Arkells Announce New Album Between Us, Out April 17, Share First Single “Next Summer”

Nine-time JUNO Award winners Arkells have announced their brand new album Between Us, set for release on April 17 via Universal Music Canada and Virgin Music Group. Produced and recorded in Los Angeles with Grammy Award winner John Congleton, whose credits include St. Vincent, Death Cab for Cutie, and Wallows, the album marks a new chapter for the Hamilton band, blending immediacy, vulnerability, and communal spirit across eleven tracks.

The announcement arrives alongside the release of the album’s lead single, “Next Summer,” accompanied by an illusory performance video. Built around an instantly hummable chorus and a sweeping, open-road energy, the track lands somewhere between a modern The Killers and Gaslight Anthem singalong, pairing emotional weight with widescreen ambition. It is a song about possibility, memory, and the quiet wonder of what comes next.

“When someone new enters your life, do you ever wonder, ‘what did last summer look like for this person? And for me? And what will next summer look like?’” questions frontman Max Kerman. “This song is a nod to the beauty and the mystery of what might lay ahead, and an appreciation of how we got to today. There’s a longing in the song, but it’s hopeful.”

That mix of nostalgia and optimism runs through Between Us, an album that reflects both the band’s deep-rooted chemistry and their willingness to stretch emotionally and sonically. Across its eleven tracks, Arkells explore connection, self-doubt, romance, and resilience, grounded in the warmth and urgency that has long defined their sound. Features from GROUPLOVE, Portugal. The Man, and Poolside add new textures while keeping the focus on shared experience and collective release.

Earlier this week, a select group of fans were given an early preview of “Next Summer” and new album details during a surprise takeover of Toronto’s Big Chill ice cream shop. In the middle of winter, Arkells served up scoops of summer, offering a sensory introduction to the tone of the record and the season it evokes. The event echoed the band’s longstanding commitment to fan connection, transforming a simple pop-up into a communal moment that mirrored the spirit of the new music.

“Next Summer” follows the release of recent singles “Money,” featuring Portugal. The Man, and the sharp-edged “What Good?” which together offered the first glimpse of the Between Us era. Those tracks introduced a band energized by collaboration, clarity, and a renewed focus on writing songs that resonate both in headphones and in packed rooms.

The album is available now for pre-order on vinyl and CD, including a signed edition on grass-green vinyl. The cover, shot by Boston-based artist and photographer Pelle Cass, captures Arkells atop Hamilton’s Jackson Square rooftop, a vibrant image that nods to the band’s roots and the city that continues to shape their identity.

Tracklist:

Next Summer

What Good?

Ride (ft. GROUPLOVE)

Money (ft. Portugal. The Man)

Imagine Barcelona

Desire’s Got Some Questions

Universe Talking

Two Hearts

What’s On Your Mind (ft. Poolside)

Rumour

Escape Door

In support of the album, Arkells will kick off the Between Us tour with a European and UK run from March 12 to 20, 2026, bringing the band to cities across Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. A North American tour will be announced shortly. The upcoming dates mark the first in a series of intimate, up close live experiences planned throughout 2026, reinforcing the album’s emphasis on closeness and shared energy.

Adding to an already milestone-filled year, Arkells were among the first performers announced for the 2026 JUNO Awards, set to take place in their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, on March 29 at the TD Coliseum. The band recently made waves in the same venue in December 2025, when they joined the Jonas Brothers onstage as surprise guests, delighting the crowd with a performance of their beloved hit “Leather Jacket.”

With Between Us, Arkells continue to refine their ability to balance big-hearted anthems with thoughtful introspection, delivering songs that feel as natural in solitary moments as they do in full-voiced crowds. Anchored by the reflective optimism of “Next Summer,” the album stands as both a celebration of where the band has been and a hopeful glance toward everything still to come.