anything else you’ll find on the planet."

For ArcTanGent tickets, go here.

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

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