News ~ This is the Kit

April 11, 2017

This Is The Kit sign to Rough Trade Records

A big congrats to This Is The Kit for today's announcement that they've signed to Rough Trade Records — progenitor of the indie music ideal — original home to legends like The Smiths & The Strokes — as well as a haven for quirkier artists like Pantha Du Prince, Scritti Politti and Jeffrey Lewis (who are just as close to our hearts, if not closer, than some of the label's 'hitmakers').A new album by This Is The Kit is in the works — and summer & autumn tour dates have been announced: June in Brooklyn, New York and at Eaux Claires Festival in the Wisconsin; then September in the United Kingdom. (Full tour dates list below.) To whet your appetite, watch this snippet of the band playin...


November 29, 2016

This Is The Kit's holiday single, new videos & final Bashed Out tour dates

This Is The Kit have finally wrapped up their tour dates in support of 2015's most excellent Bashed Out, the BBC approved '6 Music Album-of-the-Year' which we've been flogging at you for about 16 months now...and which we will continue flogging for years to come! Ah the record industry, wherein constant pestering is somehow transmogrified into beloved backcatalog and expanded deluxe editions on every 5 and/or 10 year anniversary. *sigh*

Speaking of which, earlier this month we released a holiday single by This Is The Kit, consisting of two covers that put their unique pan-European folk-rock-but-more-uncategorizable-than-that spin on the season. And without further adieu, take a...


December 4, 2015

This Is The Kit get Album of the Year, José González tour & new EP

We try not to let our site get too dominated by a single artist, but what a run This Is The Kit have had in 2015, hogging attention in a way quite counter to their considerate nature. We're pleased to confirm the details of their new Rusty and Got Dusty EP, a new support slot opening for José González across continental Europe in December and, last but not least, the selection of their Bashed Out LP as one of BBC Radio 6 Music's Albums of the Year.

We'll lead with that last bit since there's not much to say about it beyond "Woo-hoo!" In announcing the award the responsible DJ said, simply "I just love the honesty and I love how she sings like a songbird." 6 Music will be playing a...


August 11, 2015

This Is The Kit collect praise, BBC support & tour dates

This year's been a doozy for This Is The Kit (aka Kate Stables and whoever joins her aka TITK for short). We released their new, Aaron Dessner-produced album Bashed Out in April. (Vinyl came along a few months later and, hey now, links to get it in any format are here if you are so inclined.) Reactions have been universally positive, with some daring to call it one of the best British albums of 2015. (That "some" includes "us" of course.) We'll get into more details about the positive reviews in a moment but ***HEADLINE ALERT*** the BBC has even made a half-hour format documentary TV show about the project. It debuted last week, as one of the first episodes in a new series called Music Box w...


February 3, 2015

This Is The Kit announce April release date for Bashed Out

Earlier today, after This Is The Kit wrapped up an UK opening tour for The Barr Brothers, Stereogum broke news of the release date for their long-anticipated new album Bashed Out, which was produced by The National's Aaron Dessner. Before we say more, take a listen to the first music released, the album's title track.

"Kate Stables has been recording music as This Is The Kit for years now, but this is probably one of the first times you’re reading about her," wrote Stereogum. "Bashed Out will be her third full-length album, and…it will also likely be her breakout."

For those who have been following the band since they joined the label in 2012, This Is The...


March 3, 2014

This is the Kit record with Aaron Dessner, release EP, tour Europe

This is the Kit are gigging again in Europe, revisiting many of the same cities they hit while opening The National’s autumn 2013 tour of the continent. Stops include capitals such as Paris, Berlin and a sold out date in London. (They've also added a May follow-up gig due to the demand.) Here are the dates:

MARCH
15 Reutlinger, Germany - Burning Eagle Festival Warm-Up
17 Metz, France - La Chaouée
18 Beauvais France - La Maladrerie Saint-lazare (w/ Melissa Laveaux)
21 London, UK - The Lexington SOLD OUT
22 Manchester, UK - Gullivers
24 Rees-Haldern, Germany - Haldern Pop Bar
25 Hamburg, Germany - Nachtasyl
26 Berlin, Germany - Berghain Kantin...


September 27, 2013

This is the Kit tour with The National, reissue “Wriggle Out the Restless”

You may have noticed Paris- and Bristol-based band This is the Kit palling around with the Brassland roster for a few years now. They first opened for The National during their storied run of Beacon Theater shows in December 2011. They were invited to The National's All Tomorrow's Parties fest in December 2012, split some UK dates with Buke and Gase just after that, and participated in Brassland events in Adelaide, Australia and Haldern, Germany in 2013. Their 2010 album Wriggle Out the Restless has been available sporadically on Bandcamp throughout this time and we at the label have logged a few frequent flier miles over to the United Kingdom to hang out and spend some time with the...


September 4, 2012

This Is The Kit tours Germany (mostly)

Hey Europeans! Do you folks celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday in September like us? We couldn't figure it out even after extensive Googling of Wikpedia.

Anyway, apparently This is the Kit are celebrating the passing of American Labor Day by touring the heck out of Europe, mostly Germany. They'll will be traveling with fellow musicians Rozi Plain and Jamie Harrison, and we assume they'll be playing together & apart and a good time will be had by all.

Be sure to also note that This Is The Kit are not excluding their British friends. They play Bestival on the Isle of Wight, before the Germany dates kick off, as well as The National-curated All Tomorrow's...