Upcoming Studio Material:
Note: Stu has said previously that most of their albums take about 2 years between conception and release, typically with multiple in progress in parallel at different stages.
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(Oct 2023) Flight b741 is one of a “few projects on the go — not anywhere near completion or anything…”, and most likely based on sessions from July 2023 that focused on more ‘traditional’ songwriting (ie. not jamming) that had been previously hinted at.
Recording started after October 2023 for an album with the ‘parameter’ of each band member swapping instruments more than usual, including Lucas playing keyboard. It is implied that this is a newer separate project to Flight b741, possibly an expansion to that album’s greater sharing of vocals between members. The band was confirmed to have recorded new music every day for a week in early October 2023, which had been planned earlier in the year. -
Phantom Island is the lead single and title track of album number 27, which has not had a release date announced. As of mid 2024, the album is ‘very far from being finished’. Phantom Island is a sister album to Flight b741 in that the songs were conceived during the same sessions, but completed later in collaboration with an orchestra who reached out to the band to perform together. It is unclear if this is the ‘instrument swapping’ project, or a second distinct offshoot of the Flight b741 sessions. Phantom Island was worked on between the 1st and 2nd 2024 NA tour legs, and is ‘likely’ to be released during the northern hemisphere Spring.
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Rather than formal rehearsals for the 1st leg of the 2024 NA tour, the band were said to have been making an ‘improvised techno album’ instead. It is ambiguous whether this was a recording project intended for release, or the Rolling Stone author’s round-about description of a synth table rehearsal. It would be highly unusual for the band to rehash an idea for an album (The Silver Cord) so soon, and contrary to Stu’s often stated approach of always trying something he’s never done before. A secretive project was mentioned in this Spin article as being worked on in mid 2024, with no further details given.
Live Shows:
- All known upcoming live shows are listed on the band’s website and kglw.net.
Speculation:
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Bluegrass/Country inspired music may be on the table after this impromptu jam during the 2023-06-04 acoustic show at The Caverns. Billy Strings attended the 2023-08-10 show in Sweden, and hung out with the band after, prompting speculation of a collaboration, this is unlikely in reality.
Stu avoids the question of if they have any projects planned together in Oct 2023, but states he’s a sweet guy and collaborating would be ‘fucking crazy’. -
Stu thinks that the didgeridoo is ‘amazing’ and would be open to collaborating with an indigenous artist using one.
Update: Indigenous (Yolŋu) Surf-Rock band King Stingray joined King Gizzard for a portion of their 2024 touring and plan to again for 2025’s Field of VVision festival. They have two band members that play didgeridoo, but no evidence currently exists that they intend to collaborate beyond their on stage cover of Treaty.
‘Never’ happening or abandoned projects:
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Christmas, Ska/Reggae (Fantano interview), or full rap album (Office Hours podcast appearance).
As of Oct 31 2023, Lucas is “curious” about Ska as a genre for King Gizzard to explore and Joey flips between joking about actually doing it and doubling down that it will never happen; Ambrose maintains a similar attitude toward a King Gizzard rap album though continues to rap lyrics presumably from the shelved project on stage during jams. -
The complete Nonagon Infinity visual album (‘maybe when they run out of new ideas’).
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A ‘Chunky Shrapnel 2’ concert film was planned for the cancelled '22 Autumn Europe tour, it is unclear if this plan will eventually go ahead.
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The ‘Sexy Alien’ soundcheck jam will not be released as a song (2023 Reddit AMA).
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On returning to the signature Mind Fuzz/Nonagon sound, Stu is unsure they even could if they tried, and if they did it would probably sound different (2023 Reddit AMA).
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The band would like to release the Hollywood Bowl marathon recording, but licensing for the venue name is prohibitively expensive (2023 Reddit AMA).
Let the rampant speculation and new updates begin.
