The release of ‘Looking Back’ the EP from The Native, it delivered a succession of landmark moments for the hotly-tipped Plymouth band. After signing to This Feeling Records, their live show saw them firing into arenas across the UK and Europe with Bastille; hitting festivals such as Reading, Leeds and the Isle of Wight; and completing a storming debut TV performance on ‘Soccer AM’. Further supported by widespread acclaim plus a video play on ‘Sunday Brunch’, 2022 laid the groundwork to forecast the brightest of futures. 

Now The Native fly into a big 2023 ahead with the release of the Deluxe Edition of the ‘Looking Back’ EP. It sees The Native expand upon their initial ambition for the EP with the addition of four extra tracks.  

First up is their take on the Taylor Swift classic ‘Wildest Dreams’, which sees the quintet place their own identity on her dreamy synth-pop original, converting it into an explosive, high drama, alt-rock anthem. There’s also a stripped-back acoustic version of the great Oasis b-side and ‘Royle Family’ theme song ‘Half A World Away’, which was recorded in session for XS Manchester; and a live version of ‘Time’ which was recorded during their show with Bastille at Berlin’s Verti Music Hall. Originally a standalone single from 2020, this tight-but-raw version was played in front of 4500 people – a leap beyond the scene painted by its opening lyrics: “Playing to an empty room / Empty faces looking back at you.” 

The ‘Looking Back’ Deluxe Edition is completed by the previously released acoustic version of ‘Blindside’. 

The Native closed 2022 with a UK headline tour, which included sold-out shows at Colours Hoxton and in their hometown of Plymouth. They’ve just confirmed their debut European headline tour, with tickets for the shows listed below available HERE. Expect more news, including summer festival plans, to follow soon. 

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