Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. have announced two intimate US headline shows for next month, performing at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on September 21 and the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles on September 25, ahead of the release of their fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber, arriving October 16 via XL Recordings.
The Bottom Line
- The Shows: Fontaines D.C. will play Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on September 21 and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever Cemetery on September 25, sandwiching appearances at major US fall festivals.
- The Album: The upcoming fifth studio record, Dopamine Chamber, drops October 16 via XL Recordings, produced by James Ford and preceded by the single “Marianne.”
- Ticket Access: Fan pre-registration closes on Monday, August 24, with pre-sales starting Tuesday, August 25, and general sales opening on Friday, August 28.
Mapping the US Fall Itinerary
The Dublin five-piece are carving out space for intimate rooms right in the middle of a busy touring cycle. The newly added headlining stops at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre and the Hollywood Forever Cemetery sit strategically between festival appearances.
Before stepping onto New York and California stages, the band will headline Reading & Leeds Festivals in the UK over the weekend of August 28–29, followed by a homecoming performance at Electric Picnic in Ireland on August 30. Once they cross the Atlantic, they will hit Shaky Knees in Atlanta on September 18 and Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on September 20, before closing out their September run at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California, on September 27.
Fans looking to secure entry for the Kings Theatre and Hollywood Forever dates must register for pre-sale access before 6pm ET on Monday, August 24. Pre-sales commence at 10am local time on Tuesday, August 25, while the general public box office opens at 10am local time on Friday, August 28.
Inside the Sound of Dopamine Chamber
The timing of these intimate gigs mirrors the band’s creative escalation. Produced by James Ford, Dopamine Chamber reportedly pushes further into synthesizers, samples, marching drums, and strings.
Frontman Grian Chatten described the conceptual framework of the record: “The album itself is a dopamine chamber. You step inside and we test these different mind or mood-altering pieces of music on you.” Lead single “Marianne,” which dropped on August 18, showcases this shift with cascading strings.
| Date | Event / Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 18 | Shaky Knees Festival | Atlanta, GA |
| September 20 | Sea.Hear.Now Festival | Asbury Park, NJ |
| September 21 | Kings Theatre | Brooklyn, NY |
| September 25 | Hollywood Forever Cemetery | Los Angeles, CA |
| September 27 | Ohana Festival | Dana Point, CA |
The track nearly missed the tracklist entirely. During a final BBC live session at Maida Vale, bassist Conor Deegan revealed that the band initially discarded the song before their late manager, Trevor Dietz, intervened. Dietz told the band they were “absolute lunatics” for leaving it out, securing its place on the record. Following Dietz’s passing earlier this summer at the age of 49, Fontaines D.C. have dedicated “Marianne” to him, describing him as their “sixth member.”
The Live Circuit
Capturing Fontaines D.C. in rooms like the Kings Theatre or the grounds of Hollywood Forever represents a window for audiences. Guitarist Carlos O’Connell noted earlier this year that while he liked the idea of making their Reading & Leeds setlist “maybe a bit more ‘Dogrel’-heavy,” he added that “anything could happen now – literally anything.” With Dopamine Chamber set to arrive on October 16, these September headline dates offer a chance to experience the band’s expanding sonic palette.
Are you planning to catch Fontaines D.C. on their upcoming US run, or did you secure tickets for their festival stops? Let us know your expectations for the new album in the comments below.
