Dodgy Release New Single “Summer Forever” As Chris Evans Names It Virgin Radio Record Of The Week
OUT FRIDAY 29TH MAY
● Brand new single already a fan favourite and made track of the week on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Virgin Radio UK
● Martin Carr (The Boo Radleys) will include a ‘darker’ remix of Dodgy’s new single
● Top music entrepreneur - Alan McGee – is now the band’s new manager
● Free Peace Sweet 30th autumn anniversary shows now available
“That is a great song”, “I can already declare… that is already next week’s record of the week” – Chris Evans after the band played the single “Summer Forever” live on air, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK
● Martin Carr (The Boo Radleys) will include a ‘darker’ remix of Dodgy’s new single
● Top music entrepreneur - Alan McGee – is now the band’s new manager
● Free Peace Sweet 30th autumn anniversary shows now available
“That is a great song”, “I can already declare… that is already next week’s record of the week” – Chris Evans after the band played the single “Summer Forever” live on air, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK
Words: Press
Britpop icons Dodgy are set to release their next single from the critically acclaimed album “Hello Beautiful”, alongside newly announced dates for their Free Peace Sweet 30th anniversary tour this autumn.
Described by Chris Evans as “a great, great song”, new single “Summer Forever” was played live twice when the band appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK.
Chris Evans said: “Okay you just listened to Dodgy. That is a world exclusive - how good is that song? Oh my gosh! Yeah, days gone by were wonderful, they were wondrous, we will never forget them but these are the future good old days - right here, right now. Dodgy, let’s hear it one more time. What a tune!”
Chris then announced: “I can already declare… that is already next week’s record of the week. There you go, that is brand new. We’re going to play that every day at 8.15am.”
Described by Chris Evans as “a great, great song”, new single “Summer Forever” was played live twice when the band appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK.
Chris Evans said: “Okay you just listened to Dodgy. That is a world exclusive - how good is that song? Oh my gosh! Yeah, days gone by were wonderful, they were wondrous, we will never forget them but these are the future good old days - right here, right now. Dodgy, let’s hear it one more time. What a tune!”
Chris then announced: “I can already declare… that is already next week’s record of the week. There you go, that is brand new. We’re going to play that every day at 8.15am.”
“Summer Forever” will be released on Friday 29 May and is already a fan favourite whenever it has been played during the band’s recent “Hello Beautiful” UK tour. For anyone who grew up during the Britpop era, the new song captures the warm, instantly recognisable harmonies that made Dodgy a defining part of the country’s festival scene, wrapped in a haze of melodic nostalgia.
Singer Nigel Clark said: “We have been overjoyed by the reaction from people following the release of the album, and the new songs have fitted in so perfectly within our family of songs. “Summer Forever” has already gone and taken on a magic of its own.”
“I wrote “Summer Forever” reminiscing about those endless summers when I was a kid, a time filled with optimism and a sense of invincibility. Everyone looks back on happier, safer, warmer times, and that’s completely understandable but we can’t live in the past or wish those days back. We have to keep looking forward. As we say towards the end of the song - ‘Let the Future Shine.’”
In addition to the release of “Summer Forever”, the band will also be including the release of a special remix from Martin Carr (ex- Boo Radleys) that is entitled “What Future?”.
Drummer Mathew Priest said: “We’ve always loved Martin’s work with the Boo Radleys, especially the sonic explorations in Lazarus and the Giant Steps album. We share a publisher and they suggested the remix so we jumped at the chance to see what Martin would do.
“I love how he has offered an alternative idea of perhaps a darker, more pessimistic view. His remix is a half empty glass to the original song which is half full, and we love how he’s come at it from that angle, as it’s totally valid”
Dodgy have enjoyed a spectacular beginning to 2026 following the success of recent singles “It’s Not The End” and comeback track “Hello Beautiful”, which earned the band their first Top 40 chart appearance in more than a decade. The band have also recently welcomed legendary music entrepreneur Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records and the man who famously signed Oasis, as their new manager.
When asked about the new album, Alan said: “I’ve always loved Nigel Clark’s song writing. It’s exciting to be working alongside the band as they enter a new chapter with “Hello Beautiful”, with these new songs we’re looking forward to seeing Dodgy make a comeback.”
