Brighton Dream-Punks Winter Gardens Announce New EP 'Macabre Divine' Released 16th September 2026

Brighton dream-punks Winter Gardens are delighted to announce their return with new EP, Macabre Divine, set for release on 16th September 2026.

Macabre Divine was produced by Luke Marsden and Winter Gardens, engineered and mixed by Luke Marsden, and mastered by Andy Miles at Star Delta. The EP will be available digitally and on 180g limited edition Breakneck Pink Marble 12" vinyl with print, and preorders are live now.

To celebrate the release, the band will hit the road on co-headline Autumn 2026 UK tour dates with Opal Mag (Venn Records) beginning in September - tickets are on sale now (see below for listings).

Lead single ‘Adored’, which comes with an official video, and follow up ‘Fragile Boy’ were released earlier this year, with both tracks available to stream now on all good digital service providers.

A driving example of the band’s ethereal take on the genre, ‘Adored’ explores the discomfort of existing in spaces dominated by corporate masculinity, where conversation often feels like performance rather than genuine exchange.

On the track, the band say: “It reflects the frustration of trying to be heard in environments where volume and ego tend to outweigh substance. In these rooms, quieter voices can easily be sidelined, not because they lack value, but because they aren’t fighting to dominate the space. It’s about the tension between having something meaningful to say and navigating a dynamic where people compete to be the loudest voice, often leaving little room for anyone else to contribute.”

The song captures that sense of sitting on the periphery perfectly, watching conversations unfold that feel more about being perceived as the most articulate, the most entertaining, or the most authoritative, rather than actually listening or collaborating.

'Fragile Boy', on the other hand, captures the unique grief of mourning someone while they are still physically present. “It reflects the bittersweet experience of holding onto memories of the person they once were,” they say, “while learning to embrace and love the person they have become.”

Blending the hazy textures of dream-pop with the urgency and drive of post-punk, Winter Gardens’ sound moves fluidly between shimmering shoegaze atmospheres and propulsive, rhythm-led intensity, balancing moments of introspection with bursts of raw energy. Layers of reverb-soaked guitars and melodic basslines intertwine with driving percussion, creating a sound that feels both expansive and immediate.

Immersive and emotionally charged, Winter Gardens capture a sense of movement and release—equal parts tension and lift, resulting in a distinctive “dreampunk” style that continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike.

The band’s 2020 debut EP, Tapestry, was released via Austerity Records to exceedingly positive press across the board including glowing reviews by For The Rabbits, Punktastic, UPSET Magazine and Germany’s VISIONS Magazine. The four-track release, led by the success of single ‘Zigzanny’, was also championed by Melita Dennett of BBC Introducing, earning the band such honours as BBC Featured Act & Introducing Pick Of The Year.

Their latest EP, Uncomfortable/Unlovable, was released in 2025 to widespread praise from BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Radio X, KEXP, Louder Than War, CLUNK and more, with the band continuing to receive national and international radio support, including a recent BBC Introducing Live Lounge session.

The music video for EP single ‘Moonjockey’, written and directed by band members Jamie Windless and Ananda Howard, received four award nominations and won Best Music Video at the Prague International Film Awards.

2025 also marked the arrival of a confident and revitalised new lineup, which has quickly proven to be the band's strongest yet. Since solidifying the lineup, Winter Gardens have embarked on a series of European performances, including appearances at Left of the Dial and Supersonic, while continuing to build momentum with new releases, an upcoming EP, and an extensive run of live dates throughout the UK and beyond.

Since their inception, the band have shared stages with acclaimed artists and appeared alongside acts including Echo & The Bunnymen and Gary Numan at festivals, whilst also securing support slots with the likes of Modern English, Piroshka and Pale Blue Eyes.

They have become regular festival favourites in their own right, with recent appearances at Rockaway Beach Festival in January, three performances in New York as part of New Colossus Festival, and a standout set at Brighton's Great Escape Festival this year, performing to a packed Concorde 2 audience.

Winter Gardens’ new EP Macabre Divine is released 16th September 2026

Co-Headline UK Tour Dates w/ Opal Mag:

• 28/09 - Southampton - Heartbreakers
• 30/09 - Bristol - The Lanes
• 01/10 - Birmingham - The Victoria
• 02/10 - Peterborough - The Lime Tree
• 05/10 - Chelmsford - Hot Box
• 06/10 - Tunbridge Wells - Forum Basement
• 07/10 - Brighton - The Hope & Ruin
• 08/10 - London - The Old Blue Last
• 09/10 - Northampton - The Lab