Alexandra Palace Theatre in north London recently hosted Fontaines D.C. for something well outside the standard television cycle. Earlier this week, the Dublin quintet took over the Victorian hall to tape a standalone edition of Later... With Jools Holland, built entirely around their upcoming fifth album, Dopamine Chamber. Instead of rotating through the usual multi-artist circle on a soundstage, the group were given an entire broadcast to themselves, previewing the record before it arrives in shops on Friday, October 16.
The complete concert will be transmitted on BBC Two on Sunday, November 15. Viewers looking for an earlier screening can stream the full programme on BBC iPlayer starting the afternoon of Wednesday, October 21, while individual songs from the set will be uploaded globally to the official BBC YouTube channel that same afternoon. That digital premiere sits at the centre of a wide BBC run during the week of October 21. Live tracks and interviews with the musicians will air across Steve Lamacq's show on BBC Radio 6 Music, Jo Whiley's evening slot on BBC Radio 2, and Jack Saunders' New Music Show on Radio 1.
The band are no strangers to the long-running franchise. They made their debut on the series back in 2020, returned for another session in 2024, and frontman Grian Chatten stopped by for a solo performance in 2023. The flagship music show recently opened its 69th run with a bill that featured Johnny Marr, Skye Newman, and Mary In The Junkyard. Other artists confirmed for upcoming episodes include Bloc Party, Jamie T, Royal Blood, and Violet Grohl.
Dopamine Chamber serves as the rapid follow-up to Romance, which came out in 2024. Just ahead of the launch, the band are playing a low-key charity show at the Roundhouse in London on Thursday, October 15, raising funds for the mental health charity CALM. The public have already heard a reasonable portion of the new material, including the preview tracks Marianne, Tongue, and Where Is Gone?, the last of which brings in guest vocals from Rosalía. Chatten described working with the Spanish singer as a high point in his career, speaking warmly of her terrifying level of talent. Audiences on recent dates have also heard early live takes of Six Shot Morning and Happy For You, which was given its public debut when the five-piece played Leeds Festival in August.
The London taping lands in the middle of a relentless live run. After headlining Reading and Leeds over the summer, Fontaines D.C. are moving into an autumn arena tour across the UK and mainland Europe, with a series of massive open-air shows booked for next summer. That 2026 run includes a headline set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona during June, two nights at Heaton Park in Manchester, and a pair of outdoor concerts at Slane Castle. Support in Britain comes from Little Simz and Viagra Boys, while Hayley Williams joins the bill for the Irish dates.
Their touring calendar reaches well into 2027, with dates confirmed across Italy and Germany alongside trips to Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Outside their studio albums, the musicians have recently contributed to the War Child Help(2) collection and composed music for the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man project. Chatten also has his eye on his next personal steps, having noted recently that he wants his subsequent solo record to carry a noticeably more lively, festival-ready feel.