Free Peace Sweet turns 30
Later in 2026, Dodgy will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Free Peace Sweet with a series of very special shows featuring special guests The Icicle Works.
Originally released in 1996, Free Peace Sweet delivered some of the band’s biggest songs and remains one of the defining British guitar albums of the era, featuring hits including “Good Enough”, “In A Room”, “If You’re Thinking Of Me” and “Found You”.
The anniversary shows promise a full celebration of the album alongside fan favourites from across the catalogue.
Hello Beautiful, the album, out Friday May 1st looks like this:
REMAINING HELLO BEAUTIFUL // UK TOUR DATES 2026
Tunbridge Wells: Thursday 21 May, The Forum
Southampton: Friday 22 May, Papillon
Brighton: Saturday 23 May, Quarters
FREE PEACE SWEET // 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS
London: Saturday 26 September, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Bristol: Thursday 1 October, O2 Academy
Birmingham: Friday 2 October, O2 Institute
Manchester: Saturday 3 October, O2 Ritz
Liverpool: Friday 9 October, O2 Academy
Tickets for all live shows and for more album info head to: www.dodgyology.com
Singer Nigel Clark said: “We have been overjoyed by the reaction from people following the release of the album, and the new songs have fitted in so perfectly within our family of songs. “Summer Forever” has already gone and taken on a magic of its own.”
“I wrote “Summer Forever” reminiscing about those endless summers when I was a kid, a time filled with optimism and a sense of invincibility. Everyone looks back on happier, safer, warmer times, and that’s completely understandable but we can’t live in the past or wish those days back. We have to keep looking forward. As we say towards the end of the song - ‘Let the Future Shine.’”
In addition to the release of “Summer Forever”, the band will also be including the release of a special remix from Martin Carr (ex- Boo Radleys) that is entitled “What Future?”.
Drummer Mathew Priest said: “We’ve always loved Martin’s work with the Boo Radleys, especially the sonic explorations in Lazarus and the Giant Steps album. We share a publisher and they suggested the remix so we jumped at the chance to see what Martin would do.
“I love how he has offered an alternative idea of perhaps a darker, more pessimistic view. His remix is a half empty glass to the original song which is half full, and we love how he’s come at it from that angle, as it’s totally valid”
Dodgy have enjoyed a spectacular beginning to 2026 following the success of recent singles “It’s Not The End” and comeback track “Hello Beautiful”, which earned the band their first Top 40 chart appearance in more than a decade. The band have also recently welcomed legendary music entrepreneur Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records and the man who famously signed Oasis, as their new manager.
When asked about the new album, Alan said: “I’ve always loved Nigel Clark’s song writing. It’s exciting to be working alongside the band as they enter a new chapter with “Hello Beautiful”, with these new songs we’re looking forward to seeing Dodgy make a comeback.”
Free Peace Sweet turns 30
Later in 2026, Dodgy will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Free Peace Sweet with a series of very special shows featuring special guests The Icicle Works.
Originally released in 1996, Free Peace Sweet delivered some of the band’s biggest songs and remains one of the defining British guitar albums of the era, featuring hits including “Good Enough”, “In A Room”, “If You’re Thinking Of Me” and “Found You”.
The anniversary shows promise a full celebration of the album alongside fan favourites from across the catalogue.
Hello Beautiful, the album, out Friday May 1st looks like this:
- Hello Beautiful
- The Likes of You And Me
- It’s Not The End
- Call It What You Want
- Summer Forever
- Looking Back
- Beside Me
- Out Of Time
- Fall Into Me
REMAINING HELLO BEAUTIFUL // UK TOUR DATES 2026
Tunbridge Wells: Thursday 21 May, The Forum
Southampton: Friday 22 May, Papillon
Brighton: Saturday 23 May, Quarters
FREE PEACE SWEET // 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS
London: Saturday 26 September, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Bristol: Thursday 1 October, O2 Academy
Birmingham: Friday 2 October, O2 Institute
Manchester: Saturday 3 October, O2 Ritz
Liverpool: Friday 9 October, O2 Academy
Tickets for all live shows and for more album info head to: www.dodgyology.com